SPEAKER_03 0:03

Grab your glass and pull up a chair. It's time for your favorite girls' night in.

SPEAKER_04 0:07

Welcome to Pouring and Parenting. We're your besties, Sill and Ainish. We're here to laugh through the chaos. Hello, Poors. Let's start the show. Hey, Poors. Welcome back to another episode of Pouring and Parenting. This is Sill, and I'm Aine. So we have actually been on the slight break, but you didn't notice because we have been consistently posting our episodes. But we took a quick little break, about two weeks or so. So we are back and we are rejuvenated and so excited to get back to having these amazing fun conversations with you guys.

SPEAKER_03 0:41

First, Ainish, how's it going? It's going. It's been busy. We have been unpacking. I mentioned a few episodes before that we moved, and we're still working on getting settled in. We're car hunting. There's there there is a lot going on. And it's nice to be back in front of the mic and having this moment to unwind and talk. Just have great conversation with you still.

SPEAKER_04 1:10

Yeah. I know it seems like so much, but you know what? Before you know it, like, wait, what? Remember when I was unpacking, like my house is like totally done now. So it'll be a thing of the past for sure. And you'll be driving in your car, whatever you get. I'm excited about that. I love car shop. Well, I love shopping in general, actually. And which is funny because that's what we're going to be talking about today is shopping for a specific reason. So back to school is what we will be focusing on today. All of the roller coasters that we go with our kids, you know, the nostalgia, what we went through as kids and young adults, going back to school and all that. But before we get into that, Ainish, what did you pour in your cup today?

SPEAKER_03 1:52

I poured a glass of Pinot Grigio. I was gonna try to be dramatic about it, but why? Why? Pinot Grigio. That's what I did. What about you, Sil? You know, it's funny that you say Pinot Grigio because I was talking to someone and they're like, oh, Pinot Grigio?

unknown 2:07

Oh.

SPEAKER_04 2:08

And I was like, what? They were referring to you. So that we clearly all know, our listeners know, Pinot Grigio is Ainasha's go-to drink.

SPEAKER_03 2:19

It is my go-to drink. We need to do some grocery shopping, and that's what I had in the fridge today. So, what did you pour today?

SPEAKER_04 2:29

Today I poured a vanilla vodka and coke. Uh, you know, funny, I typically don't have soda in the house, but for some reason, my husband's job gave him soda. He doesn't even drink soda, so I'm surprised he accepted it. Well, I guess that's nice thing to do, right? So he accepted it. And for me, it's sabotage. I've been on my weight loss journey. And if there's freaking coke in the house, are you kidding me? So I've had only a sip of it since we've had it. It's been like a few days, but I didn't know what I was gonna drink today. And I was like, oh, I have vanilla vodka and coke. Like I could make that concoction today. So that's what I'm having. The caffeine works, it is a little late now. So the caffeine is doing wonders. So today's been really odd. We woke up kind of late, and I was not in the mood to make breakfast. It was kind of already later, so it wasn't like really breakfast time. I'm not a breakfast person, but the kids were hungry, my husband was hungry, we all wanted like different things, and finally we're like, you know what? Let's just go out to eat. Let's go out for breakfast. So we went to our local diner. What do you want to drink? Coffee, please. And it just sounded like the thing to drink because it's bread, it's our first meal of the day. It's breakfast. So then I'm looking at the menu and I'm like, oh, wait, where's the breakfast food? I wanted chilakiness. That's what I wanted for breakfast this morning. Love chilakiness. And they're like, it's after 11. Breakfast is over. What the heck? I looked at the time. It was almost 12 o'clock, and I'm like, I did not realize that we got up so freaking late. Mind you, we are in the midst of summer here. So they brought us out our coffee because that's what we ordered. I was sweating. I was Eureken, sweating in this restaurant, drinking my hot ass coffee. My husband and I were both looking at each other. He was sweating too. Luckily, it's not just me because I was worried. But he was sweating too. And it's like, he's like, why didn't we order iced tea? Because I thought it was morning. I can't order breakfast. It was just, it was so weird. The timing just felt weird. I lost hours of the day. I don't really know how. Well, I guess we slept in. I get I do know how, but it's like, what? And then we went out to dinner, which is usually not something we do. We don't go out to eat twice in a day. Um, but we were invited by my mom, and uh, that was fine too. But I just and I started sweating in there too. So then I was really scared. Luckily, my mom was sweating, and I don't know if that's a good or bad thing that we're both sweating. Like, or am I in pre-menopause and she's a menopause? I don't know. Um, but we both had alcohol. So I'm thinking that's what it was. We had a strawberry margarita. Nope, I lied. We had we each had we each had pomegranate margaritas. Ooh. And I had to just chug my margarita because I was I started sweating. And and my husband's looking at me, that's the second time today. I don't know. I don't know what's happening. But luckily, I wasn't the only one who felt hot in there. Yes. It's just an odd day for having drinks outside the house. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:12

So cheers for drink one. Right. Cheers. Cheers to drinks in the house.

SPEAKER_04 5:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 5:17

Cheers. Cheers. Ding. Ooh, ooh, I was gonna be thirsty.

SPEAKER_04 5:21

Okay. All right. So it is finally that time of year. The kids are going back to school, which also means I'm going back to school. Remember, I work in education, so when their summer's over, my summer's over. It is what it is. It's a little bit of bittersweet for me, but also just sending the kids back to school. So you send them back to school, you know, you take the cute picture, you have them holding the signs. Like it's my first day of like kindergarten or whatever. My son's going into fourth grade this year, so I gotta make sure I put the fourth grade thing. I gotta find the sign, actually, now I think about it. When you just have them take all these pictures, and then you're rushing to school because you gotta get there early because you know there's gonna be a line. There's a bunch of parents there on the first day. Um, and it's just kind of chaotic. And then that's really the beginning of the chaos, the beginning of the new school year. Uh Ainish, how do you feel about the kids going back to school? So your oldest, the little one's not in school yet, but your oldest. Is he ready for school?

SPEAKER_03 6:16

Yes. He he loves learning, he loves, and I hope he keeps that energy for as long as he can keep that energy with just the desire to learn. He's eager to learn. He and so it's different for us because he'll be going to a brand new school. And that's giving me more anxiety than him. He's a people person like his mama. Granted, I was not a people person at his age. So I'm I'm actually in awe with him and just so proud of him for being so ready and eager to embark on this new journey and put himself out there. He's already been meeting people in this new town that we're living in. I mentioned that we, I think I mentioned, but we moved to Iowa. We're no longer in Texas. And so he's ready to go. He's he's ready and reven to go. Eager, eager beaver.

SPEAKER_04 7:08

Yeah, that's exciting. You know what? He has really truly embraced your guys' lifestyle, which is you know, moving. And I know you don't really move on purpose, right? But you know, you've moved, and I think you've been moving, I think since he started school, right? Yes, pretty much. And the fact that he is not introverted or like just, oh great, I have to go to another school and make more friends. And mind you, he's still young, but still, that can be a lot for a kid his age. And the fact that it doesn't phase him, he's just kind of like, all right, let's go meet some more people. Meet the teachers, make some friends. And it's just a whole new different school culture every single time. And the fact that he's able to just really embrace it, that's so good. Because I can't imagine a lot of kids are like that. I would. I see, right? Yeah. I I know that when I started school from kindergarten and first grade, my mom, I think I remember first grade. I don't really remember kindergarten, but my mom told me that the teachers had to prime me off of her because I would not let her leave me. I was I was that kid, screaming, crying, kicking, and all that. I did that kindergarten, I did that first grade. Thank goodness it stopped because second grade, like doing that as second grade, it's not embarrassing. Right. Thank God it stopped. But yeah, so I mean, just even being in your hometown starting in a new grade could be scary. But the fact that it's a new school for him and he's still excited. That's so good. And the fact that he loves to learn, and that's a big I guess that should be a proud moment for you because you really have given him those opportunities to learn and to well to want to learn and that he doesn't and like no pushback, no nothing. That's so good. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:48

So he's excited, I'm scared, and with our powers combined, it'll be perfect, right? We're just meeting the middle somehow.

