The ARMC
Two anxiety ridden Moms and professionals taking on life and work. We've come together to talk about it all and formed The Anxiety Ridden Moms Club or ARMC for short. Welcome to our show, we look forward at what's to come. Thank you for joining us every week for a new episode.
The ARMC
Back to School: Lunchables, Tears, and $60 Backpacks
Kylie and Gina dive into the chaotic, emotional, and expensive reality of back-to-school season for parents navigating supply lists, new routines, and the inevitable mom guilt that comes with sending kids back to the classroom.
• Back-to-school supply lists feel like scavenger hunts, often costing hundreds of dollars for multiple children
• The hunt for specific items like purple two-pronged folders creates Hunger Games-like competition among parents
• Some schools offer pre-packaged supply boxes for around $30, but many kids still prefer selecting their own items
• Homework battles present unique challenges, especially with new math methods parents don't understand
• Many parents struggle with helping children complete homework while also getting them to actually turn it in
• School routines bring both relief (structured schedules, one meal handled) and new anxieties (less oversight)
• Middle school exposes children to concerning influences like vaping and drugs earlier than many parents expect
• Picture day is universally forgotten by parents, resulting in uniforms or inappropriate clothing in school photos
• The transition from summer freedom to school structure benefits both children and parents despite challenges
If you're feeling overwhelmed with back-to-school season, remember you're not alone. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at TheARMC, or email us at theARMC2025@gmail.com and subscribe to the Anxiety Ridden Moms Club wherever you listen to podcasts.
Welcome to the Anxiety-Ridden Moms Club, the podcast where two moms, each with her own unique style, come together to navigate the wild ride of motherhood, careers and anxiety.
Speaker 2:I'm Kylie and I'm Gina. There was a time when Kylie and I were direct competitors in corporate America and had different perspectives on growing our careers while managing life and all the things that come with it. But those differences have only made our friendship and our insights richer. I like to call it trauma-bonded, Gina.
Speaker 1:What started out as a difference of opinions evolved into a genuine connection. Our journey from varied viewpoints to a supportive friendship has taught us that every approach has its own strength.
Speaker 2:Now, as co-hosts and best friends, we blend generations of wisdom with fresh, modern ideas to explore the challenges, joys and, yes, even the anxieties of being career moms.
Speaker 1:So, whether you're, a seasoned pro or just stepping into the wild world of parenting, a new career or new relationships? Join us as we share stories, offer advice and sometimes even overthink it all together, grab your favorite cup of tea or coffee and settle in.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Anxiety-Ridden Moms Club.
Speaker 1:Welcome back to the Anxiety-Ridden Moms Club, the podcast for moms who are simultaneously making lunches, losing their minds and Googling. How many glue sticks is too many? I'm Kylie and y'all. It is back to school season, which means I am currently running on caffeine, target runs and a little bit of sheer panic.
Speaker 2:And I'm Gina and same Kylie. I don't know who decided that every teacher needs you to bring 12 boxes of Kleenex, a pound of dry erase markers and a specific brand of crayons, or the world ends. But here we are and guess what? We're going to talk all about it. Here we go.
Speaker 1:Okay, first things first.
Speaker 2:Can we just acknowledge that back to school is basically, mom, new Year's Like you start with good intentions Organized closets, meal prep, maybe even matching socks good intentions, organized closets, meal prep, maybe even matching socks, and by week two you're shoving Lunchables in a backpack and telling your kid to grab whatever clean-ish t-shirt they can find For real.
Speaker 1:I literally cried in my car after dropping mine off last year. Anyone else do the drop-off cry? If so, send us a message and make us feel less alone.
Speaker 2:Okay let's talk about those supply lists. Why do they feel like a scavenger hunt designed by someone who hates you?
Speaker 1:Yes, Last year I legit went to three stores looking for a purple two-pronged folder with pockets. I felt like it was the Hunger Games school edition.
Speaker 2:And don't even get me started on the kid who wants the $60 fancy backpack with 47 zippers. Like honey you're carrying one folder in your crushed granola bar. You do not need NASA grade gear. Lululemon, it's Lululemon gear.
