It's Time To Go Back To School!

The good, the bad, the funny, and the yummy as the kids head back to school

Back-to-school season is upon us and life is getting hectic again. As parents, we’re always trying to find ways to save time and money, especially this time of year. Filter Free Parents is here to help! Check out this week’s easy meal ideas, our FFP Quick Tips, lunchbox woes, and read one mom’s hilarious take on this crazy, wonderful time of year!

Don’t forget to visit the links at the bottom of the newsletter for all the fun on our social platforms, merch store, and podcast. And come chat with me on Fridays in our Discussion Thread!

Why Back-to-School Is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Before I had kids, my favorite month was December. I loved the smell of cinnamon and vanilla. I baked, I wrapped, I watched the snow fall peacefully, with joy in my heart as I listened to songs that celebrated the season.

“It’s the MOST wonderful tiiiime of the year!” I harmonized with Andy Williams like a boss.

Then the children came and before I knew it, they were old enough to go to school. Where once I had believed the magic of Christmas held treasures matched by no other time of the year, I quickly discovered there is another season I love even more.

My heart now belongs to the Back-to-School season, and here are my top 10 reasons why:

1. Routine: I cannot wait for a return to routine.

   The “lazy days of summer” were great for about 48 hours, but I’m dying for structure again. I want to eat dinner at the same time every night. I want bedtime for the kids so I can pee by myself at least once a day. I’ve got blanket forts in every room, the weird smell of a wet swimsuit I still can’t find (seriously, someone must know where it is!), and kids coming and going who don’t even live here. I want to put my house and my sanity back together. I need some regularly scheduled programming to make that happen.

2. Lunches and Snacks: Lunches and snacks will be out of my house.

   This one is a little tricky because I still have to prepare them, but I won’t have to serve them. I can prep them ahead of time and gone will be the cute little voices belonging to my sweet dictators demanding (or rather, asking for) them every 10 seconds. No more will I make exactly what the tyrant child asked for and then hear upon serving said child, “I don’t want this. I want something different!” Not my problem till next summer. BUH BYE.

3. Clean Kitchen: My kitchen will stay clean.

   After lunches and snacks are made and my beauties are off on the bus, the very first thing I’m going to do is clean my kitchen. Then, I’m going to sit in the middle of the floor and eat a snack. By myself. Uninterrupted. Because I can. And while I’m doing that, the kitchen is going to . . . wait for it . . . stay clean for more than five minutes. Glorious.

4. Kids' Enthusiasm: My kids WANT to go back to school.

   Back-to-School is literally the only time of year the kids are chomping at the bit to go to school. They are so ready that they are asking every day how many more hours until the bus comes. My son is so excited that he’s planning to wear all of his new clothes the first day. ALL of them. He has twelve wardrobe changes set up in his backpack.

5. Financial Relief: The bank account is thinned out.

   Back-to-School has offered up the best way ever to get rid of that pesky disposable income I’ve been wondering what to do with. Between the clothes and supplies, I’m able to completely wipe out the 438th attempt at a college fund. While I don’t completely understand why a second-grader needs a graphing calculator and exactly 13 dozen pre-sharpened Ticonderoga pencils, if it gets him on the bus and out of the house for 7 hours a day, here’s my debit card and his freshman year expenses at State University.

6. School Supplies: One of my favorite parts of Back-to-School is the supplies.

   I know I just complained about how expensive they are, but I’m not talking about what the kids get. I’m talking about me! I love office supplies. It is the only time of year I can justify all the colored Post-Its, paperclips, XL binders, and whatnots I want. I have to be organized, right? These kids need managing and I’m the Manager! I gotta have stuff. It’s all on sale. (Yes, I do NEED that 75-pack of colored fine tip Sharpies, thankyouverymuch.)

7. Zero Wrapping: Zero gift wrapping is involved.

   Unlike Christmas, Back-to-School requires zero wrapping. Buy a backpack. Buy all the stuff. Shove all the stuff in the backpack. Done.

8. Possibilities: Possibilities are endless.

   If you are home when the kids go back to school and if you are lucky enough that ALL the kids go away for all or part of the day, there are some cool things that can happen. You can turn on a movie, TV show, or even music that doesn’t have a princess singing in it. WHAT?! YES! Play something with bad words in it. Or you can leave everything off and listen to beautiful silence. You could even have a friend over and finish a conversation in a quiet house.

9. Uninterrupted Communication: I. Can. Talk. On. The. Phone.

10. Decluttering: You can purge your house of kid junk.

    With a truly empty house, this is your chance. PURGE! No one is here to cry and beg. Go through and ditch all of those fast food toys and crappy carnival prizes that everyone had to have but haven’t seen the light of day for months. If you try to do this in plain sight, it will be a train wreck, but during that first week back to school? Free for all! Just make sure you use those big black plastic garden garbage bags and throw some grass clippings on top just for effect. They’ll never even notice anything is gone.

Parents, the last few weeks of summer and the first weeks of school are a blessed time. They are filled with the anticipation of new experiences and rekindling friendships. And, we have to thank teachers for all they do to make this special time of year possible.

I’m just shocked there aren’t Back-to-School carols to sing.

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RECIPES OF THE WEEK:

One-Pot Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

A simple and delicious back-to-school dinner recipe that is quick to make and requires only one pot, making it perfect for busy back-to-school evenings.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of dry pasta (penne, rotini, or any shape you prefer)

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces, OR cut/shredded rotisserie chicken

• 2 cups of broccoli florets

• 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese

• 2 cups of chicken broth

• 1 cup of milk

• 2 tablespoons of butter

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.

2. Add the chicken pieces to the pot and cook until they are no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.

3. Add the dry pasta, chicken broth, milk, and dried oregano to the pot. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil.

4. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

5. Add the broccoli florets to the pot and stir them into the pasta mixture. Cover the pot again and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked to your desired level of tenderness.

6. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it's melted and the sauce is creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7. Serve the cheesy chicken and broccoli pasta hot, and optionally, you can sprinkle some extra shredded cheese on top before serving.

This recipe provides a balanced meal with protein from the chicken, nutrients from the broccoli, and the comforting flavors of cheesy pasta. Healthy and satisfying!

Tater Tot Taco Delight

Heading back to school often calls for fuss-free dinners, and what's more enjoyable than indulging in tater tots? That's why this recipe has become a reliable favorite in my book.

In fact, you can even invite the kids to join in on the fun. Let them layer the tots or stack them in quirky patterns on top.

This recipe serves as a foundation, but it's your canvas to paint. And don’t forget about toppings! Imagine heaps of shredded cheese, chives, sour cream, salsa, and diced jalapenos.

Embrace your creativity with this casserole. Skip the taco seasoning if it's not your thing. Prefer pork over beef? Give it a shot.

You'll notice the more you prepare this dish, the smoother the process becomes.

Ingredients: