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 haven't done all mine because I just can't be bothered, I've had better things to do and the uniform is widely available in supermarkets. They have enough for the first day or so. It'll be fine.

You are AMAZING @llamajohn. So organised that you have spare time to criticise other people who aren't as amazing as you.

Two reasons why I don't always have school uniform all sorted before the start of term. DS1 in particular seemed to have growth spurts over the summer holidays. So no point in buying until I saw what size he needed. He has been 6ft 2" for a year now (at 16yo) so uniform all sorted this year as he seems to have finished growing (I hope.) The other reason is that I'm just not a very organised person. Maybe it's a character flaw? If I'm not under pressure, it ain't getting done.

Normally I’m really early but this year did one child’s school shoes this weekend and just picked up a few bits of spares. Stock seemed fine and I was pleasantly surprised as was expecting shoes to be a struggle.

We were late because that child genuinely didn’t have a free day with me to get to the shops all summer. I did my other daughter a couple of weeks ago but I’m glad as I think eldest has grown again through holidays. I was shocked at how big her feet had got. Most of the time other than starting a new school people have items in different sizes, things that can tide them over etc.

Okay, well give your self a round of applause then.

What winds me up about these smug threads, is I've seen others who have mentioned how much they're dreading the kids going back because of being unable to afford correct uniform or new shoes etc. What a way to make some people feel even worse!

I am with you on the weirdly organised where Christmas and birthday presents at are concerned.

Probably a financial issue above anything else. As long as you've got your's, you don't need to know why someone hasn't bought theirs'.

It's easy to be organised when you have the funds to back you up. Not so easy for people who have to prioritise their spends and juggle, Sometimes a gas bill has to be paid before buying a uniform, hence the delay.

DHs gone out with DS2 today - we have most of the stuff already from DS1 and I didn't want to buy school shoes or PE trainers too early and have them outgrown.

DS’ school trousers were fine at the start of the holidays. He tried them on again a couple of days ago and he’s grown that much in 6 weeks that they are now above his ankle and tight on the waist. So I have had a mad dash to find trousers. I went to the biggest M&S in Europe and another big city centre store and they didn’t have any in his size. Very little of any size.

What i don’t understand is that M&S know they are popular for uniform and that people will be buying it now. They sell it all year round. Why don’t they get enough stock for the mad rush? Any surplus will be sold across the school year.

Are you new to mumsnet? 😆

I bought mine the week after they broke up. Felt very smug being all prepared and all. Tried them on the other day, don't even stay up at the waist.... Quick desperate log onto the Asda site to buy smaller ones 🤣

People have more interesting things on their to do list that they prioritise (I've got the new bits of uniform last week.).

I will also add that I have only bought both DC shoes this week and they have both gone up a shoe size since the end of term.

Usually I am more organised and buy uniform in July at the beginning of the school hols, but this year it was impossible to do that because DS is growing rapidly and has gone up so many sizes I needed to be sure he wouldn't grow out of what I bought before school!
Oh and we have been on holiday, and waiting for August payday, which for many is end of the month.
Our local uniform shop workers always seem annoyed and surprised that parents want to buy uniform when it is still flipping August, speaking to parents like they're disorganised idiots, but it's not always practical to get it earlier.

I like to enjoy summer and not think about school until I really have to. We have also been away twice so was concentrating on getting together stuff for holidays. I'm going to collect school trousers from Asda tomorrow. I've ordered T shirts for PE on Amazon today. Have an appointment at Clark's tomorrow for shoes. It'll be fine.

I can't even relax if I've not got gifts ready to go in my house lol 😂

We’ve been too busy having a lovely time OP.
#notsorry

You can't return it but you can give it back and get a store credit. I've never had any shop say no to either a refund, exchange or credit note.

I've got 5 kids in school (2 in secondary and all schools require items to be logoed.). In some years gone by I've had to buy some last min as I couldn't afford to buy all in 1 go because it's so expensive. I found it so stressful.. fortunately this year I was able to buy it all in one go at the start of August after we came back off holiday. People have different situations and not all uniform is cheap.

I don't think it's particularly nice that you're judging these people when you don't know their circumstances.

We've all been there before!

The good thing about secondary school beyond year 7 is that I am literally not having to buy anything!

If you knew back in March what size your kid would be in September - good for you.
If you don't spend each monthly pay packet on essential things for each month and so can use a bit to buy things you'll need for a few months time - good for you.
If you have good source of second hand uniform - good for you
If you aren't overwhelmed trying to cater for your children's immediate needs that day, may because you are ill or your child is disabled - good for you

But being "amazed" that parents haven't manages to do this, just shows that you have no imagination about how other people live, and making a post about it shows that you like people to feel guilty that they can't parent as well as you can.

I always wonder why people seem to care so much about other people and what they are or aren’t doing

I started quite early, but I’m still waiting for a few bits to arrive. It isn’t cheap kitting them
out, i think people try to spread it out a bit.