Speaker 1:Oh loop, sorry, yes, not NASA, that must have been your boys for sure. Right, but real talk back to school is a huge anxiety trigger for us and for our kids New teachers, new routines, the friend drama and, let's be honest, mom guilt hits hard. Am I doing enough? Will they be okay? Are they going to eat the weird cafeteria pizza?
Speaker 2:And if you're sending a kid in our gardener or a middle schooler. For the first time, the tears are real. We see you, we feel you. It's okay to feel a little unglued while gluing name labels on 87 things.
Speaker 1:Yes, um, I think it was a kindergarten, maybe, and that I had to write their initials on every single crowd oh yes, really yes.
Speaker 2:Label this label that put it bigger, put it in the back. Where do you need to put it?
Speaker 1:I don't know so many rules so, all right, let's save each other some stress. Let's talk hacks. Here are a few we swear by pack lunches the night before because morning you is a disaster create a drop zone backpacks, shoes, lunch boxes, so you're not screaming.
Speaker 2:Where are your shoes at 7, 29 in the morning?
Speaker 1:donPinterest it Seriously. Nobody's winning an award for character-shaped sandwiches. Were you that, mom?
Speaker 2:Heck. No, you barely got a packed lunch. Trust me, it was eat at school. It's a little easier.
Speaker 1:We start strong. We start strong with Sunday nights going through the menu this is what it is and then they pick if they're hot lunch or cold lunch and then by the end of the year I don't give a shit. We don't even look at the menu. It's hot lunch.
Speaker 2:We don't eat at all Like that's just Well, we do that all week, every week. We don't think about it on Sundays other than, do you have money, because that's what you need cost, because as they get a little older it turns into well. But I wanted to buy the cookie and the extra snack and another drink. I was super thirsty today and all of a sudden it's ten dollars for lunch. That ain't happening. I'll give you 250 or three that's funny, that's funny okay, so let's.
Speaker 1:I feel like we need to back it up a little bit because I want to talk about the supply lists. So we got our supply list a couple weeks ago and they actually are not as terrible as some of the years, I guess, if you will, but the cost of everything is out of control. I've been shopping. I know Target had certain crowns and certain things for 50 cents, and walmart, like you literally have to. I said earlier, it was like the hunger games, but it's a scavenger hunt trying to find every, absolutely everything that they need. It is man, it is intense and it is not my favorite thing.
Speaker 2:Well, I think it's finding everything they need and then them being picky about when you're actually willing to accept. You're not taking that one, and they do have to have certain colors, certain brands, and then you have to they feel about. Are we just trying to keep up with the Joneses here? It's a pencil. It still writes the same way, but it's always, I think, just a fiasco of figuring it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so many options. Now I was lucky because both of mine this year went to use the hold on same backpack that they had last year, and I am mind blown. Oh, that is nice. Which my boy? He? This is like year three. I think for the same backpack. So I am winning. I also have like four Under Armour for sale if anybody's interested in an Under Armour book bag from the earlier days. I you will be seeing those on Facebook marketplace real soon for sale if anybody needs them.
Speaker 2:But yes, yeah, I got lucky. My daughter actually picked one and she's been using it for several years as well and she's she never could find another one she liked, but now it's kind of ripped. So I think this is the year that we're probably going to have to buy a new one, and I'm sure she'll pick something that's not cheap. It'll be some sort of fancy schmancy ordeal.
Speaker 1:It's got to be. It's got to be, it's the only option. Yes, but yeah, no. I mean there have definitely been years where they need eight rolls of paper towels and 10 boxes of Kleenexes, and there's always the disclaimer that, um, these could need to be replenished throughout the year. But it I mean all in all, it's like a, probably with two kids, it's probably like four hundred dollars.
Speaker 2:It's yeah, it's expensive. Well, and at one point in time they had. We were always buying all those supplies and spending a ton of money. And then one of my friends who lives in Northern Illinois. She was like, oh no, we just buy this box and it's cheap. I mean, it was only maybe 30 bucks or something like that, with all the supplies that they need. I'm like, what are you talking about?
Speaker 1:Where's that? Where do you get this box?