SPEAKER_04 8:57

Yep, for sure. Yeah, yeah. Everything will be fine. Yeah. What about you? How's it looking over there on your end? So my son is actually going to a new school this year. So we did decide, and it wasn't the easiest decision, but we did decide to move him to the school that I teach at. It just overall, we felt better opportunities there for him, and we left it up to him. I I did push a little bit, slightly. Um, but ultimately it was his decision. You could stay here where you're at, or you can go to my school. Now, mind you, I'm not gonna necessarily be his teacher. Um, I will see him once a week in my class. Um but luckily he finally was like, you know what? I'll do it. I'll go. And I'm only gonna have him there for a few years and then till he goes to middle school, which I'm like, even saying that out loud is crazy. But it's only gonna be three three years, and then he goes to middle school. Oh my god. Right. That's crazy. Wow.

unknown 9:56

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_04 9:57

But yeah, so he's definitely nervous. And I told him I can talk to some kids for you or I can introduce you to some kids he's all don't do that. I'm gonna just make sure he goes to the right kids. So we'll see. We'll see. I can you know with my luck, I already know what kid he's gonna gravitate to. Uh which it'll see. We'll see how it goes for sure. Yeah, so he's he's nervous, but he's excited. I did spend some of this time this week getting all the paperwork situated and all that. It was a lot. I'm kind of remember doing all this, but I guess when you're transferring, it's like this big old ordeal. Yes. So I I am excited, I'm nervous. Hopefully, it's not an issue for him. Like, oh, you know, your mom goes here, whatever. Kids can be mean, but yeah, I'm sure he can handle himself. When I think of back to school, okay, and so this is me thinking back to when I was in school, whether it be elementary or middle school or even high school, I guess. I think of fall leaves. I think of crisp, cool weather, I think of new backpacks, new clothes, some Lisa Frank gear, a Jan Sport backpack, um, some gel pens or at least your sketch-sented markers, anchor blue hip huggers, shirts that say angel or an S that looks like the Superman sign, waiting in the mail or waiting for the mailman to bring, you know, the little postcard or whatever it is, your teacher's name or your homeroom teacher's name and uh the classroom number and all that, and then calling your friends, like, oh, who's your teacher this year? You know, all that stuff. That was just so fun. That was such a good time, you know, to be a kid, right? Yes. Because it was all, you know, especially once you got the hang of school, like, okay, this is gonna happen every year. And you just that excitement, okay. I don't want to go back to school, but obviously you're excited to go see your friends and show all your new stuff. Yeah. And see if you got the cool teacher or the mean teacher or whoever it may be. Uh, so it was just a good time. But now, I said fall leaves and cool weather. We are still right in the middle of summer. Summer is in full swing, and we are going back to school.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:53

So that's the part where I'm like, ugh, and I know a lot of districts are different across across the country in general. Some schools do still start in September. Here in California, I believe a lot of the schools start early August. The district that my son was previously in starts the end of July. So I think they would they'll start in the next few days or whatever. And I'm like, wow, like to start school in July is insane. Like, give me the extra days, but at least get me to August. But yeah, it seems like every year it's getting earlier and earlier. I do appreciate a lot of the breaks in between, but still having to start school and it's still so freaking hot. It's a lot. Anyways, Ainish. What do you what do you remember about going back to school?

SPEAKER_03 12:40

The biggest thing I would say that I remember when going back to school is laying my my outfit out that first night before I go into sleep, laying my outfit out head to toe and struggling to sleep because I'm so like fighting my, you know, fighting with my parents probably to not sleep in it and wake up wearing the fit, but also being afraid of my first outfit too, because and and trend wasn't even a a word that I would use back then, but making sure that I was on trend and just fitting in and wanting to look cool that first day of school and making sure everything was crisp and clean. That's probably the biggest thing that I remember as far as going back to school is the fit checks. And there are there are so many videos that I've seen in the past on social media where we where they re-recreate that moment of being a little kid and having your clothes laid out. And I man, I'm thinking back, like how long did that last? Like, how long did I do that? Did I did I did that did I do that for the a week, two weeks, and then got over it and started rotating and repeating outfits? But that to me was the biggest thing. And making sure that I would hopefully be in the same class with my friends, depending on the grade year that I was looking forward to doing that in. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 14:05

Right. Yeah, that's funny because you you mentioned, you know, like getting your clothes ready and and I remember doing that too. I even remember ironing. Like I I do remember ironing my pants and stuff. And I'm also thinking to myself, how long did that last? I can't imagine. I I know I didn't do that the whole school year. But I I don't iron my clothes now. I will I will go to work with some wrinkly clothes. I don't I don't give enough.

SPEAKER_03 14:25

My husband does the ironing, he is very serious about ironing clothes. I don't remember the last time I ironed anything. Unless he asked me if he's busy. But yeah, yeah. That's it.

SPEAKER_04 14:36

I don't getting fresh. Right. Is there anything specific you remember, whether it be elementary, middle school, high school, where it was like the thing to have?

SPEAKER_03 14:45

Man, the thing to have pedal pushers, uh uh, they're coming back. I don't know if you know the official name of such garments.

SPEAKER_04 14:53

I don't even know what pedal pushers are.

SPEAKER_03 14:55

That's what I just said. That's what I'm saying right now. So pedal pushers, though, they're like capri pants, but they're a little shorter than a capri, but longer than a short. There, I mean, so this is a a fashion trend that now I'm wondering if that's what if it's even called anymore. But uh the trend happened what in the 50s or something. So trends repeat themselves. They they they leave, they come back, they leave, they come back, jellies are back. I had I had jellies, those were hot and popping. But pedal pushers, girl, pedal pushers are literally coming back. They might call them something else, but trust and believe, baby, they were called pedal pushers back then. And I'm sure Meryl Monroe had a pair, and then they brought them back when my mom was rocking them, then they disappeared and came back. I was rocking them, and now they're back again. Okay, which makes me mad that I haven't I I should have just kept my jellies, I should have kept my pedal pushers, and maybe I'll buy a pair and do my mom style made easy with them. But Tiana Taylor's been seen in them and but yeah, they're they're just tight capris. They stop mid-calf and you were feeling.

SPEAKER_04 16:05

I I Googled it so I could see a picture of it. And it does say pedal pushers are form-fitting mid-length pants that typically end just below the knee. They were popularized in the 40s and 50s for cycling and casual where yeah, you were. They are seeing a massive nostalgic comeback, often styled with crop tops, fitted T's, and flats. So there's your jellies.

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_04 16:28

For kids. So I I mean, honestly, I would just call them capris. No, pedal pushers. No? No, capris are they could be loose. Oh my gosh. Okay, so Google, capri pants versus pedal pushers. Am I right? What a slutzy. While often used interchangeably, there is a slight distinction between the two. So pedal pushers typically end right below the knee and feature a very tight fit. And it's a tapered fit. Capri pants generally longer, ending near the mid-calf or just above the ankle. Oh, I guess I could see that. And can come in wider variety of looser or flared silhouettes. Okay, all right. I guess, yeah, I I would be that person who uses them interchangeably, and I'd be really pissed to see like some pants that are at my ankle, right? Yeah, no. Yes. Pedal pusher just sounds like such like a word like my grandma would use, you know? Okay, so that's rude. I'm sitting right here. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 17:23

But that's just what they call them. They brought the name back, and that for whatever reason, that is, I guess it's probably sticking in my head now because I'm seeing them come back in style. And so seeing, so the nostalgic that you mentioned, this the nostalgia about it is my immediate thought when you asked me that question. Pedal pushers are already coming back. I remember wanting pedal pushers, but they were tight and I had to tread lightly when wearing them because my mom, you know, she went boys looking at me with these tight pants on. And but I wanted a pair, right? So, yes, pedal pushers, ladies. If you don't know what it is, look again, you know, I'm gonna I'll buy a pair. I was already thinking about it. We have a few weeks before we see Breezy and Usher, and I was legit thinking about getting a pair of pedal pushers, not even kidding. So interesting. Maybe I'll put a fit together if I can find any in Iowa. Lord help me. And uh do a mom's style made easy. Do you have a do you have a trend? Go ahead, sorry.

SPEAKER_04 18:31

Um, no, it's fine. So I remember, and this is probably not the best trend that I followed, and I'm gonna blame one of my cousins. I think I know where you're for this. Let's see. So, one of my cousins, she's only a couple of years older than me. So we went to middle school together for just one year, and I followed her trend, which was wearing pretty, I would say kind of bright colored um Dickies. I didn't know where you were going there. Okay. Yeah. I remember very specifically, I don't know if I had more than one pair, but I I do remember having these like baby blue freaking dickies. Wow. Yeah. Now, my the only other time in my life I wore dickies was when I worked at the restaurant. That was so weird. But no, these were like straight-legged loose fitting pants that we would get at this very at the store in the mall. And I remember I would wear it with like a red shirt. You know, God forbid I was in the wrong neighborhood, right? I wore it with a red shirt, blue pants, and my red shirt I think said like little devil on it. Oh my gosh. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:37

Yeah. No, it I feel like that was the trend of for for that for your culture. Not your culture, but for I've seen a lot of Hispanic. Yeah. For Hispanic people wearing it. And that's enough to put you in that. I mean, they wear the beige and the tan dickies. Yes. But here you come.

