To be amazed that people still haven't bought their school uniform?

[llamajohn]

Kids go back on Tuesday. WhatsApp Group is alive with "argh, I can't find X item" or "where can I get the book bag"?

As if it's been a complete surprise that their child is joining reception and the uniform shops and supermarkets have been closed since June...

Why would you leave it to the last moment?

I once threw away my daughter’s secondary school shoes at the end of term because they were in such a state . Forgot I hadn’t bought her any new ones and didn’t remember until she was getting ready on the first day back after the summer. She had to go in wearing a very uncool pair of lace up DM’s of mine 😬

My eldest (coming up to 2) starts nursery the end of Sept, haven’t bought the required uniform yet as he’s growing so fast . All the bits really add up and he’s on his second shoe size this month already

Indeed OP, ''tis preposterous! I find utterly shameful that whilst my DS will be commencing school next week in his brand new, perfectly sized uniform, with his new polished shoes, he will be rubbish shoulders with the street urchin offspring of the local hoi polloi who had the audacity to purchase theirs by the time it was too late!

I suspect it’s people waiting for payday. That said, our secondary school has changed the uniform for this year and it’s currently out of stock and not expected to be in stock again for FOUR MONTHS! This has been the case since the beginning of August. 🙄

I only got paid on Friday, yesterday there was an accident meaning roads were closed and traffic chaos, so I went today into town for Clarks to buy school shoes.

That ok with you??

Because it's not as if it's a surprise that your child will go to school and need uniform.

And how does this knowledge magic up extra money or change people's challenging circumstances?

We’ve all got busier/More exciting lives than you OP. This thread is a yawn…

Bully for you, not everyone is able to do that.

Good for you.

I'm fine financially but time poor. I have most certainly not been thinking about uniform for September since April. One half hour on the Marks website and a trip to Clarks did us. It's just not a big deal. Other people's uniform needs are even less deserving of headspace.

But this assumes you're not changing school. Those who are moving house or going up to a new school may not have? My oldest has 4 school offers for secondary between offer day and September!

Some people are skint. HTH

My mum used to leave it until the last minute for me because I kept growing at rather a rapid rate

Waiting for pay day i suspect.

Yet another twat thread which boils down to "I can do it, why can't you?".

I hope you get your arse handed to you, OP, and this thread turns to tumbleweed quickly, starving you of your smug attention-seeking.

I still find back to school adverts in July a bad thing to see. And I have no child at school.

I'd like double VAT on Christmas things on sale before 1st November.

So what's the problem for you? Your child had everything already, that's nice. Someone buying a book bag from reception tomorrow morning isn't going to upset your day is it?

Stop judging on something that is not affecting you.

My personal example:

DS is going to a brand new school that will still have the last parts being built as they start.

We had absolutely no information on what their uniform was until 10th July. No idea of colour, what was/wasn't compulsory etc. Could only buy white shirts in advance.

Anyway, the blazers are twice as much as other schools. We also need items such as football boots, shin guards and mouth guards whichi had no idea he needed, since its been over 20yrs since I went to school.

So other than white shirts I couldn't get anything early.

He's had a massive growth spurt the last few weeks so I also now need to buy new trainers he can use for PE, on top of school shoes.

Unfortunately, our car needed a major repair which took priority since I need a car for work to attend clinics and visit patients at home.

So yes, now I'm stuck getting 80% of the uniform last minute.

Waiting for payday? Away on holiday? Concerned about a possible growth spurt? There are many possible good reasons.

At that age, kids can grow a fair bit between June and the start of September…

Because they have been juggling work and childcare, maybe health stuff, maybe financial stuff, maybe family issues, maybe the child has grown more than expected, maybe there are mental issues, maybe they have just been busy... All sorts of reasons. Best not to be smug.

I don’t comment often OP and I’m terribly sorry you are amazed and whatnot but there are a myriad of reasons why people leave uniform shopping quite late and frankly I’m amazed that some of them wouldn’t occur to you before making such a smug post. I feel sorry for your fellow friends and parents on the WhatsApp group with such a judgemental person looking at their messages. Ideally everyone could do things earlier and be as supremely organised as you but newsflash - people can have their own circumstances that differ to yours.

Finances, for one. Some people are away. Children grow and often people want to buy as late as possible to ensure they get their money’s worth given how astronomical uniform can be and also to ensure that things fit. Family dynamics can be different to yours too, maybe a grandparent or carer or someone not as familiar had to step in and they aren’t sure what to buy. Either way, hopefully the thrust of all these messages has taught you to spend less time being amazed and more being understanding.

What's the issue with the old back pack? if it's not falling apart it still fine. you dint need new of everything every year

I don't think the OP cares since they've commented again doubling down on their original bullshit smug post 🙄

I only work well under pressure.

Because i have adhd and unfortunately I lack the skills to be organised and struggling with burn out having a disabled daughter