Speaker 2:I want a box. It's like 30. She's like no, it's through the school, like it's. That's what they do. Instead of giving you a list, you just order this box and then you're done. And I'm like for 30 and it gives you everything. Yeah, that's all you gotta do. I'm like oh, my god. Well then, we still had a couple more years where we had to pay for all the stuff and then they all of a sudden initiated the box and my kids were like I'm not getting that box. I'm like what? No, we can still get the list. So they wanted the list like but we really could do the box and maybe add a couple cool things to go with it. It still would save me a ton of money.
Speaker 1:They didn't like it huh, I was gonna do a shout out to saint francis holy ghost catholic school, to St Francis Holy Ghost Catholic School in Jerseyville, illinois. I need the $30 box. I need it, please. No, but you're absolutely right, mine are particular little things and so they've got to have.
Speaker 2:It makes going back to school very stressful. Just, you know, making sure that you have the list, that you know what they need and then you get what they want, that they like, that they feel confident when they go to school and fit in. It's just, I don't know, stressful and I don't like shopping in Target or Walmart with all those people at the same time, especially when there's no taxes, so let's all show up at the same time. No tax weekend, yes, no tax weekend.
Speaker 1:So it's packed and not even just the supplies. I and you know my kids go to go to private school and, um, one of the things that they probably think is is a curse as did I growing up um, are uniforms. But as a mom, I I love it, because there's never a question of what you're gonna wear. And you know all of those. Yeah, every single day, the battle of I don't like this, or I want this, but it's not clean, or I don't, I don't have that, it's a uniform, but kids grow like weeds, and so even just replacing the uniforms yeah, the shirts, every year it is it's a lot of money, so it's, yeah, it's not my favorite, my favorite. But, lord have mercy, am I ready? Um, I'm. I'm not wishing summer away super fast. However, feeding these kids three times a day is a whole lot of work. It's a lot of work. So if school could take one of those meals off my, off my plate, that I'm ready for that, well, and I think the other thing is during the summertime.
Speaker 2:Now, I'm one that never really wants school to start back up, because then it means when you do have homework, we have homework then to his parents it's not really just the kids, let's be honest. So I'm always like we're going back to school already. I just don't really want to. But on the other hand, when it comes to food and feeding, it's true Like we inherit always a group of kids at our house. All the time. We've always had an extra body at least one, if not two and more so I'm feeding everybody's kids. So it is a lot cheaper when they go back to school. So that's one thing that I am excited for, because I'm always like, okay, at least this will be good, I'll get a little, my wallet at least will get a little bit of a break instead of having to pay for feeding everybody. But I really don't like going back to having homework. I didn't like it when I was in school and I don't like doing it now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm a firm believer of no homework.
Speaker 2:I would love no homework, I just and we were really lucky because Tommy, our oldest, he was, he's just a whiz, I mean, he's kind of has a photographic memory so he just would be like do everything on his own. You never had to help him with anything and just wonderful. And then you went to the next kids after that and it just they all needed help. And I'm like I don't even this new math that they do, god bless. I mean, come on, I don't understand it. And if I tell you the way, that still gets you the answer a whole lot faster, it's wrong and they're going to get because they have to show that they did it the right way.
Speaker 1:I was going to say I hear Nora saying I have to show my work.
Speaker 2:I have to show. So that's where I've had to get Tommy and I'll be like well, I know you didn't do this exact math, but I know you can figure it out because I can't.
Speaker 1:So he's the one who's had to help tutor everybody shout out to the homelink answer key, because that thing saves my life there. I mean they're oh gosh, I don't know I. I wouldn't say I was terrible at math, but when you get into like the algebra days and different, like I am useless. So if google can't help you, neither can mama, so I don't know, yep, it's.
