Well, ready or not, here we go — it’s the beginning of August and we’re now fully in the throes of back-to-school season, whether your kids are already headed back or still hanging around the house for a couple of weeks. So today, Scary Mommy is launching our annual back-to-school package, and first up, we’ve got Samm Davidson talking about her days in the circus.

“I have four kids ranging in age from 3 to 11,” she writes. And so she’s all over the place: “First to the elementary school, then home for a few minutes before heading off to the preschool with my bookends, and then a quick trip to Starbucks until it’s time to drop my oldest off for his first period. The mornings are chaotic, messy, and pretty inconvenient... but so are most things at this stage in life. Because having four kids in three different schools is no joke and I am really tired.”

I bet many of you relate!

— Kelly Faircloth, Executive Editor

Speaking of back-to-school season, let’s talk money: “Getting hit with a mile-long back-to-school wish list is no parent’s favorite way to wrap up the summer,” writes Candace Nagy. “Yet, there’s no escaping it — every fall, kids will inevitably need and want all the things for the new school year. According to a financial expert, there’s a way to tackle that list without the drama or going into debt.” Let’s get into it!