10 Worst Things About Getting Ready For School In West Islip

Students across West Islip will return to the classroom Sept. 9, and while youngsters may not be thinking about resuming their studies, parents are already preparing for what one major office superstore once called “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

As local families begin their back-to-school preparations, Patch has put together our thoughts on the 10 Worst Things About Getting Ready for School in West Islip. Feel free to share a few ideas of your own in the comments section below. If we get some good feedback, we’ll put these together and share later in the week.

Here’s our list:

• Having to battle the crowds at Justice at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park. All those clothes and all those giggling girls in one spot can be sensory overload.

• Having to tell your son that he’s coming with you to Justice to buy clothes for his sister. Torture for any boy…or dad.

• Visiting the West Islip School District website to get a list of back-to-school supplies, hurrying to Target or Staples to get the supplies, and getting there and realizing the store is out of the 75 pencils the teacher needs.

• Buying the 75 pencils the teacher requested and then realizing you have to sharpen them. (The sound of the electric pencil sharpener will be burned into your head forever!!)

• Knowing the easy summer drive south on Udall Road/Higbie Lane into the heart of West Islip will soon come to an end. Remember folks, if you need to get to the high school and you live north of Sunrise Highway, 231 is your best route.

• The high school bus rumbling past your window at 6:45 a.m., 15 minutes before your alarm was set to wake you.

• Getting the kids out of bed the first day of school (any day really) and getting them back on a schedule.

• Spilling the pencil shavings while sharpening those 75 pencils while teaching your first grader new vocabulary you hope they won’t repeat to their teacher.

• The phone call from your kid (any age) at school saying that they have forgotten (insert item) and that they need it immediately.

• The end of summer and the appearance of Christmas decorations at your favorite retailer.