Speaker 1:Math is probably our biggest struggle where I'm like I don't know either. Did you not learn this at school? I don't know, but yeah, it's, it's a struggle, for sure, for sure. And I have you know, wyatt is very, very smart, but I don't know how much effort he puts forth. So he's one where we monitor grades and monitor the report card and I have to threaten his life and to take away everything out of the report card. And I have to threaten his life and to take away everything, um, because he is, he is so smart and he is so capable, which is very, very, very frustrating for me as a parent or, um, even as a friend, when the people are capable of doing better, they just choose not to. Really sends me over the edge, um, and then Nora's straight A's. So I have a little bit of, you know, polar opposites, I guess if you will.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that's common of boys anyways. I just think it is they'd rather be outside playing, running around, doing stuff, keeping busy, or, if they're into video games, like be glued to that, whatever it is. I just think once they're done with school they want to be done, so to come home, do homework. You know, austin was one where this teacher would always tell me so austin has like 10 assignments he hasn't turned in. I'm like what? But we found them all in his desk and they're all done. He just doesn't turn them in. And I'm like what? So I'd ask him why, seriously, dude, you have all your homework done. Just hand it to the teacher.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you couldn't even get a straight answer of why he just did it, shoved it in his desk. So she would literally probably once a month go search his desk with him and catch him up on all of his homework, because it was all in there. He just would not turn it. Why. I have no idea. Those are the things of like when you're raising kids that you think I don't understand. I just don't understand. There is nothing about that that makes any sense whatsoever, none, whatsoever.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're going to go through the effort of doing the homework. Yes, then turn it in. Turn it in, it's not that difficult.
Speaker 2:No, and it was funny because a teacher would call me and at least he had some great teachers and they all loved him because he was always a really good kid. But he just refused to turn his stuff in. And so she called don't worry, I'm going through it, cause, yeah, he's way behind again. You know what I mean? Like just, she's like I just realized we just have to do once a month, we'll just clean it out, and that way I'll get all of his homework and he'll pass without.
Speaker 1:So bizarre, and I will say, the older, the older they get. I feel like the teachers that at least uh, we're dealing with are a lot more cutthroat like yeah, you are, this is seventh grade and you need I'm like dang, I wasn't held that accountable until college, and then in college they didn't even really hold you accountable.
Speaker 2:It's like you do it or you don't, but we're not going to hold your hand right, so it's, it's well, I think they started in fifth grade even starting to get more strict, and I was even some of the teachers during fifth grade. For each one of my kids they would even talk about we're not going to do handholding anymore once you're in fifth grade, because when they go to middle school we're not handholding any that much at all anymore and you definitely can tell the difference between sixth grade and seventh of how much even more, and you know what I mean. So I guess it's good that they're doing that in fifth grade, but it is like I don't remember it being like that.
Speaker 1:No, well, let me get your opinion on this. So I would say so here in Jerseyville they, just like in the last, I would say, probably five years or so have transferred eighth grade to the high school. So our private school offers school up until eighth grade, or you have the option to do eighth grade at at the high school. And so Wyatt was very and, and he shoots trap and does as his, his hobby or his sport, whatever, and he has built relationships with a lot of older kids and so he was very much so like I want to go to high school for eighth grade. I want to go to high school for eighth grade. And to be honest, I at first I didn't really have a problem with it and I was shopping in a local store uptown and she's like you know, I sent my kid for eighth grade and it was too soon. She's like it was too soon. She's like they're not mature enough.
Speaker 1:They're into the world of she's like different all of you know the stuff that I guess you expect when you go to high school and she's like, in just it being eighth grade, she's like if I could do it over I wouldn't have done it. Any thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:well, the way our schools are set up is that you go grade school is through fifth, then you go to sixth, seventh and eighth and then you go to high school. And yes, I think that that's a good thing. There's a lot of change. Seventh grade to me is such a changing year anyway. So I think eighth grade kind of gets them settled a little bit more before they make that leap to high school. So I would probably be a little bit reluctant to send them and we are.
Speaker 1:He's sticking. He's sticking to the uh, he's sticking to where he goes. It'll be my first year, my one year, that I have um drop off at the same place. So that hasn't happened in a few years and I'll just have one drop off and one pickup location. So, oh nice, and the next year it's the freshman, so that's yeah, oh gosh, I don't know well.
Speaker 2:And then you join into a whole new world sex, drugs and alcohol. Right it begins and I'm well, I don't know, middle school really, really, yes, it's, yes, oh, it's so bad, it's so bad. And luckily, my daughter. She shares all the stories and the things she sees and watches just at school. It's like what there's just kids that are taking stuff during the school day. The next thing, you know, they're being taken out by the emergency.
Speaker 2:You know, in middle school, in middle school, yeah, 911's being called and here's the ambulance because she would come out, she would tell me just so, you know, do not mix benadryl and drugs, oh my gosh, because she'll tell me just like what some of the things that's happened, and I mean it's scary, that is terrifying, it's, it's very scary.
