“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris Wheel when it pauses in its turning.”
This gorgeous opening sentence from Natalie Babbitt’s YA classic Tuck Everlasting gets at the heart of what makes August wonderful yet wistful. It’s still summer, yet just over the horizon we can glimpse September and all it brings — the ultimate transition month. That’s why we packed this issue full of we’ve-been-there advice to help you prepare for the start of a new school year while you revel in what’s left of the Dog Days.
Our back-to-school articles make the grade age by stage. I wish I’d been able to read early education expert Marie Conti’s “Soothe Separation Anxiety” back in my younger son’s preschool days, when tears would flow copiously any time I didn’t come into the classroom and read him a book before leaving.
“How to Choose After-School Activities” presents actionable tips on selecting just the right class among the hundreds available for your busy grade-schooler’s interests and sensibilities.
Not only is “Middle School Talk,” in which a pair of incoming 8th-graders chat about surviving and thriving in the middle school trenches, a joy to read; it also gives parents a look into the secret life of real tweens.
No back-to-school package would be complete without a little discussion about clothes and shopping. Steel yourself against your child’s unique style quirks in “Good Kids, Bad Outfits.” Then learn to save big bucks by navigating the area’s outlets like a pro in “How to Shop the Outlets."
As for those Dog Days, we take them quite literally with “Kid’s Best Friend,” meant to help quell kids’ dog fears and reduce the high incidence of bites. And though our original 72 Days of Summer Fun have dwindled, there’s still a month’s worth of giveaways to be found right here. Enjoy every last moment,
Cheryl
P.S. If you’re looking for a seriously good, last-minute summer read, pick up Curtis Sittenfeld’s Sisterland and catch up on our Summer Mom’s Book Club.
