It's hot as Hades sitting out in my backyard, shaded by the huge table umbrella. My iced coffee seems to have evaporated (I can't have drunk the whole thing already!), much like the remaining days of summer vacation seem to be evaporating before my very eyes. It's not the heat I'll be missing come September, it's the freedom, the actual days between the school years where we make our own schedule.

My oldest will be starting First Grade this year, our first foray into the full school day. This is going to take some adjusting to (and I'd rather not think about my little boy growing up right now). Besides the intrusion into our lazy days by the adherence to the school calendar, I'm just going to miss my first-born being gone all day. Even his summer camp activities have been half days. I'm also going to miss him for his ability to keep his younger brother occupied, even entertained, while I attempt to engage in adult activities, like washing the kitchen floor.

So now what am I going to do with the one left behind? Not yet old enough for pre-school, we're left with play groups, story times and/or toddler classes, all requiring my undivided attention and complete involvement. I sure am going to miss big brother and his distracter factor. But now should be a good time to encourage a little more solo play from the little guy, or at least side-by-side work. He can do chores just like Mommy, he can develop his own interests for a change. He can even play school at home while his brother is away at real school.

Of course, he'll need school supplies, just like big brother. This year I get to try to convince two little boys that last year's backpacks still work just fine. It's not necessary to replace the things that are still in perfectly good shape, but how to do that when the stores are over-flowing with newer and better ones? How to avoid the whining?

This is where my school district has jumped in and tried to give parents a break. They have graciously provided a way for me to stay out of the stores, save time and money, all via the internet. They teamed up with a nationally-known office supply store to provide complete school supply kits, ordered online and delivered directly to the school, at the school district's bulk rate pricing. It's almost too good to be true.

Maybe it takes some of the fun out of back-to-school shopping (yeah, like the whining), but it also takes out most of the hassle, leaving just the paying-for-it part, and getting the internet links to work correctly. Those of you who actually look forward to your annual school shopping may just have a little more elbow room in the pencil aisle this year. I'll be coping with the Back-to-School Blues by shoe shopping.