SPEAKER_04 19:54

Yeah. I think I might have had red ones too. Oh gosh. Yeah. Like why?

SPEAKER_03 20:00

Such a bold statement, right?

SPEAKER_04 20:02

Very bold. Yeah, I know. But you know what? I mean, I mean, I don't I hope that trend don't come back. That was stupid. Why'd they make them in all those colors? I don't know. And the fact that I mean, like, did they know people were gonna buy them? Like, how does that work?

SPEAKER_03 20:19

I don't how does that work? I don't know. It just who knows. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 20:23

I remember I remember having so in elementary, it was all about Lisa Frank. I remember that I had the folders, I had the binders, all the pencils, all the markers, all the whatever Lisa Frank had. I'm pretty sure I had the backpack and the lunch pail to go with it. It was all about Lisa Frank. Yeah. And then when I got into middle school, it was the jan, I think it was the Jan Sport backpack. Yes. But it was low, like it would cover, like it would go down to your butt. When I got to high school, it was still Jan Sport, but it was high up on your back.

SPEAKER_03 20:59

That's right, higher. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 21:01

Yeah. And it's funny because when I was teaching middle school, that's one thing I did notice is all the kids had their backpacks down to their butt. And I'm like, that's so funny because you you might, I got pretty sure you're gonna make that transition to up your back when you go to freaking high school.

SPEAKER_03 21:18

I was a such a little old lady. I had Don't tell me you had a really backpack. I had I wasn't that old of a lady. I had a computer looking bag. A little a one sling bag, dark, dark blue, metallic blue, and I would crossbody it and put everything in there. You have those type of purses now. Like you just said, Wow, if it's if it's not broke, don't fix it. And here I guess not. They're smaller though, ladies. I'm not walking around with laptop size bags around on my hip. Unless it's a diaper bag, and we're long past those days. So I have have a Small cutie versus thank you.

SPEAKER_04 22:02

Whatever. All right. So back to school time is a time that you're getting either yourself, depending on your age, or your kiddos ready for school. So shopping has to be done. You have to shop for clothes, shoes, school supplies, and whatever else they feel that they need to be successful at school. And you know, you have your broke besties going with you. I cannot wait for my daughter to, I mean, I can and I can't, uh, but to have those moments to go shopping with her and like get her her school stuff. I think that's gonna be so fun because she already does love to shop. Uh, my son can literally care less. So he's going in fourth grade. And I just I I think a week or two ago, I brought up, like, all right, we know what do you want for school? Blah, blah, blah. He's like, can we not talk about that? It's still summer. I'm not in school yet. I'm like, well, we gotta get you ready for school. Do you want a new backpack? No. Okay, well, I think you might need some shirts or pants. No, I'm fine. You don't want, I mean, mind you, you're going to school, no one's ever seen you. So I guess you could wear all your old clothes. That works. Uh, but you know, he's just like so different. Like, I wasn't like that. Take me shopping. I want a brand new everything. Yeah. But yeah, he just does not care. And so we were at Sam's Club the other day, and I was actually waiting for this particular moment and it happened where they had they put out the kids' Levi's. And they were only $15 for the kids' Levi's. So I bought him a couple pairs and he was just irritated. Why I don't care. I have pants. He would wear sweatpants with holes to school if he could. Like, no. And then he likes to play soccer at recess. So he would start ripping his pants. It would be, you know, first it would be the grass stains, and then after so much slipping and sliding out there, they'd come back. So I'm like, I'm not buying you new pants because all you're gonna do, you're gonna do the same thing. So for a while, he, you know, in rotation, he would once a week, I think he would wear those ripped pants, whatever. And it was like he don't care. He he would go to school in his pajamas every day. And they'd be on backwards, inside out with a saying on it. He'd be like, I'm fine. So it's definitely different with boys, and it could be his age too. I know he does care about shoes. And I so I did tell him, okay, we'll we'll buy you at least a one or two pairs of new shoes. But even then, I already know you're gonna mess them up. Like, I'm I'm not a big fan of buying him name brand or expensive things right now because he's just at that age where I know you're not gonna take care of him, you're gonna mess him up at PE or recess, whatever, and then I'm gonna be mad at you like, well, I'm a kid. Yeah, you're right. Yeah. But anywho, so this is the time of year where we as parents, or not me right now, but parents can realize that yeah, I might need a second job to keep up with these kids. I was doing research. I was looking on on TikTok, I was looking on Instagram, I asked some uh kids that I know. So my nieces and nephews, some kids that I know. Some random kids. I was hitting in the streets asking kids. Now I asked some of my nieces and nephews about some of the trends and stuff, and they're honestly all over the place. Like I it could be the city they live in, it could be the socioeconomic status in that area, whatever the case is. I could not get really like a fun real common thing between all of them. Well, one thing that seemed like it was really trending, but one thing I did see on TikTok, it was the first thing, was that parents are doing this thing, and I I don't really get it, but hear me out. Parents are giving their kids a certain amount of items that they can buy as I don't know, like an incentive. I don't really know what it what they they're calling it. So, for example, if your kid is entering the third grade, they can buy three things they want. Like things that they actually want. Obviously, you're still gonna buy them their school clothes, but okay, these are the three things that you want for a back-to-school shopping trip. Yeah, they're not always getting school stuff. Like one girl I was watching, she was like, Oh, they banned us from wearing leggings at school. But I'm still gonna get these anyways. And the mom's like, Well, you're not gonna wear them to school, right? And she's like, No, but it's one of the the I think she was like in 11th grade. One of the 11th things I want. And she picked a pair of shorts. Like, I'm pretty sure I would get dress code for these, but I'm gonna get them because I want them. And still, so now she's not gonna wear it to school, but it's one of the 11 things that she wanted. And I saw another one, it was like a third grader or whatever, you know. So he would he got like three different things. And I'm just like, I mean, that's an interesting trend. Sucks if you're in kindergarten or first grade, you know. Like, how does that mean you just don't tell them about that? But I thought it was weird. Like, I'm already about to spend a bunch of money on you, and then you're buying what you don't need. Yeah, I don't like it.

SPEAKER_03 26:43

For what I thought for what? Because you're going back to school that you're gonna have to go to one way or the other. What's what's the incentive? What's what's the point? What is the reason? I don't like it.

unknown 26:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:54

No, you're going back to school. Get what you need. Because now I have to buy you 11 things. You're going back to you're going mm-mm. Absolutely not. Right.

SPEAKER_04 27:02

Yeah. I I wasn't a fan of that trend. Um, but I did see it a lot on TikTok.

SPEAKER_03 27:07

Yeah, I hate it. Because why?

SPEAKER_04 27:09

Go to school. Yeah, you're still gonna get them. Like if if on their list is not a backpack, but they need a backpack, you're gonna still get them a backpack.

SPEAKER_03 27:16

Like you're rewarding them for d doing the inevitable. You gotta go to school. What's the um I don't like that?

