Back-to-school in a positive way
2022 was supposed to be a better year, after the disasters that were 2020 and 2021. In some ways it was but in many other ways, 2022 was more stressful than ever. The kids were exhausted by the end of the year, and so was I. It’s now late January 2023 and we’re at Albany Mega Centre, shopping for back-to-school supplies, and feeling increasingly hopeful that 2023 will be the great year we’ve all been waiting for.
I don’t know why I thought 2022 would be better, given that the Omicron COVID strain hit the country this time last year. It was probably just wishful thinking after two really tough years: juggling work and the kids at home, worrying about getting sick and working extra hard to keep our business, and our staff, going.
In many ways, 2022 was a better year. The kids went to school all year and we’ve been back in the office for nearly 9 straight months now. Borders are open and business is slowly picking up. On the other hand, the boys both caught COVID through the school and I got it from one of them. It took us all a while to get back up to full speed. On top of sickness, it was a year full of uncertainty and endless bad news from wars, to staff shortages, to teenage ram-raids, to natural disasters and economic depression.
By Christmas, we were all knackered and running on empty. We decided to skip the usual – and very stressful – family Christmas palaver and do something indulgent, just for us, to cheer us up. A family trip to Fiji turned out to be just the trick, recharging the batteries and restoring our positive outlook on life. Even the bad Auckland weather, on our return, couldn’t dampen our optimism.
And now the school holidays are coming to an end. The torrential rains, and resulting slips, of the last few days can’t take away my determination to remain positive about 2023. I pile the kids into the car and we head to Albany Mega Centre for our back-to-school big shop. We come here every year because everything we need – stationery, computers, clothes, bags, and shoes – are all here.
We start at Warehouse Stationery. The kids are at different local colleges and have very different lists of requirements. Fortunately, it has everything and we come away with books, pencil cases, pens, pencils, protractors, compass sets, a T-square, and a whole lot more. It’s always been easy getting the kids' stationery needs from here but this year it was even easier. We ordered it all online and went in and collected it.
The oldest boy headed off on his own to Noel Leeming to find a new computer for school. He got a bit of cash for Christmas and we’ve topped it up so he can buy a better quality laptop and all the accessories. He searched online and Noel Leeming had the best range, by far, and also some of the best prices around. Fortunately, his old Chromebook can go to his younger brother.
The youngest has been through a big growth spurt over the holidays so clothes are our priority today. Rebel Sport is his go-to place, given his obsession with practically every sport possible. Mostly he wears his big brother's hand-me-downs but sports clothes aren’t an area his brother favours. It feels like a scene from an American sitcom as we walk through the store while he throws T-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, socks and sneakers at me to carry. Interestingly, he doesn’t seem to trust me to hold the new hockey stick and basketball which he carries himself with pride.
We meet up again with my oldest at Look Sharp Store. He’s been doing really well with his art and looking to take it to the next level in the year ahead. Over the holidays he’s done lots of drawing and painting so the goal today is to replenish pens, paints, paper and canvas. Fortunately, Look Sharp has it all and within ten minutes we are in and out.
I’m feeling positive about our shopping achievements and offer to buy the boys lunch at Burger King. Not surprisingly, they are keen. They both have real energy and excitement today and that adds to my sense of hope for the year ahead. Getting everything we need in back-to-school supplies in such as easy and fun way from Albany Mega Centre is all the sign I need that 2023 is going to be a great year.