“How do I look?”

The question took me by surprise, as I think it may be the first time my son has asked it in his 12 years on the planet. But there he was, caring about his appearance as he was about to embark on a new school year.

I should have seen it coming — as that first day of school neared, there was a definite new trend in the way back-to-school shopping was conducted. Previously it involved fulfilling the supply list with whatever was on sale, buying jeans and t-shirts and socks in bulk, and calling it a day. Not this year. No, the shopping process stretched from its normal couple of days into a couple of weeks, as clothes were given a skeptical eye (and to my amazement we were now in the “Men’s” department instead of “Kids’”), the backpack down to the folders had to meet a specified “cool” quotient, and we found ourselves making an exchange when somehow a certain shirt became “out” between the time of purchase and its travel home.

Such is the right of passage midway through middle school (that I once heard referred to as the “puberty quarantine zone”), when the 6th graders at his particular school leave their isolated wing to join the masses of kids ranging in all sorts of shapes and sizes and levels of development, and now the morning routine takes a while longer as he makes sure his Justin Bieber-inspired shaggy haircut is perfectly in place and his clothes match, and I sit in dread of the day I click on his Facebook profile and see that he’s “in a relationship.”

“Well, how do I look?”

You look… older.

This post sponsored by Target

I have written about Kate Gosselin and her seemingly clinical neurosis in wanting to collect children, but as it looks now, I’m not sure Kate will have more children to pile on the rest of ‘em, unless her career takes a further dump (not sure if that’s even possible), then I’m sure we’ll see her shacked up, knocked up and showing off her baby gut.

The Duggars however, are on this week’s cover of People Magazine, claiming they want baby number 20. Yes. You read that right. TWENTY! While their last baby was born dangerously premature and with complications, they’re not committing to responsiblity, oh, no. Now, it may be that they simply love children, but I’m sorry, there’s no way one can give 20 children equal time and love and attention. Furthermore, I really don’t think the female body was designed to be test the limits of the womb so excessively.

I dunno. The whole thing kinda makes me wanna puke. Raise and love the children you have for cryin’ in a bucket!

Even though it’s still blistering hot out, the first day of school is going to sneak up on you before you know it. Here’s the Imperfect Parent’s top 5 things to remember to get ready for back to school, and the end of summer vacation madness:

Register
If you haven’t done so already, it’s best to do this as early as possible. Late registration landed my son, who was just entering middle school last year, a few hassles when he had to track down a gym uniform because he wasn’t on the school’s official list. Many schools nowadays have come a long way since standing in lines at a un-air-conditioned, random school gymnasium. Many offer registration online. Look on your school districts website to find out how and when to register.

Physicals/Immunizations
Every state has their own requirements and schedule but most use the American Academy of Pediatric’s schedule which can be found here. Physicals are also required for kids entering milestone grades and most states are also requiring dental exams and even eye exams by a licensed optometrist. Most school or school district websites should provide you with this information. If this information is buried, you can also call your school district or school. Remember to book these appointments early. Most doctors are booked all summer for back to school preparation. Also, remember to bring the health forms required by your school to get filled out by the physician’s office and keep copies in a file at home.

School Supply List
Arguably the most significant marking of a new school year, the school supply list can be met with joy at the pending new year or melt-downs as one scrambles from one store to another to find specific items on a list. Younger children may find it boring while older children will want to join you to make sure you get the “cool” stuff. This yearly activity has become an outing for most families. Again, the key to having a stress free school supply procurement is to start as early as possible. We usually start with for all the staples and end the day with a meal at restaurant of our children’s choice or a movie. You can also give your children a copy of the supply list and make it like a treasure hunt. Reward them if they find a certain amount of items on their list on their own with a pack of baseball cards or similarly priced item.

Back to School Clothes
This is another activity that you definitely have to plan for. Over the years I’ve made a point to notice what my kids prefer to wear and what just sits in their drawers. Whether your kids are younger or older, allowing them to pick out as many of their clothes as possible establishes independence and personal identity. As early as June, department stores and mass retailers start sending out coupons. Keep a stash in an envelope in your drawer on the fridge. Many retailers also offer great bargains and big sales mid-late summer. Have your children try on everything, even if they don’t want to. If you’re kids start getting tired, consider purchasing items and keeping the receipt in a super safe place so they can try them on at home at a time when they’re more willing. The best advice when shopping for back to school clothes? Make a check list! If I am to leave you with any pearls of wisdom, let it be to make a list of necessary clothing items as specific as possible; 10 pairs of underwear, 10 pairs of socks, 7 pairs of jeans etc. This will keep the shopping organized and you won’t wind up buying things you don’t need. If you live in a cold weather climate, don’t forget winter jackets, snow pants and snow boots.