SPEAKER_04 27:27

Right. All right, so let's talk about some of these backpacks because backpacks are one of the big purchase items uh that kids get excited for when they go back to school. Most kids at least. So what I saw that was trending are North Face backpacks, Nike, Spray Ground, Lululemon. And these are not cheap backpacks. So the Jan Sport backpack that did you take, did you use Jan Sport? Yes. Okay. So the Jan Sport backpacks that I feel like everyone had, like, I don't even know if there was another brand, but like maybe like the cheaper, I guess like other ones, but like other than Jan Sport, like that was like the best backpack, I guess. I don't know. And they were probably about $25, $30, I think, when we were buying them. And I even that seems like a lot of money, especially back then. But these backpacks today, these little burger eaters are again North Face backpacks are at about $100. Nike, pretty close, depending on what you want. Spray ground, which these backpacks, I didn't know what they were called, but in my last school, about the majority of the kids had these backpacks. They they are not cute. They are like kind of like checkered. They have like a my god, they have like a shark, kind of like a shark, shark jaws or teeth, I guess. Yeah, the whole shark. Okay. Yeah, the airport. Yeah. And a lot of these kids had them like same, like no originality whatsoever. These kids all had practically the same backpack. About $80. The Lululemon, $98. Let's just say $100. Okay. That is insane. Really? Like, and you you better not freaking tell me you lost your backpack. Heck no. And one kid that I I saw on TikTok was showing like all her north base backpacks. Like multiple. And they were like the same style, just different colors. Mm-mm. No. Because why? If you can keep it, you could use it. You don't need to have them in front of the world. Right? What for the seasons, you know, for pep rallies, for you know what? I don't feel good today. She was in a schoolish. Yes.

unknown 29:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:22

I mean, I I guess if you have a job, but even if you have a job, like, is that really how you want to spend your money? What are you gonna do with all these damn backpacks? I don't understand. Tickets are yikes. Right? And then I'm seeing so there's a lot of kids and parents posting their hauls for you know the back to school shopping. And a lot of the parents were naming all these brands, Abercrombie and Apostle and American Eagle and all these Colester, which most brands have been around for a while. But what I noticed with all these shirts or clothes that they were pulling out is that they're basic. They're just your regular basic tee, basic crop top, like nothing, there's no razzle dazzle on them, no words, no little angel, no what nothing. Okay, maybe you might get the logo of the brand on there, but for the most part, it's just a plain blue shirt or a plain brown shirt, and it's cropped. Okay, maybe some baby doll shirts. Um, but they're so basic and plain. Why would I spend all this money on these name brands and they're just so plain? They can go get those at Target or Walmart for half the price. Like, I I don't, I don't get it.

SPEAKER_02 30:25

I don't get it.

SPEAKER_04 30:26

Like, I no, I don't like it. Also, uh, and it's mainly girls, you know. Girls are you know, girls are just a lot, but even like the boys, you know, they're and they're a little more easier. It's usually like Nike, Paxan, Tillies, you know, they have their baggy pads, their hoodies. Okay, it's summer, guys. Take the hoodies off. That is what that was one of my pet peeves when I was teaching, especially when we'd go back to school, it'd be so hot. And these boys, even the girls, are wearing hoodies. It's a hundred and like five degrees outside. What are you doing? It's hot in here.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

Take the hoodie off.

SPEAKER_04 30:59

Tell me that after you take your hoodie off.

SPEAKER_00 31:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:02

Matter of fact, leave it on. Don't even take your hoodie off. It's like fifth period, sixth period. Leave your hoodie on because at this point, you take it off, you're gonna stink up my room. Yes, at that point. Like everything's just in there, just boiling, waiting to freaking let out. No, thank you to that.

SPEAKER_00 31:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:17

I don't I don't get that. Right? And it's not gonna be there. I mean, I see the kids, they'll be walking home just dripping sweat or take off their hoodies. I don't get it. I don't know it, and it's like a weird trend because all of them, like not all, but the majority of the kids do this shit. And I'm like, why? Why? Also, why they're what?

SPEAKER_03 31:36

I said, There lies the rub is why the question is.

SPEAKER_04 31:39

Yeah, why? Yeah, exactly. Like, I I would freaking pull a hoodie off my kid if I saw him coming home in a 100-degree weather, dripping sweat. No, thank you. And you're gonna put that in the washer right now. Yeah, another thing I noticed is like folders, pencil pouches. Uh, last year, and I it looks like even this year as well, the four candies pencil pouch is trending. It's just all very simple, very clean aesthetics, very pastelish colors. They're cute. And I'm just like, where's the Lisa Frank? Where's like just like the cool patterns and colors and just like random shit on your folders? Like everything is just so plain, so so plain. It was a lot though. Okay, it was, but it just the color, the the vibrance, the brightness of everything, and everything is just so like plain and boring and just boring. It's boring. I don't like I get it, but I mean, I feel like that'd be for like an older crown. Yeah, like yeah, where you have no like express yourself. Is this how you express yourself? Just for your vibes, right? Yeah, here's this dusty pink or this, you know, light pastel teal color. Sage. Here's some sage for my folder. It's that how you feel?

SPEAKER_03 32:54

It's the times we're living in. They're trying to keep up with the Joneses, keeping up with the Kardashians. The you gotta look at the the environment that they're placed in and who are their idols, who are the people that they're looking up to. And it's it's it's not it's not ideal to say the least, but I think a lot of it, I'm pretty sure, has to do with whoever they're inspired by, you know, what's their inspiration. And a lot of these young artists, these young celebrities, these young influencers are very flatline and they've been pushed into the industry or social media or whatever the case is that's happening in their household at such a young age that it's reflecting not to be so over the top, I guess, with the colors and all that jazz you're talking about, but to be more serious because I feel like they're being pushed into this adult space that now they're influencing other people's kids to do the mellow, and they're so cool. There are so many YouTubers out there that are so young, and and all these, like I said, influencers that are pushed into this adult space. Um again, it's just it's a yucky effect that's happening. So these kids.

SPEAKER_04 34:07

But I mean, I feel like we were the same way. Like, did we not also get influenced by music videos? Okay, we're not so much YouTube, I guess. What was music?

SPEAKER_03 34:16

I mean, we're not gonna be able to do it in the music videos, they were more expressive. There are you know, if if you want to do apples for oranges, because I think that's apples for oranges, but you know, the music videos, I feel like it was just a lot more expression happening if you wanted to pick that out. But even then, I mean the music videos it wasn't too many little kids out there, more like Nickelodeon. We had Nickelodeon, Nickelodeons were it was targeted for kids. They even had the age range for the most part. Oh, after eight o'clock, you know, or we're talking to the high school kids, you know, and I'd be watching it.

SPEAKER_04 34:45

I think it didn't matter the age, I'd be watching the Nick at night. Nick at night.

SPEAKER_03 34:50

Or the oh, there was one thing that came on Friday nights, like the spooky campfire ones I'm watching that. I watched that one, but the influence that we were Are You Afraid of the Dark? Are you afraid of the dark?

SPEAKER_04 35:04

That I watched that intro, just the intro alone would freaking scare me. It that shit was scary. No, I can't know.

SPEAKER_03 35:13

But I mean, we're talking, are you afraid of the dark on Nickelodeon or and then we had our Disney channel? Freaking Justin Timberlake was on a Disney Musketeer or whatever he was. Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

SPEAKER_04 35:29

Was it? No. Mickey Mouse. It's not I'm thinking of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I know it's not Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, uh, Mickey at night. Mickey at night.

SPEAKER_03 35:37

But I I mean to night and day, the influences that we were presented as children, as little kids, and what they're seeing now is vastly different. Very, very different. And we were, I I feel we were allowed to be kids. We were allowed to be kids. There were kids doing kid things on TV. Our parents were in control of it. They could walk by and see what we were watching on the TV. But where we're at now, they have cell phones, there's computers, there's laptops. There are so many different routes that they can get to to see things to be influenced. And and who and who? So you you mentioned Lisa Frank to someone. Yes, we all get it. But no, you you have to be cool. You have to keep up with the Kardashians. Lisa Frank is is old news.

SPEAKER_04 36:28

I guess so. You know what though? I I will say, you know, talking about like Nickelodeon and all that, I was more of I did like Nickelodeon and Dizzy Channel, like their, you know, tween or teen shows like Lizzie McGuire and stuff. Yes. But I will say I have been a Wall Six and Park kid forever. Like I don't know when I started, but I know it was at a young age. Yes. So, you know, just in music videos, but we know specifically Wendell Six and Park. That was like huge for me growing up. Yes. So a lot of stuff I got, which probably wasn't the best influence, was from there.

SPEAKER_03 37:09

Yes. Yes. Gotta love Wendell Six and Park. They they were they had their trends, aging free and freeze outfits, and being able to see the artists come up there and kind of be normal and talk and interview. And they came on during the daytime. It wasn't a late night show. Yeah, you can't be on BT late night.

SPEAKER_00 37:31

No, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_03 37:33

Not uncut. I used to stay late to see uncut. Tip drill, Nelly. Tip drill. That was the video to see. It was Tip Drill.