Speaker 2:And then there's kids that are, um, just even like the vapes. You know what I understand like even vaping. You know, we all know all these horrible stories, even around people that are, you know, these kids have been vaping and they have the hospital and so they have, like, usually there's like a group of kids and they're dealing all that stuff, you know, so they'll be dealing the vapes, and then you'll have the kids who get into the other types of drugs and stuff that they're doing and oh yeah, it's all over in middle school big time. So that's the way reason why I also think it's kind of good to keep your kid in middle school through eighth grade instead of jumping to high school, because there's just so there is so much going on nowadays I know you can't see me because this is audio, gina can, but I am mind blown right now.
Speaker 1:Like absolutely mind blown, I feel. Like once a day I see online that someone died of a fentanyl overdose because they didn't realize that fentanyl was in. Whatever the hell it is that they're taking or that they're making molly look like. Molly was always the one I thought would be a good time. Never tried it. I have a very, very, very addictive personality, so I heard.
Speaker 2:There's like the stickers. You know that they come to the grade schools and these people deal like these stickers. And then your kids there's certain ones, I think, maybe even they lick it, other ones they just stick it on their skin or something. Oh yeah, that, yeah, that was a real big thing too when they were in grade school, that they would have people that would like kind of lurk around the elementary schools and then that's what they would get them into. They'd be like you want these stickers and they'd just think they were stickers and the next thing you know it's no, no, those aren't just regular stickers, those are drugs, oh my gosh. Oh, yes, that's, it's, it's.
Speaker 2:I mean, that's why, I guess, for me, maybe I love summers. So even though I spend more money on food for these kids and I have a group of kids around, there's a couple of reasons I like I do that One that I know your friends. So then that way I kind of have more of an understanding of what who's influencing you right, and I build a relationship with those friends, and so at the end of the day, it just is easier to help my kids manage through anything that's going on in life. And I don't like it when they then they do go back to school, because I lose a lot of that knowing what's going on all day. And even though my kids have been in a great school district and had great teachers and everything has been positive as far as that goes, it's just that, unfortunately, you get a mix of a group of kids, and I mean things just happen and everybody's influenced in different ways in their homes or by people in their neighborhoods and those kinds of things, and then they come to school and you just don't know what other things are influencing your children. And we are not the only people to influence our kids, and especially the older and older. Every year they get the less and less that we have that that where we are so impressive and amazing to be around. Now their friends are speaking the truth and we don't know what that is. We don't understand. So I'm scared. So you do lose some of that control for sure, and so I really haven't.
Speaker 2:I've probably always been bags. I'll be like, oh, you're going back to school already. What's the date? I feel like I'm counting down just as much, because then I have to worry more about did they pick up a new friend and then we got to. You know I'll have them over and you know let's get to know that kid and luckily I've had seriously we've had good kids that have been around my house and all my kids have really picked very, very good people to be around. So I've been fortunate. But there's been a lot of stories. Even with the good kids there's still stories and there's still things that happen even at their homes.
Speaker 1:And I don't know. Hell, yeah, I had a meltdown just this morning, full blown, full blown meltdown, before we started recording this episode. So yeah, there's that.
Speaker 2:Right, so everybody's home is different. Yeah, you know your kids are a part of every different one and it's just, it's all influencing to them.
Speaker 1:The drama definitely has slowed down, which, again, boys are so easy in my opinion, because I didn't have that with Wyatt. Obviously there are people that are assholes, I mean, but you'll have that your whole life, and so it's teaching them to just kind of brush it off in one ear out the other. I got a sensitive girl. I've got a very, very sensitive girl and she takes everything to heart, and I think that the poor thing got my ability to overthink everything and so and so didn't answer, and I haven't talked to them in a couple of days.
Speaker 1:And are they mad at me? Or did I do this, or it just it's exhausting that part of it and I have. I have flashbacks to my grade school days when we would fight over who sat next to who at lunch or who got invited to the sleepover that weekend and who didn't. And I'm just like, oh gosh, how do I, how do I help her be the, the type of person that is, the, is the leader or just doesn't, doesn't care. I just want her to be genuine to who she is and and not care what everyone thinks.
