Can you smell it? The erasers, the crayons, the multi-colored pack of Sharpies. Ahhh, breathe it in.

Well, maybe not the Sharpies. I don’t think that’s recommended by the surgeon general.

It’s that time of year again. The time when my teacher friends try – often unsuccessfully – to hold back their tears at the thought of their summer breaks ending. (This is also known as the time when I try to be supportive while silently regretting my decision not to become a teacher.)

It’s the time of year that many of my mom friends try – again, sometimes unsuccessfully – to hold back their tears as they send their children off to a new grade, a new adventure, a new life.

And it’s the time of year that finds me with an urge to head straight to Walmart, to not pass go and to buy myself a backpack, some Lisa Frank folders or, at the very least, a Big Chief tablet.

To read the rest of this post, head over to (in)courage. I’m there today.