SPEAKER_04 37:42

I remember and I could still see it till this day. It was Beyonce and Jay-Z, Bonnie and Clyde. The scene where they kind of zoom in on her Tim's. I had Tim's like that. I even had pink Tim's. I went through a whole pink phase. And I still like pink to this day. There was a phase that I went through where almost all my shirts, my shoes were pink. I had, yeah, my little purses. There was a time where if I wasn't using my Jan Sport backpack, it was a little, those little like a mini purses. And I remember having a pink mini purse and I would hold my folder. But yeah, I have pink Timps. I would buy pink Timps again. I would wear them right now. I left my pink Tim's.

SPEAKER_03 38:24

Yes, with the hill, with the hill to be to clarify that, right? Or no?

SPEAKER_04 38:29

The Pink Tim's did not have a heel.

unknown 38:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:33

I was thinking about the the zoom in. I thought she had a heel and he had the regular. No, she did. She did. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 38:38

Yes, I did get those, but I also got so those were the regular ones, but I also got Tim's in pink. But they were like just the regular.

SPEAKER_03 38:46

Just the regular Tim. Oh, okay. Because yes, I remember having a knockoff brand of those Tim's heels that she had.

SPEAKER_04 38:55

But yeah, I'm pretty sure those ones were knockoff, but my pink ones were actual Tim's. I remember that. Yes. I love those were probably my favorite shoes I ever had as you know as a kid growing up. Speaking of pink, pink is actually trending for boys. Now I I've seen boys wearing pink, you know, now and they're like a salmon color, I guess you could say. But um, I once again on TikTok, I did see that pink was coming in for boys. There's this, oh, I don't remember the brand. It's like a, I want to say it's like a sports type brand where it's kind of like cotton candy-ish. And they have like the sprinkles and like I think it's like an ice cream or whatever, and it's very just very like cotton candy, like pinkish, purplish, bluish, you know, all that in one. But just pink in general is coming in for boys. There was a boy who like got pink clocks, which were interesting, um, like a pink shirt to match his pink clocks, whatever. Thing I do not like to see is our young women and young men are coming to school in clogs or slides, and that is trending. There was like too many videos that I seen where boys that was their shoe of choice clogs or slides. I'm like, why to school? Yeah, yeah. I don't like it. I I really it bothers me. I hate it. I don't like it. I don't like actually I don't like clogs in general. But to see these younger kids wearing them, I'm just like, why not? Why don't you like it? I don't know. I just don't like it. Like I I j I just it's seeing it on like wear your damn slippers if that's like that's the case. Like it's like you're coming to school in your slippers. Yeah. Like that's that's the vibe I get from clogs and slides. You know, the slides are for the house. Yeah, it's just too comfy.

SPEAKER_03 40:43

It's it's too comfy. I feel you're tightening up those laces, yeah, you know, have a nice tight fit shoe on.

SPEAKER_01 40:50

No, just these clogs and slides.

SPEAKER_03 40:52

Like it's all training. School, it's all training, it's education, but you're you're becoming an adult, you're learning every grade, you're learning something new and hopefully kind of preparing you for society and stuff. So being able to wake up knowing in the morning to actually get yourself dressed and prepared for the day is also a learning experience within itself. So I think getting fully dressed and not looking comfy is ideal and more and people take you more seriously. And I think that's a a good way to present that to your children if they want to go to school too comfy is letting them know hey, people take you more if you're if you dress the part as a serious looking person or even casual, but not that casual, people take you more seriously. Your your teachers, your professors, whoever, your Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 41:41

And don't come to school in your fucking pajamas.

SPEAKER_03 41:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 41:47

I I mean, unless it's pajama day.

SPEAKER_03 41:49

Right.

SPEAKER_04 41:49

But I think I wonder if that's to look like you just rolled. Right, but to look like you just rolled out of bed and the bonnet I can't stand the bonnet. Don't come to school in your fucking bonnet.

SPEAKER_03 42:00

Because why? Get ready. You should be excited to put yourself together and present yourself to the world for the day. And I don't know what you're saying to people with with that. I don't care about today. So this is what you get.

SPEAKER_04 42:12

Yeah. You should be excited. I would never, right? I would wake up early, get my hair done, my makeup done. I mean, it's like obviously no whole bunch, but still, like I would look presentable. I remember this one time I wore my slippers out to the grocery store, and my dad wanted to throw me up against the car. He saw me get out the car like that, and he was just like, What the hell is wrong with you? He was so mad, so embarrassed. Mm-mm, you don't do that. Your slippers are for the house.

SPEAKER_00 42:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:41

Never do it again. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 42:43

I'm scared.

unknown 42:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:44

But I mean, he's right though. Like, what am I presenting to the world? That I'm lazy? That I don't have better shoes other than my freaking slippers. If that's all you have, that's all you have. But typically that's not all you have.

SPEAKER_03 42:56

Yes. Put yourself together. And that makes you feel better. Even if you're having a bad day, putting on an outfit and not saying to cover your emotions up or anything, but don't let your clothes for the most part dictate what you're presenting to the world. So, oh, I'm feeling bad today. So let me wear my slippers and my pajamas. No, maybe that'll put a smile on your face to or help you lighten up your mood. But presenting yourself and and for yourself, not even necessarily doing it for society, but do it for yourself. Get dressed up. That can literally change your whole vibe.

SPEAKER_04 43:34

Honestly, it really does. So for a pajama day, I wore my pajamas to school as a teacher. Okay, you know, just trying to school spirit, blah, blah, blah. I felt so tired the whole day. I was too comfy. Imagine being a kid. You're sitting on the seat all day, you know, for the most part, in your pajamas.

SPEAKER_00 43:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 43:53

You're not gonna be freaking learning anything. You're too comfy. Like sit upright, head high, nice. Nice fit on whatever it may be. Embrace the day. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. No slides. No s no pajamas. No sweats. Yeah. I mean, I I think the sweats pass either for someone who plays sports and you have like practice right after. Or yeah, it's it's a cold day type thing. But other than that, the sweats too. Like, no, it's lazy.

SPEAKER_03 44:24

This, you know, wear this at home where it could be cozy. Yes. Get some get some nice cargo pants.

SPEAKER_02 44:31

All right. Something. Some jeans.

SPEAKER_03 44:33

I don't know. But yeah.

SPEAKER_04 44:35

So.

SPEAKER_03 44:35

Damn.

SPEAKER_04 44:36

All right. So let's go ahead and take a break from all those trends and move in to our sing to me segment. It's been a minute. I hope we are ready.

SPEAKER_00 44:46

So ready.

SPEAKER_04 44:47

Alright, so the way this goes is I will ask Ineesh a question based on song lyrics. And she not only needs to answer it or should answer it correctly, but she needs to sing the lyrics back to me. Then she will ask me a question. We'll do that for two rounds. And we'll see who wins. Are you ready? Sure. All right. In Michael Jackson's Billy Jean, mother always told me, be careful of who you love and be careful of what you do. Because what?

SPEAKER_03 45:14

I'm mixing the song with Tony Braxton. That's funny. I'm hurting.

SPEAKER_00 45:23

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 45:28

Is that the same tune? I wonder. Tony, what did you do there? I don't know. I didn't I didn't put those two together. That's so weird.

SPEAKER_00 45:49

What was the I'm sorry, what was the question?

SPEAKER_04 45:53

So mother always told me be careful of who you love and be careful of what you do because I don't know. No I have no idea.

SPEAKER_02 46:01

Mother always told me. Be careful who we love. There it is. Okay. Wait, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:09

It's about a breaking young girl's heart.

SPEAKER_00 46:12

Hey, what'd you say? Oh no, wait. Be careful.

SPEAKER_03 46:16

Breaking young breaking young girls' hearts. Is that what she said? Is that an evil laugh? Right? What was that laugh? Despite me? Is it despite? Is that what he said? No. Alright, we'll just stop right there. We'll stop right there.

SPEAKER_02 46:33

A mother always told me, be careful who you love, be careful what you do, because a lie becomes a truth. Hey, Billy Jean is not my. I would've got that.

SPEAKER_03 46:44

I would have kept sticking with Breaking Girls' Hearts and whatnot. So my birthday passed a few weeks, a couple weeks ago, I guess, at this point, but my husband bought me a record player, and we were talking about the next album that we should invest in to add to my collection, and Michael Jackson was what he said.

SPEAKER_01 47:10

Okay, no haunted.

SPEAKER_03 47:13

I know. Too little too late. Okay, alright. I wouldn't have guessed that, but let's move on. In the song by Jagged Edge featuring Nellie, where's the party at? What is all that really matters? All that really matters is where's the Picardia?

SPEAKER_02 47:29

Wait, all that really matters where's the Picardia? I think.

