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?

My third child has alas fallen victim to "third child syndrome" I have been more concerned with my eldest two (university and sixth form) to then have the brain space for her.

Hopefully last year's still fits or a rummage in the loft will bear fruit.

This is the second time in a couple of days when I’ve seen a faux innocent post asking ‘why’ other people do something when there’s a range of perfectly rational explanations, all completely obvious to anyone with more than two brain cells.

Why do people start these kinds of threads?

My grandson starts reception on the 11th. I’ve bought all of his uniform for him, only I haven’t, because his blazer, sweatshirt and polo top - all with school logo - have all been on order for months, due to supplier issues and the school don’t have any in his size so I can’t buy him any second hand, unless his mum is happy for him to go in looking like he’s wearing his dad’s clothes. So I guess he’ll go to school in incomplete uniform.

I’m usually super organised with school uniform, buy uniform that’s needed at beginning of summer but leave shoes as long as possible. None of my DDs have grown much over summer in the past ( uniforms last years in this house) This year I was exceptionally organised and even bought shoes in July as I got good deals. Last week it all went on and I ended up spending an extra £60 on shoes as the ones with plenty of room in July are now tight and another £40 on a blazer as the one we had is now too tight.

People know their children, for some there is no point buying early other May have a number of reasons why they have to wait until last minute to buy.

Would you like us to tell you that you are a better person than those parents on your WhatsApp group, OP? Maybe someone could fashion a medal for you.

Sometimes, when money is tight, you put off buying what you don't absolutely need today in the hope that next week/month you will have £5/10 spare.

I am entering my last year of uniform after 21 years.
I felt quite the oldie when I was in M&S dressing room yesterday overhearing parents getting their reluctant kids to try thing.

"No, keep your pants ON Tom"

If DS doesn't have what he needs for Wednesday, it's on him, he's had plenty of time to let me know what he's grown out of/worn out/lost.

In answer to your question OP, maybe people have turned their wall calendar over this morning and thought "oh SHIT, they're going back to school on Tuesday".

The irony

That's me!
No kids and privileged, so sorry if I also had
no idea.
Some people get anxious to get stuff done.

If people are relying on the uniform grants paid by local councils then those funds may only have just been released? Combined with yesterday being payday for many people.

I'm a single mum and I'm topped up with UC (so money is tight) but I still tend to buy school uniform earlier in the year, when the offers are on, because that saves me money overall.

I tend to buy a bit bigger to last for the year anyway, and I'd never buy clothes without growing room at the start of the summer. Sometimes I take up the hem of trousers and get adjustable waistband ones so they'll last all year. I often buy a few years ahead, so I'll always have some in the next size up, and I keep an eye on Vinted/ebay for bits throughout the year as people sell off items that their dcs haven't worn. If they are cheap and in a bigger size then I buy it then and keep it until it fits.

For the logo stuff which I have to order from the supplier, I also buy in chunks, so I don't have to pay postage each time, plus it often goes out of stock so I like to order few sizes so we have them to hand when they are needed.

Maybe their kids are like mine and immediately have their annual growth spurt the minute after they've been kitted out with new shoes/ uniform/ coats

Amazed? Really? To be honest I couldn’t face doing it until last week. Was on my knees by the end of term in July and needed to just switch off from everything to do with the kids schools. You do realise some people have more then one child at more then one school and may have other difficulties going on?

This!! Who buys the exact size their kids need anyway? I have 4 dc and have always managed to buy mine June/July time and they’ve never been too small come September. Surely everyone sizes up on uniform anyway? Give them growing room for the year.

Shoes I get, you can’t really size up shoes, but the rest of it-it all has adjustable waists nowadays and everything.

Not read most responses, but in July DS1s uniform all fitted just fine.
Since then, I think he's been sleeping in fertilizer. His trousers don't fit, hit shirts don't fit, his shoes don't fit, his blazer doesn't fit, his PE trousers don't fit.... you get the idea.

So, I was organized. Then he grew. And judging from the food intake, I'll be buying more uniform for DS2 in about a month.

I bought early, tried on yesterday and the trousers are now too short and none left anywhere in the right size.

Slow clap for OP.

Well done. You win! 🥇

I think the issue is buying uniform that fitted, instead of buying uniform that was loose/sized up

My child’s football boots and pe trainers fit at the start of the holidays he tried them on today and nope can’t fit. I couldn’t have anticipated this hence the last minute shopping. Parents have enough to worry about without people saying we should be more organised we all do our best for our kids.

Lots of people have extra expenses during summer , holidays , holiday clubs for working parents .

i also remember trying Ds’s pe uniform on the day before return to school realising it didn’t fit . I worked all summer my thoughts weren’t September

Because if you have boys you'll know the gits will have a growth spurt the second you buy the uniform!! So best to wait until the last minute.

Also if you have lots of smug spare time why don't you set up a side business buying it all for them, driving to the shops doing the click and collects, make some cash out of their chaos!

Except you often can't buy it all year round. The Autumn term can be an especially difficult period to source items as everywhere sells out in the back to school rush, then takes months to be replenished. You may well be able to squeeze your DC into July's too-small uniform in September in a pinch, but it isn't a solution that is workable through to Christmas.
We replace items as and when they're outgrown or beyond repair, rather than getting all new for the start of the year, but I've had a number of years where I've been caught out with absolutely everywhere being sold out of tights/plain PE joggers/vests etc for months on end when we've needed to replace them around October/November. I now try to be organised and always have the next size up stored in the loft, replacing it with the next next size up as soon after needing it as possible to avoid the stress.

People are allowed to do the shopping as they like or can manage. Mute the messages, I understand too many messages can be annoying.

We have uniform from last year that still fits so no problem there.

New shoes tomorrow. Sometimes I buy two sizes, try on at home and return the one that doesn't fit.

We bought two blazers without taking the kids in different sizes, got there early yesterday, tried on at home and returned the one that we didn't need. All done by 9.30am.

Will buy PE kit on Monday once they're dropped off. They won't be doing PE on the first day.

Everything else ie bag, lunch boxes etc bought online and delivered to the door.

All done in the last few days. Chill.

Edited to say the kids can relax at home without steeping foot in any shop and therefore no stress!