Moms Council: Back to School Tips

Hello and welcome to this week's Fredericksburg Patch Moms Council, an online forum of ordinary mothers just trying their best to raise their children. The Moms Council will take your questions, share advice and offer solutions every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Today's discussion is about how moms prepare themselves and their children for the start of school.

Whether you are a first time mom of a pre-schooler or a veteran mom of a high schooler, how are you getting your children ready for school? How are you adjusting their sleep schedule so they get enough sleep for class? What do you pack in their lunch boxes? What do make for breakfast? Share with us your family's tips and tricks to keep your children full and energized for a full day of learning.

Where do you find the best deals for school supplies? How do you manage the supplies list? Do you shop sales now and stock up for the year?

Let's be honest. Are you sad or ready to celebrate once the last of the kiddos are on the school bus that first day? What does your first day of school look like? Do you cherish your new found freedom or do you count the minutes until your little munchkin is back home again?

As your children bring home the next Monet day after day and your refrigerator is being covered, what are you doing to promote your children's creativity while keeping from being buried in paper? How do you preserve your children's school work?

Join the discussion -- we want to hear from you! Share with us in the comment area your thoughts about the first day of school. Preparing yourself and the kiddos is key, how does your family make back to school fun? How do you preserve the memories? For more information about the format, and an introduction to our Mom's Council, read our intro post .