Speaker 2:But she's got that bug um, well, as you know, you're talking about Nora and and how she is and she's more sensitive. I think that that's. It is more common with girls. Um, but it's like I said before, my daughter is not sensitive like that.
Speaker 2:She spirals on stuff like she could have a cough or something and she'd be like oh my God, do you think I'm dying? I just Googled this, you know, and I'm like stop Googling. She's like but seriously, read it. It says all the things that's going on with me and those are the things she spirals over. Is that like she's going to have some deathly disease? And I'm always like, seriously, seriously, honey, you're never, hardly even that sick when you aren't not that serious. And she spirals bad. But as far as like other kids and and issues, and she always thinks everybody else is like, feels like that is not so serious, like why do they think that that's such a big deal? And she just is, goes through life and enjoys herself and if you get mad at her even, okay, I mean she never is intentionally trying to upset anybody or do anything wrong. She doesn't go out there with a, with a mean heart, you know. And so in the end of the day, if somebody thinks that she is, she's like, well, then that sounds like it's their problem, because I'm not like that. And you know, realistically, I guess she feels if they knew her well enough then they would know she's not like that and take a moment to talk to her. She just doesn't get involved in all that, which is nice.
Speaker 2:And my boys really didn't either, except for my second in line, so Casey, out of my boys, when we just had the boys, I'd always say he is my daughter, like, because he was just the one and we know that Casey listens. That second kid again, yes, and he literally every he was one worried, whatever I thought, and he was one had to dress a certain way and he's the one that needed to be with certain people and he could definitely get upset or bothered by what other people were to think or say, or, and my favorite story. So I do have to say this because this is just. I don't know, maybe this is bad parenting, but it was funny to me. So this is how Ied he came home one time and he told me he said "'Mom, in school, these girls, they have these like boas.
Speaker 2:They're real like feathers, you know, and they're real long and they would play, and we all like play with them". And he's like I want to get one. And I said, well, I think it's all the girls that are just wearing them. And he goes, no, no, no, no, no, there's boys wearing them too. And I'm like, are you sure? Like I've never seen any girl wear shit in these things at all, like it's always the girls and it's just. I mean, more or less I think even girls weren't wearing them, it was more like it feels really good. So him and I had a debate and he kept going back oh, no, no, no, no, I'm seriously matt, he's getting so angry. So we're at the store and he saw them. There's a rack of them and I'm like dude I think I need an age for context.
Speaker 1:What age are we talking?
Speaker 2:he was like eight or nine years old, okay, and he's telling me. He's like I swear you were so stupid, mom. I'm telling you, you know, I'm like dude, I'm, I'm being honest with you, I'm trying to help, trying to help a pal out, you know. And he said he's like no. I said you know what? That's fine, I'm gonna buy it, that's cool, and you're going to wear it tomorrow to school. And he's like, oh, so I buy it. He goes home.
Speaker 2:My husband was so mad at me why would you purchase that and tell him to wear it to school? I said you want to keep arguing with me that I'm the dumb one? I will teach you a lesson in a different kind of way. I never was one to be. I didn't, I didn't take things away from you. I didn't do a lot of like punishment punishment, especially by the time you're in grade school and I just didn't do that and and. So I did things always creatively.
Speaker 2:And this was one of the ones where I'm like he was being kind of rude to me, telling me how dumb I am. I mean, I could reprimand you or I could teach you a better lesson. So he went to school. I was laughing when he was going to school. It was like going to be my greatest day. So he goes to school and he comes back home and he was angry and he goes. I went to school and only the girls have these things and I'm like I tried to tell you that like 15 times in the store and you didn't listen, because I'm so stupid and he's like I can't believe that you let me go and take this. I'm like there was no talking to you you wanted the damn kid, you wanted the boa and you got it.
Speaker 1:You got it so how did that turn out for him that day at school? Oh, he was embarrassed. Yeah, he was very embarrassed I guess I want to know how his wires got crossed and how he thought it was it's called not listening.
Speaker 2:he's always in five places at once. So I think he thought it was it's called not listening. Casey's always in five places at once. So I think he thought it was cool and the boys are probably playing around because they do feel good.
