No More Making Lunches, But Still That Back-to-School Feeling

Blink, and it’s back-to-school season—even if you're not packing sandwiches anymore

By Sarah Allen – Real estate coordinator, homeowner, and human navigating life’s plot twists.

Somehow, it’s August again. That strange, in-between time where you’re still wearing flip-flops, but suddenly hearing back-to-school ads on the radio. The beach bag’s still by the door, but Costco already has snow suits and Halloween candy fighting for shelf space.

And every year, I have the same thought: How did summer go by so fast?

From Slow Mornings to Big Plans

We start the season with big plans—weekends away, summer activities, meeting up with friends, home projects, slow mornings. But real life has a way of speeding things up. Work doesn’t slow down. Weather doesn’t always cooperate. And before you know it, the sun is setting earlier, and September’s creeping up fast.

For me, this September comes with a twist.
Not just the usual seasonal reset—I’m also getting my home ready to sell.

So while I’m not making lunches anymore (thankfully), I am clearing out closets, touching up paint, and wondering why I waited so long to fix the little things I’ve been ignoring for years.

My Lunch-Making Days Are Behind Me (And I’m Not Sad About It)

My son’s older now, off to college, which means no more morning chaos, no more “where’s my water bottle?” drama, and definitely no more trying to think of new lunch ideas (ones that might actually get eaten).

And honestly? I’m okay with that.

Back-to-school still hits differently though. Even without the lunchboxes, I can feel the shift—the house quiets down, the calendar fills up, and the to-do list reappears like it never left.

Fall Routines (and Forgotten Corners)

There’s something about the shift from summer to fall that makes you look around your home differently. Suddenly, the messes you ignored during beach season are back in focus. The inside of the house starts to feel like it needs attention again.

Let’s be honest—after a summer of being outside more than in, the inside of the house can start to feel a little… forgotten. I wrote about this in Your House Is Clean… Until Someone Rings the Doorbell—because sometimes the reality check hits right as the seasons shift.

Real Talk: You’re Not the Only One

You don’t need school-aged kids to feel the pull of September. Whether you’re prepping for back-to-school season, returning to a regular routine, or getting your home in order for a fresh start, that transitional energy is real.

Maybe we didn’t get to everything on the summer list.
Maybe we didn’t need to.
Fall’s coming either way.

And this year, I’m entering it with a magic eraser in one hand… and no sandwiches to make.