SPEAKER_04 47:32

I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 47:34

See, hold on. All that really matters, where's the Picardia? Bottles and bottles, something all of that. Oh, I can't forget about my love. Where's the party? And all my girls. Where the party at Up in the club. We're the party at parties, where? Where? Where? And let me hear you say. Whoa.

SPEAKER_00 47:56

Uh oh. Is that your final answer? Yes. You're incorrect. Shit. I would I wouldn't have got anything out. Why'd you let me keep going? I just vibed. I was vibing with you.

SPEAKER_01 48:09

That's the rudest thing either. I was so wrong. Keep singing. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 48:15

Okay. Don't matter what you wear. All it matters is who you with. Shit. Yes. So the correct answer is all it matters is who you with.

SPEAKER_04 48:33

Funny because I have asked you a question about that song before. You have? Wow. It's my evil laugh. Damn it. Okay. Alright. So this song is a song I actually despise. I think I know where you're going with this.

SPEAKER_01 48:46

Let's see.

SPEAKER_04 48:47

Is it Amarion? Yes. Supposed to be. Yes. I cannot stand this song. It's so stupid. So in Amarions. So B2K actually just came out with a new song called Mileage. I watched the verses. The verses, oh my gosh. I thought it was so good. I was. I did post it. I was behind the scenes that day, but yes, we posted it. I was so excited. I don't think I've ever, I know I've watched a couple verses, but it's probably been like online, like just seeing like some parts of it. I watched this entire thing. Like I was ready for it. I think I was packing when I was watching it, and I was like singing at the top of my lungs to all these pretty Ricky and B2K songs. Pretty Ricky won, without a doubt. But at the end, B2K performed their new song, Mileage. I don't know if they performed the whole thing. I don't think they did. I think they just did like a part of it. I did see parts of the music video today and the whole thing. Uh, I don't know how I feel about the song in general. I think I don't like the concept. Basically just accepting all the mileage on you. But it just sounds wrong. I don't know. I don't know. Me the feminist in me. But um don't be talking about my mileage, punk.

unknown 49:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 49:57

But, anyways, I I just don't care for Marion in general. Um, I was a J Bug fan. Still am a J Bug fan. I was annoyed by his outfit at the verses. I didn't like what he was wearing, like the stupid thing on his head, like the rag of like on his hat. I think whatever the f just hit my mind.

SPEAKER_03 50:15

I don't know if it was a doag. It was just like hanging out on each side. I didn't I didn't watch it. And I have I seen clips, but I can't recall. I didn't watch it. It was a bottle.

SPEAKER_04 50:24

I want to be able to see your face. I want to be able to see your face even wearing the sunglasses the entire time. Um, like mind you, I know you've gotten old and you have bags under your eyes, probably, but come on. And even in the music video, I think.

SPEAKER_03 50:37

Everything has to do with old, uh probably high. I I think it's probably more than a lot of people. But they're also aging though. But not I mean, they're not that old. First of all, they're in their 40s. Like, they're not that old. Okay, sorry, that's a trigger. But I I'm just saying, like, I'm pretty sure they were.

SPEAKER_04 50:53

In their music video, in their music video, they're all wearing their freaking sunglasses. For and and I've only seen clips, but each clip I see, they're all wearing their sunglasses. It's like for a music video, you're under the influence as well.

SPEAKER_03 51:06

Absolutely. Let's have a good time, fellas. Let's do it for all time. You got some mags, though, for sure. All the women that they stressed out, keeping them up at night, probably.

SPEAKER_04 51:17

I guess. I don't know. Okay, all right, let's go back to this dumbass song. But you liked it. Let's recall. So he says, have your chick send a pick like what? Oh damn.

SPEAKER_03 51:30

Have your chick send a pick like like pose for me. Have your chick send a pick like pose for me. Wait, hey, how is pose? I have oh my gosh, I have another song on my head. How does that work in my head? I know the lyrics are right. But uh that's right, have your chicks and the pick. And how's pose? I can't even find his tone either. I know it's a lyrics, it's pose for me. How does the song go? I have another song in my head.

SPEAKER_00 51:54

How it's supposed to be everything good like it's supposed to be. Have your chicks and pick like pose for me. So posed to be.

SPEAKER_01 52:03

You got it.

SPEAKER_04 52:05

Well, you got it earlier, but yes. You sing it again.

SPEAKER_00 52:10

What did he do?

SPEAKER_04 52:11

I I I don't thought you were gonna get stuck on that part just because you would assume it's supposed to be, but I know it's posed for me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 52:20

Oh my gosh, I love that song. We'll have to make sure we have that on replay in Vega. Absolutely not. I'll make sure. When you walk in the room, I'll be greeting you.

SPEAKER_04 52:32

You'll forget.

SPEAKER_03 52:33

I won't. I'll have I'll have your white claw in hand and you're forget all your worries of how much you don't like that song. Okay. Probably.

SPEAKER_00 52:42

Uh here we go. This is I'm not even gonna say it.

SPEAKER_04 52:45

This is easy.

SPEAKER_03 52:47

This is easy. This is very easy. Okay. I'm giving you this one. An entree isn't good without what, according to Fabulous, and can't let you go. Can't let you go.

SPEAKER_04 53:01

Even that's not fair. I put the song on for you, and now that's all I hear. Now let me see. Oh, that's draw. What? Wow. If that's not sabotage, I don't know what is. There's a woman in the I just had it in my head, and then you start singing.

SPEAKER_03 53:20

I apologize. That is sabotage. That was crazy. That was crazy.

SPEAKER_04 53:26

Okay, so yes, with little mo, right?

SPEAKER_02 53:28

Because I can't let you go.

SPEAKER_04 53:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 53:30

You're the only one I've wanted my life. Already got a wife. Can't leave you. There we go. Can't let you go.

SPEAKER_03 53:38

And entree's not what? The question is in Fabulous's song, Can't Let You Go. And entree isn't good without what is it? Oh frick. I don't think I know this actually.

SPEAKER_04 53:53

An entree isn't good without something on the side. Yes. Right? Okay.

SPEAKER_00 53:59

Yes. Oh right. Yeah. I really want to be with you.

SPEAKER_04 54:06

That is the lyric ladies. Man, that like barely got to me. Yeah, so he kind of like says it like to like it's not even a it just kind of like throws that in there. It's a freaking long person. There we go. Okay. All right. So did we tie? I got one. Yeah. We tied. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Not too bad. I mean, I was sabotaged a little bit, but then got a came up. Okay, so the kids are going back to school. Got the shopping done out the way. What does this mean for us parents? Now, this can mean different things for many different parents depending on your home dynamics, your working dynamics. And I was thinking about this earlier today, and I was like, damn, if I was a stay-at-home mom, and both my kids went off to school, so many activities, like there's so much you can do, right? Like, no, what? Like, you know, I God, wow. Oh, the thought, right? So, Ainish, in just a couple of years or a few years, depending on the whole kindergarten thing, if there's school day or not, that's gonna be you. And I'm so I can't wait to live through you this time in our lives. Oh, so what do you think? How how do you feel about this? What does this mean for you, your son, at least right now? You'll still have a little one at home, but how does what does this mean for you going him going back to school?

SPEAKER_03 55:23

Just I'll continue to hang out with the little one. And he still takes naps, so that's nice. So I still get a moment between 45 minutes and an hour and a half out of the day. And he's pretty serious about his naps, so I'm pretty sure that he'll be still locking into that. My oldest son dropped his naps a little earlier than I had desired, but he went to bed earlier. And just getting things done around the house, we like I said, I mentioned earlier. I mean, I hope by then we have everything together, but there are projects, there are things I need to do. I have to, I have a sewing project that I need to take care of for a friend dealing with breast cancer, and I need to just I got stuff to do. Mama has stuff to do. I keep myself very busy. I I'm a sham, but I'm not a peggy bunny type of sham. I get things done. And I haven't listened to a lot of books this year. I I started out the year strong, but life started lifing. So getting back into my books, getting my sewing project underway, and continuing to educate my little, maybe coming up with new recipes. I can that's one thing I can do when they're both out of the house. So there's so there's so many things. We we I can do we can do a whole episode with me making suggestions about what some shams can do if you're struggling with things to do at all. Because I got ideas.

