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Mom’s Desk Drawer Essentials

Find out what moms need handy in their desk during busy school days.

School days are in full force at  Momma’s Family Household and that includes desk drawer essentials.  I am revamping the office, play areas and a newer desk area for my son.  In going through the process of clutter busting and organizing I rediscovered my desk drawers.  I found quite a few things that I no longer really need in that little-hidden nest.  I have also discovered a few items that have disappeared over the last month that either need to be found or replaced. I am going to blame this on the desk gnomes.  Gnomes apparently adore Sharpie markers, purple pens, and lip balm. My purple pens get me through the busy seasons, like back to school and the holidays.

 

Desk Gnome Zen Garden - So Cute

Gnome in the Home Tabletop Zen Garden

I am totally addicted to purple pens something about that royal, happy color just gets me motivated.

My motivation for this post: I am trying to move some items that I normally keep on the top of my desk to my newly clutter busted desk drawers.  I want less clutter on top and tidy desk drawers.

So I am making a list of what essentials are actually needed in my desk drawers and storing items that I do not use daily or weekly in another place in my office or other areas in the house.

You may keep some of the items listed below on top of your desk, in desk drawers or in a kitchen drawer.  But this list is very helpful during a busy school year.

Desk Drawer Essentials

1.Pencils: Mechanical and Traditional No.2.  I keep the mechanicals ones on hand for myself and two pencils that are identical to Little Guy’s for reviewing homework.  If he misses a math problem or needs help with spelling a word it is a time saver to just grab one of his pencils and have him work it out near me on my desk.  If I did not have these handy he tends to wander off to find his even if it’s on his desk located in my office.   In momma-land, any minute saved is a minute earned. And don’t forget the pencil sharpener! Mine is a small battery powered, but any old thing will do.  I mean they are pencils, for heaven’s sake, keep it simple.

Ticonderoga pencils are my favorite.

2. Permanent black markers, on big fat one and one skinny.  Perfect for labeling lunch bags, lunch boxes, folders, backpacks, and ball caps.  I actually use this on my son’s jackets and sweaters as well.  So far I have not had any washing bleeding issues but we only use cold water in our house.

3. Silver permanent marker, used for the same purpose as the black but works really well on dark materials and paper.  Plus you can jazz up your lunch bag label design if you are feeling creative that day. I love this one.

4. One fat highlighter:  When chaos hits the fan somehow highlighting random calendar events helps me to feel a bit more in control.  The same goes for bills, dentist reminders, and holiday plans. I love this one. Bright Yellow Highlighter

5. Pens: I like purple, but black works just as well.  Tip: Use your labeler and labeling pens with the title Mom’s Pen.  This will keep older children from borrowing them for school.  Buy older children their own supplies and let them learn the responsibility of keeping track of these items and asking when they need to be replenished.

6. Paper clips, this will more than likely end up hooked together by your child if they are on top of the desk.  But, it is a good way to develop fine motor skills so let them go ahead and string them together.

7. Stapler and a box of staples.  Buy something bright if your desk or desk drawers are black.  They tend to disappear on the desk so the brighter the better.

Grab this super cute acrylic and gold stapler here.

8. Tape dispenser and tape refills: Another item that is easier to find in a bright color.   If you need to buy a new one go for a weighted stapler, it is so much easier to use for gift -wrapping and school projects.

9. Envelopes:  Buy the security version for when cash actually has to be sent by the school.  Use your black marker to clearly write where the envelope needs to go when your child takes it to school. Example: Suzie Parker, Field Trip, 9/5/2011, Room B, Teacher: Mrs., Clayton.

10. Post It Notes: How in the world did we ever function without Post-It Notes?  I use them for shopping lists, web development for work, reminders, page marking and the list goes on and on.  I normally keep three sizes standard, a bit smaller and the flags.

11.  Scissors: These can be dangerous.  I keep my personal pair in the drawer and a child version in an organizer on my desk.  This means that if Little Guy ‘borrows’ my scissors he is borrowing a pair that is a bit safer.  If you have children under the age of 5 keep all of the scissors put away safely.  Even the child versions are very, very sharp.

12. Blank note cards and envelopes: Handy for notes to the teacher and other folks in your child’s life.  Simple is best, but colorful simple is fun.

13. Forever Stamps: Stamps that last forever.  The greatest invention since the Post-It Note rates right up there with the invention of the wheel and dark chocolate.

14. Index Cards: For spelling words and math facts. I love index cards, I use them for everything but they are especially helpful to grade school moms and dads for math and spelling and later test notes and quizzing on history and science.

Even More Desk Essentials

15. Band-Aids:  Because paper cuts are boo-boos and they do really hurt. This is another momma time saver, perfect in a desk drawer for easy retrieval during homework sessions.

16. Rubber bands: For holding the index cards together and pencil overflow.

17. Lip Balm: One for you and one for each child, another great item to use with your labeler.  If your child is a bit older let him or her be responsible for this item at their desk or if they study at a kitchen table place this item along with pencils and things in a Ziploc bag or pencil bag to carry around with them.  Chapped lips can be a real distraction for a grown-up, can you imagine what it’s like for a seven-year-old?

18.Flashlight: You should have a flashlight in every room in the house for emergencies and it’s a good idea to check the batteries once every month or so.

19.  Small screwdriver set for replacing batteries. Many times one comes free in the large package of AA batteries.

20. 20 dollars:  Broken down with 2 fives and 10 ones.  This will save you from taking a special trip to get three dollars for a school planner or 10 dollars for the school emergency kits or 1 dollar for the scented pencils that the Fourth Grade is selling to raise money for their class field trip.
Well, here we are at the end of the list.

Did I miss something?

Please do share: because after all, it not only takes a village to raise children it takes a village to raise moms and dads as well.

Read this: You will love getting reaching your personal goals while your children reach their school goals. 

 Grab these desk drawer essentials before school starts! Moms you need this!

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3 Comments

  1. You are right Alyssa notebooks are a great idea. I tried to fit a stack of notebook paper in the left drawer but ran out of room. I am not even sure what 2nd graders use for paper. Any clues?

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