This year, my daughter Kennedy started her second year of preschool. Even though we were both excited, we still shed some tears.

She’s now in a longer program that includes staying at school through lunch, which means it’s my first year packing a to-go meal for her. Everything is happening so fast, and the emotional rollercoaster is wild.

Here’s how we got ready for this new season in our lives.

First, we updated Kennedy’s closet with essentials without breaking the bank

Preparing for school, Kennedy and I went through all of her clothes. We gave away anything that didn’t fit anymore (we have a list of family and friends we donate to because why waste perfectly good clothes). Also, we kept what we could still use at the end of summer. Seasons might change, but it’s still hot in California!

We then stocked up on some basics from Zara, which she loves.

Next, we went shoe shopping. Our local Nordstrom has a great selection of sneakers, dress shoes, and Crocs. I chose a few pairs of Nikes. But, to give her some autonomy, we allowed Kennedy to choose her own. She went for a pair of high-top, multi-colored, light-up Skechers. Who doesn’t love a glow-up moment?

We also found a great fall transition puffer jacket from Mini Boden at Nordstrom, grabbed some socks and underwear, and we were done. It really can be that simple. It’s easy to fall into the back-to-school pressure and feel the need to break the bank, but I say buy what you need as you go.

Lunches, conversations and family growth

As I mentioned earlier, we’re now in the full-day preschool program, which means Kennedy needs to bring lunch. We went with good old Pottery Barn for a high-quality backpack with a matching lunchbox and water bottle. Sidenote: I did not print her name on the backpack because of safety concerns. However, do your own research and decide what works best for your family.

Lastly, and most importantly, we had a big family conversation around communication and what behaviors and actions are acceptable from both adults and other children at school and outside of our home. We’ll be talking a bit more about this in a future article.

Her first day and week weren’t without issues. We all have a lot to adjust to and emotions to manage, but the best thing is that we’re all in this together.

Xo,

Zulay