SPEAKER_04 56:57

Yeah, I mean, definitely things to do. Um there's always some home project, something that needs to be done. But overall, it's like a time where you can choose. Now, do you feel that with the older one at school that you're more how do I say this? Like now you really have to pay attention to the little one because at least they could play together and they're like off, you know, doing, you know, just playing and you could do your own thing, or is it just more calm with one at school?

SPEAKER_03 57:26

Not at all. I I have no issue with entertaining one, two, three. I can I will make a plan. And I think if anything, that helps me the most is because I have a plan. I I have a plan, I have a schedule, and once I implement that, be it a week or two weeks, however long it takes, for it to sink into his little brain, then it's easy peasy. A lot of libraries, which I've mentioned before, we've talked about it before. We go to the story time at the library, we have our our daily activities that we do. So no, I feel no pressure at all, quite frankly. And even with my oldest son being home for the summer, obviously, you know, being out of school, there was no pressure there either. It was different this year because we were moving, but no, no sweat off my brow.

SPEAKER_04 58:17

Bring it. So obviously for me, it's different because I I do go back to work. But yeah, this this time of year, it it does kind of get busy for me. As much as I am excited about getting back into a routine, because I will say I am the least productive in the summer. I always think I'm gonna do all these things, all my time off, so much time, blah, blah, blah. But if I don't have a consistent routine, I just can't. I actually kind of get depressed during the summer because I'm kind of, I don't want to say I'm stuck at home, but it's like I figured if I'm out of the house, I'm spending money. I cannot be out of the house every single day. Like I we won't survive. So, you know, just trying to be home. I mean, and mind you, when we have fun with the kids and all that, but my going to time sleep, I'm going to sleep later, wake up later as much as I want to get up early. And then when I get up early, these kids have their radar goes off. You know, oh, mom's up early, let me get up early. Never fails. And I just I cannot get into my own routine. I I need something to push me and work does that. Like I don't have a choice. I have to get up early. I have to go to work. You know what?

SPEAKER_03 59:18

I hate to cut you off, but I'm I'm hearing you talk and I'm like, oh my gosh. I think the biggest difference is that I was there this year. I don't know how you felt the year before last year, but la this time last year, I was there the whole summer harassing you. Yes, you were. And I feel your energy was definitely different because what are we doing today? Let's take the kids out somewhere. We're come to the house. We don't have to go anywhere. We're just, I'll pick up a box of claws or you cook dinner, you know. And I was there, we were there a lot aggressively.

SPEAKER_00 59:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 59:50

A lot of times out of the week.

SPEAKER_04 59:52

And that's so helpful because now the kids aren't like on board, on board, on board. You know, they're just they're out, they're playing, they're doing whatever. But yeah, no, this year, so you weren't down here this year. And just in general, like I didn't really have a routine, I didn't get into anything. Uh, we had our our vacation, but I I just I need that routine to get me going. And I'm not the person who has the willpower to keep up, keep up my own routine. But like I said, I have to go to work, I have to do this. But then now it's that time of the year where sports are picking up again. I did uh sign up to be my daughter's soccer coach. So I will be coaching those little pumpkin strikers, is our name. I will be coaching them once a week. We have and then we'll have games on the weekend, and my son's gonna start soccer, so he gets two practices a week. So it's just gonna be that busy time. And then we have August, and then September hits. September is like, okay, we're full on. It's fall. You have all these festivities going on. You have, what is it, Labor Day weekend, you have it? Just kind of all starts to go. We have Vegas, woo! Labor Day weekend. But it's just it's kind of the year starts to wind down. But as it's winding down to the end of the year, it's picking up. Like as you just get so busy. Christmas shopping, then you start thinking about Thanksgiving, and I'm going backwards, right? But Thanksgiving, Halloween, and just all this stuff that goes on, you know. But it's like that's it. Like once school starts, it's just one thing after another after another. So it's actually like about to be the busiest time of year for me. So I I am excited about that. Like just getting back into the groove of things because this, yeah, this is a little tough for me. I didn't miss me. That's a weird way to say it. I miss you too. Yeah, see, there it is. I'm glad you got that. And then also, you know, you go to scheduling pickups and drop-offs. Who's taking the kids? Who's picking them up? Luckily, because my kid is gonna go to school with me now, one less thing to worry about. Right? So that's gonna be nice. One less thing that we have to, well, one less thing to worry about, like I just said. And then, but then we have homework, okay? How do you feel about kids having homework? I love it. If we know I neish, which we do at this point, she does love it. I do not mind the kids having homework at all. It's not an issue for me as long as they know what to do. I think that, and it's as the kids get older, especially with math. The math math gets a little bit harder. Send an example, send something home for the parents. Because not all parents remember how to do this math or the new math that's being taught, certain states, that it's it's different from when we learned it. So send some examples, send something, because you know, if other kids are like mine, they're like, no, that's not how my what my teacher said. And you gotta do it like this. And then homework becomes a struggle because you know how to do things one way, but the teacher's telling you a different way, and your kids are like, no, it has to be the teacher's way.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:43

It's like, does it does it? No, you know, whatever.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:47

But I have, I remember hearing a conversation. I was at the soccer park, actually. This lady was on her phone very talking very loud and she was complaining um to the person on the other side of the phone about why does my I don't understand why my kid has homework. They give my kids so much homework, blah, blah, blah. Like the kids shouldn't have homework. This should be their time. And being a teacher, I get that. I I get that they're at school all day and maybe they shouldn't have homework when they come home. But I also believe in repetition and being able to learn. I didn't assign too much homework when I was when I had my own classroom. I didn't assign much other than reading. The literacy rates are very low across the board. So my thing was, I just need you to read. I'm not asking you to do. I mean, I taught language arts and social studies. My thing was reading. I need you to read. Like it's part of your homework. It's gonna be part of your grade because just the way I did things, it worked out that way. And I still got so much pushback from parents. And it's like, all they need to do is read 20 minutes a day. That's it, 80 minutes a week because it was due Friday. And still I would get pushback from parents. And it's like, your kid is not reading at grade level. Yeah. Let me do my job, you know. So I'm not totally against it. Don't give my kid a ton of homework, but give them something because they do need to see it again. They do need to repeat it and try it on their own and see how it goes. But there are a lot of parents who are like, oh, well, it should be home time, it should be family time, blah, blah, blah. But in all honesty, if your kid's not in sports, most likely what they're doing is they're at home on the phone, playing video games. They are not doing anything to stimulate their brain. So, no, suck it. Make your kid do some homework.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:27

Like, show me a camera, an indoor camera about exactly what family time looks like. Because right, because you're not home till 5 30, anyways. And what time did they go to bed? Like, what are y'all really about to do for family time on a Monday, Tuesday, you know, Monday through Thursday? So yes, send the homework home. Not not anything aggressive or crazy, but something to recap. Like you said, repetition. Keep it, keep it fresh and sharp. Do a test and make sure they understand it. My son, he it wasn't mandated at the school in Texas, but they did send stuff home and he did it and turned it in. That's but it's practice. Eventually, you're gonna get homework.

unknown 1:05:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:07

So they're sending it home.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:09

You can't be good at anything if you don't practice.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:11

So that's our quality time. I'm I'm helping you with your homework. Right?

SPEAKER_04 1:05:19

Yeah. I mean, I've seen his homework packets, because tip I mean, I guess at his grade level, that's the main majority of its packets. And they're, you know, they're up to par, nothing crazy. You do a few pages a day. A few pages a day. Typically, what takes long isn't even the homework itself. It's the arguing. Go do your homework. Oh, I don't want to, or I can't find a pencil, or you know, all the excuses that they come up with. That's what takes longer than actually doing the damn homework. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:47

Right? Spent eight minutes yapping with me, and they could have been halfway done with today's work.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:53

Mm-hmm. Exactly. And then you see what your kid is doing. I cannot tell you how many times I had parents who'd didn't know that their kid couldn't read, who did not know that their kid's writing was atrocious, who did not know that their kid wasn't turning in their work. Why didn't you tell me sooner? Because I'm not gonna communicate with you every single day. That's why.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:13

I'm not one on one.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:16

Right? Show some interest in your kids' work. Check their stuff. And every day kids are not gonna like this. Check their emails. Yeah. Check these kids' emails. If your kid is a middle school, even upper grade elementary at this point. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Look it. It's not pretty. You want to know why your kids are not doing good. Look at their emails. What are they doing? What are they sending to each other? Who are they bullying? Who are they talking about? I have seen so much crazy stuff in kids' emails. Yeah, and you know, they're it's getting younger and younger. So you think your kid don't do anything, check their emails.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:49

