Back to School: A Comparison of the 1970s and Today

Back to School in the 1970s

1. In the final week of August, take the kids downtown to shop at Sears for their back-to-school outfits. Pick up a new pair of corduroys and a striped tee for each child. For the boys, grab some dungarees, and for the girls, some culottes. Firmly tell Jennifer that she can’t have that orange and red poncho, but promise to crochet her a cooler one with extra fringe. Don’t forget to pick up a pack of that trendy rainbow fuzzy yarn for the girls’ hair. Your total shopping bill? Just $43. Afterward, treat everyone to grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milk at Woolworth’s lunch counter.
2. The night before school starts (which is always the Sunday after Labor Day), toss the kids into the back seat of the station wagon and make your way to Eckerds, K-Mart, or similar stores. Rush them to the back-to-school aisle to select their lunchboxes. Remind them they need to hurry up because bedtime is approaching, and missing “Wonderful World of Disney” is not an option. If Kimberly can’t decide between Holly Hobbie and The Bionic Woman, let her know you will choose Pigs in Space for her instead. Also, don’t forget to grab a composition book and a pack of pencils. They’ll need to cover their textbooks with grocery bags after the first day of school.
3. On your way home, stop to buy a pack of Virginia Slims and enjoy a few on the ride.
4. The next morning, brew a cup of Sanka coffee and line up all the lunchboxes on your Formica countertop. Create an assembly line for lunch preparation.
5. Spread mustard on the bread, layer on bologna, top with American cheese, cover the sandwich, and wrap it in foil or wax paper before placing it in the lunchbox. Every child receives the same lunch. No exceptions.
6. Alternative sandwich options could include: peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and fluff, leftover roast beef, or the always popular tuna fish salad with large chunks of onions and celery mixed with Miracle Whip.
7. Pack some Planter’s Cheese Balls into a baggie, sealing it with a twist tie.
8. Toss a Twinkie into each lunchbox.
9. Fill thermoses with Kool-Aid or whole milk.
10. Include a red delicious apple, even though you know it will likely come back home uneaten—just add it to the collection until it’s practically rotten.
11. Close the lunchboxes. They’re ready to go. The kids will grab theirs along with a frosted dutch apple Pop-Tart as they make their way to the bus stop. Put on some Barry Manilow and celebrate your newfound peace until dinner.

Back to School Today

1. Take a moment to breathe deeply and repeat a positive affirmation. Don’t fret; there’s still time before school begins. You can order BPA-free bento boxes and authentic Indian tiffins made from ethical materials. Thanks to Amazon Prime, you can utilize two-day shipping. You’ll have ample time to read reviews while your kids are at summer “camp” (which is just a euphemism for school, especially after that exhausting day when you couldn’t take them to yoga).
2. A week later, the bento boxes and tiffins arrive, along with a three-and-a-half-page supply list from the school, which includes a ten-pound bag of flour and several cleaning supplies.
3. Begin a frantic online search for backpacks made from sustainable materials that also maintain a “cool” factor. Don’t forget to have them monogrammed.
4. Take the kids to the mall for new clothing. Expect to spend around $2,387.07 on your credit card at stores like Gymboree and Crew Cuts.
5. Schedule an appointment with a child psychologist to help them mentally prepare for the upcoming transition to a new grade and teacher.
6. Study the allergy list provided by the school. It’s crucial you don’t send any items that could trigger an anaphylactic reaction in your child’s classmates. Jot down notes so you know what to avoid when you visit Whole Foods.
7. Purchase school supplies for your children, which are separate from the classroom items you’re also responsible for. They’ll need everything from paper and pens to a graphing calculator, a scalpel, and even an electron microscope.
8. Shopping for lunch items at Whole Foods will take over four hours as you meticulously check labels for organic, non-GMO, and allergy-friendly products. You might return home with just tahini, bananas, and brown rice cakes—totaling $76.19.
9. On the night before school, prepare the Bento boxes with organic strawberries shaped like sea creatures, nut-free granola, and a sandwich made from vegan hemp bread filled with kale and tahini, sculpted into a Disney character. Share the final creation on Instagram.
10. Write an encouraging note to your child, complete with an inspirational quote.
11. Include a sheet of fun stickers.
12. Fill a reusable water bottle with filtered water and pack a box of chilled coconut water, ensuring your child stays hydrated.
13. Blog about the entire experience and hope for it to go viral.
14. Rise at 4 AM on the first day of school to create signs for each child to hold in a photo op at the front step. Decorate with bunting, balloons, and even create a back-to-school photo booth.
15. Make alphabet-shaped pancakes for breakfast.
16. Dress the kids in matching outfits and spend 35 minutes capturing their photos.
17. Load everyone into the car for the school drop-off.
18. Once they’re settled in their new classrooms, return to your car and allow yourself a good cry for the next twenty minutes. But remember, you’ll be back in six hours to take them to their afternoon activities like synchronized swimming, cello lessons, and Urdu classes.

At home insemination

This article first appeared on Aug. 15, 2015.

Summary

In the past, preparing children for school was a straightforward, budget-friendly process, often involving a quick trip to the local department store and simple lunches. Today, parents face a more complex task, characterized by extensive shopping lists, dietary considerations, and an emphasis on sustainability and aesthetics. The evolution in back-to-school preparations reflects broader societal changes, highlighting differing parental approaches and the pressures of modern parenting.