Speaker 1:You know I mean like, but when he showed up with the one around his neck it wasn't so cool when he showed up with they're like that's yours dude.
Speaker 2:Oh, it was funny.
Speaker 1:I actually borrowed it from my sister. I actually borrowed it from my sister, but he probably didn't have a sister at that time?
Speaker 2:No, he did not, so he had nothing to say. Oh, my brother's yeah, no, they both would have looked at him like, yeah, no, buddy.
Speaker 1:He couldn't have borrowed it from mom either, because that would have been straight up weird. Yes.
Speaker 2:It was hilarious, but it is how I teach my lesson For our listeners.
Speaker 1:Gina's entire family has voted no on the sex line for our listeners. Gina's entire family has voted no on the sex line, so that was voted out by her family. So that will not be a branch of the anxiety-ridden mom's club, will not be a sex line using Gina's sexy voice. So just to follow up on that, okay, before we wrap up on this, this back to school, which I do I did want to touch on lunches too. So how much? How much do you give these high school kids for lunch right now?
Speaker 2:um, for me, you know, I think in high school god bless, you know, the food that they give these kids now in high school is so nice, like we had that just regular old. Here's your lunch, be happy, you got something to eat. And they have like times where there's Chick-fil-A and I mean they've got good food. We don't have those here in these parts, you don't. Oh no, they've got like really good food.
Speaker 2:So it does become a battle at times because they want to spend that obviously more money and there has to come a cap for me. I'm like I'm not going to put like you're going to a restaurant and spending $20 or something like that a day and they easily could drop that with the snacks that they can get, the other stuff they can get in a vending machine, anything. They just have an array of choices. So I definitely have always just given kind of like this is how much I'll give you. So at least once they get to a point they're working, they want to contribute more to their lunch and eat more. That's on them.
Speaker 2:But the reality of it is I kind of have to cap it because otherwise it can get out of hand and they don't need to eat that much at lunch. Anyways, each one of my kids has been different so some really enjoyed certain things. So certain days they'd go a couple of snacks at home and then come home after school and eat like crazy. So it just kind of depended kid to kid. But I always did cap it because it can get expensive.
Speaker 1:We have the option for, you know, leaving campus at lunch and you know the first couple of years. In walking distance we had Dairy Queen and Taco Bell, which has since moved to the other end of town. But when you can't drive, those were kind of your options.
Speaker 1:Well hell, you can't get anything at Dairy Queen for probably less than $7. We would go to McDonald's and get I think they had like a McChicken and a small fry for like $2. And so I'm already thinking like, oh my God, what am I going to have? To give them, every single you know, a lunch allowance, because the cost of things just aren't the same. They're going to be eating two cheeseburgers from McDonald's for $3 on a regular basis.
Speaker 2:Because, dang Well, and you know the other thing too to mention. You know our food supply in general, you know there's all the concerns about it and so even with these kids eating the fast food stuff that they want to eat and all the different things, then you hear about all the autoimmune diseases and all the other problems. And I just noticed that even these high school kids are starting to have more issues. And, like Tommy, it was when he was in high school that he ended up with a huge polyp in his nose and huge, like I just thought he didn't take his allergy medicine and we took him to the doctors over time so like it's just allergies. And they even did a ct scan, couldn't find anything. And then we, he sent us to an ent who put the tube right up his nose to scope him and here's this humongous polyp. How it was missed on a ct scan nobody can figure out. But um, after, that is when later and at some point, you know we'll probably get in discussions about it, but my, he ended up that we found from this we didn't find out, but we had the polyp removed, all that kind of stuff he had surgery on it and then later down the road. Um, as an adult, that's when he ended up having a hereditary cancer.
Speaker 2:But you sit and you think about all these different food options that we have, even in the schools and you do kind of wish that they I don't know have a little bit better, healthier, somewhat, options in comparison. But otherwise it's just cheaper to say well, like you just said, you know, like McDonald's, grab a McChicken and something like that, and if they sell things like that at school, what they're going to eat, and you have a lot of kids who don't even have the means to afford different things and they're kind of like limited on what it is that you know what their choices are For sure. So it makes even lunches more, for me at least. I mean, obviously, with having all the kids, that it just makes you kind of look back and, as I've learned, that it makes it more like maybe more people should pack their lunch for sure I know which we live.