Yes, younger and younger for everything. Get involved in your kids. Period. That's it. Especially with school. Just because they're out of sight, out of mind, and they may not pre be coming home, they're not coming home presenting things to you, check their backpacks. Like so said, check their computers and all that jazz. And be involved and engaged and ask questions. Absolutely. And communicate.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:14

So I will say it's just to get you ready for school or to get your kids ready for school. If your kid has some type of disability, learning impairment, anything that's gonna keep them from learning, do not assume that the teacher's automatically gonna know. Do we get their files? Yes. Depending on the amount of kids that we have, we just look at the very top part for the most part. Okay. Unless we're told otherwise about a specific student, hey, now really look into this. We get a certain amount of information. Other than that, like we we don't have time to look at every little detail in your kid's history. So if you know that, you know, maybe this triggers your kid or whatever the case is, please let that teacher know or teachers know. Example, I had a student my first year where she, the sweetest kid, sweetest kid, very shy, very introverted. That's okay, not a big deal, but she wasn't doing well in my class. Parent conferences came, first semester, parent didn't show up. Second semester, parent shows up. Tells me her daughter is hard of hearing. Do you think that's something you should have told me at the very beginning of the school year? And of course, these kids don't always advocate for themselves. I'm not gonna know that she can't hear me. Yeah, it's embarrassing.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:26

Yeah. You know, for their little age, whatever that is.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:31

Right. Like, so please communicate with your teachers. It doesn't have to be about every little thing, and please don't be doing special requests. Like, I'm not even gonna go into it. I look, but as long as it makes sense and it's reasonable, reach out to your teachers. Talk to your kids about how they should be acting in school. There are too many entitled kids getting into our classrooms who feel that the rules do not apply to them. That is not the case, okay? And it's not the teachers, it's the kids for the most part. The rules in school have not really changed. We all know the rules. We should all be respectful. A lot of the stuff. So there's a lot of backpack giveaways, school supply giveaways, and all that. And then, of course, we have parents who go out and buy their kids what they need. I will tell you right now that the kids that get things just given to them for free do not appreciate or take care of their stuff. I don't have an issue giving a kid pencil if they need it. I cannot tell you how many times I had pencils all over my classroom because they're just given to them and they don't care. And they come back next time. Oh, I need a pencil. Where's the pencil you just had? Oh, I don't know, I lost it.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:37

No respect.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:38

They they just don't care. They exactly that they don't they don't have any respect. They, you know, when things are just handed to them. Make them buy their school supplies. Make them or just teach them some respect.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:48

The opposite of what we said earlier, instead of gifting them the gifts. Hey, here's 10 bucks. Buy what you need. Right.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:57

So it's that's not the issue of giving a kid a pencil. I'll give all the kids a pencil. But when you come to me every single day asking for a pencil, but when the class leaves, there's a bunch of pencils on the floor.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:07

Yeah. Set your kids up for success. Set your children up for success. Set the littles up for success. That's my goal and that's my intent. That's why I'm okay with homework. That's why I educate my kids during the summer. And I'm enforcing education to make sure that they're prepared for what's to come. And that's just less of stress for them too. I don't want my kids to feel out of the loop because they can't keep up. And the goal is for me is to give them a head start, set them up for success. And make sure they're sleeping.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:45

Yes. Go to sleep at a decent time. Do not let them be on their games all night, especially the day before school or any. Just start getting them ready now. You're gonna start going to bed at a decent time because it is a hard transition to go from summer to waking up at, you know, whatever, you know, seven, six, seven o'clock, whatever time they need to. Um, make sure you also talk to them about hygiene, especially if your kid is in middle school or, like I said, elementary upper grades. They start going through, you know, those body changes. I cannot tell you how many stinkers I've had in class, especially in the summer when it's hot. Okay, and this is me just telling you the truth. Okay, some of your kids stink. Deodorant. Teach them about deodorant.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:29

It's okay to find something safe if you're oh, it's too strong. They have children safe hygiene products out there.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:37

Yes, and cologne is not always the answer. And don't let them bring their glass cologne to school. Oh my gosh. I cannot tell you how many kids have broken a cologne bottle in their backpack. Why? And now we're all stuck smelling like old grandpa for the rest of the day. Yeah, it's crazy. And tell them not to spray the axe on the rest of the kids. And everybody appreciates that. Look, look, I maybe I could be here forever telling. We can do a whole episode about it. If you have any questions about what to do or not do, please send us a message, email us, whatever. I will happily answer and give you the truth. Yes. Because as a teacher, you know, you don't want to be, you don't want to embarrass a parent. And parents are so quick to just get angry first, you know. But we're we're telling you things for a reason, man. Like it's for a reason. So we're not taking 91 kid. Yeah. Because kids are mean. Kids are sick and mean. Kids are let me be the one to tell you first about your stinking kid before your kid home comes home crying because kids are teasing him because he stinks to help.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:40

The teachers are there to help. The teachers are not your enemy. They give you their information the first day of school for a reason. Reach out to them if it has anything to do, obviously, associated with the school and your child, but can stay in the loop. You text everybody else all day, you email people. If you're concerned about the homework or anything, the teachers are literally there to help. I messaged my son's teacher because she wasn't giving homework. Even though it wasn't mandated work, I had to make sure is he not getting it or are you not passing it out? Because I know it's not mandated, but this is our routine that we do. I messaged her and she told me that she just wasn't passing it out. Come to find out, she got pregnant. She had a lot going on. And she was, she had a lot going on. I'm in there. Pregnant teacher. So but I messaged her. Um and she just, you know, it's not okay, girl. I know it's not mandated, but that's part of our routine. Whether he turns it in or not, he's getting used to doing homework because eventually that's gonna be part of his life that needs to be turned in. Reach out. They're not gonna be upset with you. They give you all the information for a reason.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:56

Set your teaching. Last thing I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:58

Yes. Last thing I'm gonna say about this, because like I said, I can go on for a really long time. When you reach out to the teacher, please know that, especially if it's in the middle of the day, they are teaching your children. Yes. Do not expect an answer right away. I had a parent who she thought I only taught her kid. My kid is the only one you teach all day. It's not 160 kids. Okay. She would send, it's like she would text me and she would send me just question marks, question mark, question mark. Hello, are you there? Are you gonna answer me? No, ma'am. No, I see where your kid gets it from. No, ma'am. No. Mm-mm. Then I would just purposely wait. We had, I think, 24 hours to respond. Like that was our thing. I will wait till the 20 hour and 59 minutes to respond because you are driving me nuts.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:45

Why are you harassing me? That's crazy. Right?

SPEAKER_03 1:14:48

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:50

I would like I would get this knot in my stomach every time I would see her name pop up in my email. I'm like, what now? Because some of these things were totally unreasonable, totally like just you don't know your kid, man. You don't know your kid.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:15:04

These kids, these kids are different when they leave your home. Sometimes they act better, sometimes they act worse. Yes. But they are not the same kid in both places. Yeah. Sorry. They're just not. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:16

Definitely keep that in mind. Again, as someone whose text or message, it was a message app that we all had access to to read to teachers. I I never expected a immediate response, but it I put it out there into the universe, and she responded when she responded, and we move on. And sometimes she would respond back quickly if that were if that was her messaging hours or something. But absolutely keep that in mind for sure. That is not your homegirl or your homeboy that you're reaching out to. They are at work and they are doing business, teaching multiple children.

SPEAKER_04 1:15:52

So and then we also sleep. So men sending a messenger in the morning. That's crazy. It's also look, I I've had it all, guys. That's so much craziness. Go down with parents and students. We have lives.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:09

Yes. So just ultimate at you know, ultimately set them up for success. That's, I think that's just the best way to sum it up is set your children up for success and be involved if you at all times, even if you don't need to be involved. I don't care if your child's a straight A student and not saying, oh, how can I make my kid better? But just making sure that you're involved and engaging and maybe your student can help another student if they're a 4.9 child or something. Like it'd be a teacher's aid or something. But making sure that you go to the conferences and doing as much as you can if you're a working parent. I can say what I can do because I'm a sham, but I think just setting them up for success and being as present as you really truly can be, then I'll leave it there.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:56

All right. Okay, so this has been a fun episode. Just going back and remembering what it was like to start school again. We wish you and your kiddos a great start to the school year and a great school year overall. Thank you for tuning in to Pouring in Parenting, where sip happens and we pour about it.