When the kids are in the primary grades:

-Huge, exciting box of crayons.

-Huge, exciting box of pencil crayons.

-Brand new knapsack with the latest T.V. characters on it.

-2 new pairs of shoes; outdoor and indoor.

-a whole bunch of new clothes.

-new snack or lunch bag with the latest T.V. characters on it.

**When to do this shopping** : -2 or 3 weeks before school starts.

...And by the time they reach grade 12:

-A crumpled wad of scrap lined paper still sitting in their knapsack from last semester.

-A pen (which will be lost and need to be replaced on a daily basis).

-Money for gas.

**When to do this "shopping"**: -5 minutes before dashing out of the house, without having any breakfast, on the first day of class.

...how time flies.