Backpack/Lunch Boxes
I put this under a category by itself because, as an experienced mom, I’ve come to appreciate that when it comes to these items you get what you pay for. This is also an item that is best left to the choice of your child, after all, they have to carry it around all school year and nowadays, the backpack has become as much of an accessory as it is a utility. After having to replace ripped backpacks mid-year, I decided to spend a little extra last year on a Swiss Army backpack for my middle-schooler (who is notoriously hard on everything) and was pleasantly surprised that it is still in excellent shape this year. It is definitely in good enough shape to either pass on to younger brother or use again this year — a bargain in long run.

The same can be said for lunch boxes. Although young ones tend to gravitate towards their favorite character lunch boxes, if you have older children, spring for the lunch boxes made by camping and outdoor supply companies. You may spend about $10 more, but in the long run, you’ll save by not having to replace and often times, the outdoor companies have a lot of cool compartments and accessories since they’re primarily made for camping.

This post sponsored by Target, The Imperfect Parent’s go-to place for back-to-school supplies

Watch as the Sienna Family drops their hot new single, “Swagger Wagon.”

This post sponsored by Toyota

Continuing with our traveling with children and toddlers series, we’re taking a look at what some parents dread doing with small children — the family road trip. Parents must be flexible when traveling by car because kids always have an uncanny way of having to use the restroom or come down with a severe case of, “I’m starving! I only have enough nutrient reserves to last me another 45 seconds before I go into full on annoying mode!”

Many families, including ourselves, are looking to save money this summer by taking vacations that are within driving distance. While this poses some challenges with small children, there are ways to break up the driving so that kids don’t get bored and get plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs. This makes the trips much more bearable for little ones who have a difficult time sitting for hours on end.

Our top 5 places to stop for snacks, food and bathroom breaks are:

1. Target Yes, Target, the store. Make use of your navigation system to find the closest Target — and if you don’t have one, you’re probably bound to stumble on one anyway. Many of the built in GPS devices allow you to put in the name of the store and will tell you how far it is. Target is a great stop to pick up snacks, and many of them have snack bars and even a Starbucks for mom and dad. The bathrooms are generally clean and without lines. Most have a grocery section where kids can pick up various snacks and you can even pick up a movie or allow your child a small toy if they’ve been good. (We, at Imperfect Parent, are not above bribing.)

2. Parks If you’re packing your own snacks or after you’ve already made the Target stop, the next logical place would be a local park where kids can get out and run off some energy. Most parks have picnic tables, but you can always open the doors to your minivan, SUV or car to let some air in and snack, plus nearby garbage cans be your friend when driving vacations turn into hoarding expeditions.

3. Hotels. We love stopping at hotels. Some of the more upscale hotels have beautiful bathrooms, the kind you’ll write home about. Many offer unique boutiques and sundry shops. A hotel lobby can be a nice place to sit in a cushy chair and grab snacks and who knows, if you and your kids cannot stand the thought of driving one more mile, a hotel with a pool just may change your spirits and re-energize you. Act like you belong there and nobody will question if you’re a guest or not. Just don’t get too bold and try and use the pool.

4. Coffee Shops A great place to get a pick-me-up and most of the national chains also have more substantial snacks and drinks outside the typical soft drinks. My kids always like to get hot chocolate with whipped cream on top. Many coffee shops also offer free Wi-Fi, so why not check email and let the kids check their Facebook, provided your in the fortunate position to have children old enough for that sort of thing.

5. Gas Stations But not just any gas station. Gas stations are as American as apple pie when it comes to creating memories on vacation. We always try to search out unique gas stations or gems with good delis and sandwiches. It may be worth checking out Oddee for a list of some of the most unique gas stations around the country. Don’t forget to check out the readers comments for some further suggestions. Gas stations can be a destination in and of itself. Have your kids keep a log of the gas stations you stop at and journal about what made them unique. Or if you have a little nerd in your family like we do, have them record how many miles you’ve gone since the last stop, how much gas was just used to fill up, and then they can calculate the gas mileage.

Read more about traveling with kids from our Family Vacations Tipster.

This post sponsored by Toyota