The Quest For the Perfect Backpack

Michael is starting school in a few weeks. Yep, the 3k preschool program awaits! He will attend 2 mornings a week.

This evening, I went out to buy his school supplies. I found the notebook, markers, glue, and paints. Then I headed off to find a backpack. The school supply list said, "book bag, no wheels, regular size".

I think this is going to be my biggest challenge over the next few weeks! (Other than continuing to run with Michael to the potty a zillion times a day! But hey, he is going!!)

I remember back-t0-school time when I was growing up. The sales circulars would start coming out, and everyone and their mom would hit the mall for back-to-school clothing. It was so important to find just the right items. Especially in the area where I grew up.

(Note, Darren Starr, the creator of Beverly Hills 90210 is a graduate of my high school. The show was loosely based on the school. And yes, I knew plenty of kids who got BMWs when they turned 16. I on the other hand was allowed to borrow the keys to my mom's Chevy Malibu station wagon!)

Well, I never got the most fashionable clothes. Guess jeans were just hitting big when I was in high school, and I never had a pair. Mom wouldn't pay $60 for a pair of jeans. (And 20-some years later, I still don't!) I was just the goofy kid wearing the standard-issue apparel from Hechts. At least after I told my mother flat-out that I was drawing the line at Sears. I would not wear clothes from Sears to school! What a snob I was! haha

Anyway, I digress. Back to Michael's school shopping...

Now I am faced with finding the perfect "book bag". I'm assuming this means "backpack" and not "tote bag". But it's like when I was back-to-school shopping as kid myself. Trying to find just the right backpack, without paying too much money.

I'd love to find something cute and appropriate for a 3 year old. But the only "theme" backpacks I've found are superheros. Michael has no clue what any of them are, and he's just too young to start with any of that anyway. Isn't there a cute backpack with some puppy-dogs? Or a giraffe? Or VeggieTales?

I have to laugh at myself over this whole situation. As if the other little 3 year olds in his class are going to walk in on the first day and decide who is cool or not based on their backpack. But it's not really about making Michael cool. I think that Mommy is just so excited about her big boy growing up, and that is coming out in the quest for the perfect backpack.