Mom Fails from the First Week of School: 2021 Edition

I’m not sure there has been a year where I have looked more forward to the first day of school than this year. I practically (but lovingly, of course) shoved my kids out of the car and might have had a tear of joy for their return to on-site school. But of course, this excitement doesn’t come without the typical fails I am sure most of us experienced at some point during the first week back.

I always feel better about my first week of school fails knowing other moms are right there with me.  

Here are my top 10 from myself and my friends – including fellow AllMomDoes bloggers.  

Missed the First Day. Some version of this makes the list every year. Our district typically starts the week after Labor Day. But this year, I am certain in an effort to confuse parents, we started the Wednesday before Labor Day. Yes, it was communicated out. Several times. Also yes, there was a mom I know who totally missed it and was both confused and a little embarrassed when I texted her that evening asking how her kids’ first day went.

Backwards clothes. It’s hard to ensure your kids get to school with everything they need, so it’s no surprise that we heard from a mom who sent her son to school with his pants on backwards only to realize this at the end of the day. I just hope they were more of a jogger style versus something with a zipper!

Instilling independence backfires. One of our bloggers decided it was time to make her middle school son a little more independent. She had him call the orthodontist to schedule his own appointment. All was fine until he scheduled it for 9am on the first day of school. She ended up having to call and reschedule. A for effort, mom!

Went into labor. This teacher mom knew the chances were high considering she was still working at nearly 40 weeks pregnant. But like any of us would be hoping, she prayed the time would come during off-school hours. It didn’t. However, it wasn’t anything too exciting other than her safely getting to the hospital and the planned sub coming to the rescue.

Forgetting the first parent-teacher conference. Many conferences are via ZOOM this year which you think would make it easier considering we don’t have to actually arrive anywhere on time other than a computer. Not for this mom who even picked the time slot she would meet with the teacher. Hours passed when she looked at her phone and had that “oh crud!” moment.

Late the first day. At least this mom didn’t completely space when the first day was. She simply forgot how long it takes her kids to get out the door. “I’m pretty sure we pass through a time warp from our front door to the car because how else does 20 feet take a full 5 minutes?” The best part is when a school employee said to her, “school started 20 minutes ago” as they walked in. Thanks (eye roll).

Wrong supplies. Buying school supplies can be tough so this mom felt super accomplished when she crossed it off her list with another couple of weeks of summer left to go. Too bad it turns out she bought supplies for 4th grade and her child is in 5th grade. Many of the items were similar but it did require another Target stop the first week of school.

This is your third reminder. On the topic of school supplies, this mom forgot to put an art shirt in with her kindergartener’s school supplies. She was then reminded on the first day. Again on the second day. And, yes you got it, again on the third. I need to check in if she ever remembered it.

Spilled coffee waving goodbye. I will own this one. I was so excited waving goodbye to my kids on the second day of school that I somehow jilted my coffee cup and it got a good splatter all over my light colored top. Wouldn’t it be my luck I had to go into the office that day. Guess that’s what blazers are for but it didn’t really cover it up. It was an all-day reminder that my kids were finally having in-person school – and that I am a mess just as we all are some days.

You’re going the wrong way. There is always that one mom and I am proud that this year it was one of my good friends. She not only pulled in the wrong way into the school drop off line but then somehow turned and was blocking busses that needed to exit. Her middle school daughter was mortified and all eyes were on them as a few cars honked, people stared, you get the picture.