Speaker 1:I mean, we live pretty close, but not I wouldn't say close enough for them to walk home, um, for lunch, you know, before they're driving, but right when they're. When they're driving, then that wouldn't be an issue to just come home for lunch. But yeah, yeah, good times, good things to look forward to. All right. Before we wrap up, let's do a quick real talk, rapid fire Ready. First, one biggest back to school failure, willing to admit on air go.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's easy. I once set my kid on picture day and didn't remember which. To be honest with you, let's just be honest I never remembered on picture day and didn't remember which. To be honest with you, let's just be honest, I never remembered any picture days you stole mine, you stole my never remember picture days, so they've always gone and most, every single photo of every single one of my kids is absolutely horrible. Their hair is not done like it should. The clothes they wore is not what you would have picked. It's just horrible.
Speaker 1:There's mine okay, so mine, I'm gonna, I'm gonna start with the picture day thing, and that's just I. I mentioned that my kids wear uniforms, so when you forget picture day and they have to have their pictures and uniforms, it's, it's not fun, it's not fun. And it was actually, um, my mom, because that's when I was working in st louis and leaving early and my mom had taken them to school and, uh, she was pissed, she was like you have one job, like what the they're in their uniforms and it's picture day, and she went home and got them clothes, but it, yeah, it was bad and then my mom and I got into a fight and it was.
Speaker 1:It was bad. So yeah, that's mine's along the same thing with with picture days.
Speaker 2:But I gotta say, you know, especially since I was, um, you know, young and in grade school, really like in the 80s um, when I look back at those school pictures, they're horrible too, so I don't really care. My kids are bad. I'm like, just take a look at my eyes and shut up. That's awesome.
Speaker 1:That's awesome.
Speaker 2:Okay, next rapid fire. One thing you're actually excited about this school year.
Speaker 1:Honestly, the quiet house for a few hours especially. You know, we all know that I work here now so I love them so much. But mama needs a breather. So bring on, bring on school you to three baby, let's do it for me.
Speaker 2:I think it's routine I'm I do definitely thrive on routine, so sometimes the summer can throw me off and I just need to get my regular schedule just back in order.
Speaker 1:I am all over the place. You know, we all decided that I'm the one who leaves for, you know, vacation and don't have a place to stay two days prior. So, yeah, that is me. But definitely, and I think the kids strive in structure too. And so just going to bed at a normal time and getting you know just that structure, I think that we crave, and my kids, you know, are better in that environment than they will stay up till the wee hours of the morning, and then I'm like I got to work, I'm going to bed, don't catch anything on fire, because we'll have to catch up on that in another episode. When I woke up to Wyatt saying that the shed was on fire because him and a friend were playing with fire, they set an alarm to wake up at 5am to go play with fire. Like why? Why, I just love my sleep too much for that. So me too. Good luck to all of us.
Speaker 1:But back to school is here. So mama's, deep breaths, whether you're the mom crying in the parking lot or the one popping champagne and in car line, here we go. Look for me I'll be popping champagne in car line. Gina will be crying. No, I say that but I get choked up every, every single time. So it's just another, you know, another year starts and another one goes by, and before you know it it's's high school, college, and then they're gone. But, moms, you're doing amazing, we're in this together.
Speaker 2:And if your kids show up in last year's sneakers, no judgment. We're here for you and your sanity. Send us back to School. Hacks or your own rapid fire answers we want to hear them.
Speaker 1:Make sure you follow us on Facebook, instagram and TikTok at TheARMC, or email us at theARMC2025 at gmailcom and subscribe to the Anxiety Ridden Moms Club wherever you listen to podcasts and, hey, good luck surviving the first week.
Speaker 2:If no one's told you lately, let me be the one to say it You're not failing, you're growing, you're not broken, you're becoming and you're doing better than you think. Thanks for being here today.
Speaker 1:If this episode resonated with you, I'd love if you'd subscribe, leave a review or share it with another mom who might need to hear this. You can also connect with us on Facebook or TikTok at TheARMC. We'd love to hear your story.
Speaker 2:Until next time, give yourself grace, breathe deep and remember peace is possible.