This September, Harlow is starting preschool full-time. She will be going from 9am-2pm every day and I am beyond nervous about it. Harlow would be nervous too except I haven’t really figured out how to communicate all this to a two-year-old.
We never worried about sending Mazzy to a full day of school because she’s always been happiest when she’s surrounded by other kids. Harlow takes a little time to warm up to people and is much more attached to me than Mazzy ever was. That has been made even more apparent this summer in the absence of Ruth, our longtime nanny who left at the end of June to have a baby.
Over the past few years, Harlow has never really made a fuss about me leaving for work in the morning because Ruth was always there. Harlow loves Ruth like family. Now we have a sitter for the summer who is wonderful, but it’s definitely a struggle for both Harlow and I to part ways at the door.
This summer, we enrolled Harlow in a camp two days a week from 9am-noon. This is the same schedule she had over the year so we didn’t think it would be that big of an adjustment. Since we are at our summer house (which doesn’t have nearly as many kids running around the neighborhood as in Manhattan), the camp is really the only way Harlow gets to interact with kids her age.
Even so, Harlow cries every time I drop her off in the morning. Or she puts on a brave face but makes it painfully obvious that she’s fighting back tears with a quivering lip and big watery puppy dog eyes. It’s brutal. This means I usually go into the classroom and read her a book or play for a bit before I feel like she’s in a good enough place that I can leave. The teachers at the camp tell me she is perfectly fine and happy during the day, so I shouldn’t worry. But I feel like we’ve had a setback since she got comfortable in school last year.
Ruth will be returning part-time in October which is the reason we switched Harlow’s school schedule. Originally, we were planning to send Harlow three half days a week next year, because that’s what her school had available. But after finding out Ruth could only work in the afternoons, we decided to put Harlow in a different school that could offer her five days a week with a longer day, rather than find a new nanny. It’s a transition we were going to make anyway, but it’s coming a year earlier than we were expecting.
In September, when school starts, we’ll be sharing my sister’s nanny so Harlow will need to get used to school and another sitter’s routine at the same time.
Unfortunately, Harlow is like her father— NOT GOOD WITH CHANGE.
Over the past year, I’ve developed a really good relationship with the people at Apple Park, a company that makes high end eco-friendly products for kids like backpacks, blankies and stuffed animals in their Picnic Pal and Farm Buddy characters. They gave us a whole bunch of stuff when we moved into our summer house last year, so Mazzy and Harlow would have familiar comfort items while they got used to living in a new place. Last week, Apple Park sent us another care package with all their backpacks and matching lunch packs to ease Harlow’s transition into school.
Harlow is familiar with some of the backpack characters because Mazzy carried the bunny pack all last year. She has also used the purple owl pack and the bear pack. But Apple Park included new characters too, like a bat, a monkey and a white owl.
The eco-friendly backpacks are made from 100% recycled materials from PET bottles— one backpack saves 24 bottles from entering a landfill.
On Saturday, I lined up all the backpacks and their matching lunch packs on the couch so that they would be there when Harlow woke up from her nap.
Then I let her choose which backpack she would be taking to school. She loved them all, but after some careful thought, chose the bunny pack, just like her big sister.
I can’t say I’m surprised. And I love that Harlow will be taking a familiar friend to school every day, since she is definitely a kid who takes comfort in objects she recognizes from home.
In addition to the backpacks, Apple Park sent a package to Ruth for her new baby with lamb booties, a lamby blankie, a jaquard muslin blanket, a bunny rattle, a farm girl onesie and a ballerina mouse bib.
Did I mention Ruth had her baby???!!!!!
Her name is Arami which means “piece of sky” in Guarani, a native language Ruth speaks in Paraguay.
We met her for the first time last week.
Welcome to world, Arami! We think of you like family, just like your mom.
Today, I’m giving away a $150 Apple Park gift card!
To enter, you must be a Mommy Shorts Facebook fan or subscriber. Then visit the Apple Park site and leave a comment below telling me which Apple Park item your kid would choose and what changes he/she has coming up this school year.
Special Offer
To receive 20% off on all Apple Park products, use the code MS20 at check-out. Promo code valid from August 17-31st.
WINNER UPDATE:
My little boy would love the monkey!
Good luck in preschool Harlow! (And you too, Mommy! I go back to work/school this week and I keep getting weepy about leaving my baby).
My daughter would also love the pink bunny, and she will be going to preschool. Just like Harlow, she’s 2, but has never attended a school or been apart from me, a stay at home mom, for more than a couple of hours. I’m so nervous for her!
My daughter would definitely choose the owl and we have a change this fall in which she will be spending more time with a babysitter that is not my parents.
The owl. My daughter is transitioning from preschool, to a new school for kindergarten. She has an entire new staff to get used to and rely on to meet her needs. In turn, the staff needs to learn all about her because her special Ed teacher moved, and they brought in a new teacher that we have never met. To top all that off, she will be out of her body cast for only a week when she starts back to school. She had double hip surgery back in July. My son is also transitioning to a new building with new teachers as well. He is nervous too. This will be a year of big changes and learning curves.
My daughter would probably pick the owl or bunny. She will start preschool next year. We are going to do homeschool preschool this year since she misses the cutoff next year for Kinder. My son starts kinder this year and my oldest daughter 2nd grade. Only two at home for me..score! Haha just kidding. I will miss them…maybe 😉
My daughter would probably pick the bunny as well. She loves her hop-hops! We started her in 2x/week daycare last month and she’s still taking it pretty hard each morning. My heart just breaks for her little crying face! But it is already helping with socializing, potty-training, listening, etc.
My 4 year old will be starting full day preschool as well, and she is a spider monkey…it’s a challenge to get her off of me on my way out the door! That purple owl is adorable and I might have to get two!
My 3 year old will be starting PK3 next week. GAH. How is that possible?!?! He would love to rock that bat backpack (as would I!) So cute.
My daughter Anika is the same age as Harlow and is her biggest fan! There are countless times I have gotten her to do things just by stating ‘Harlow does it too’! She sings ‘eye of the tiger’ like Harlow and tries really really hard to ride on her scooter again, just like Harlow! Bunny is her favorite animal, and she would choose that in a heartbeat. Mummy is off to work in September while Anika gets settled in full day preschool. It’s going to be a BIG adjustment for our family.
I’m pretty sure my 3.5 year old would go for the owl. He loves owls! This year he’s moving up to the 4 yr old preschool class and is a bit nervous about having a new teacher. I’m sure he’ll love her as much as last year’s teacher, but change is never easy.
My 3 year old son would love the bat! We have a difficult transition coming up the week of AUg 31. He is SO in love with his teacher from this year from day care/school and he will not take kindly for being taken away from her care. He cries when she leaves for her lunch break daily. Or if he doesn’t cry he wakes up the split second she is back in the room like he senses her. I am dreading that week completely. It’s going to be rough for everyone.
My 3 year old daughter would definitely pick the pink bunny. She loves pink and cute little bunnies. She is going to preschool for longer days this year and the class size is twice as big as last year! She is also going to be starting dance class in the fall so she will have more new teachers to get used to.
I’d pick the owl backpack for Hawthorne! His routine is mostly staying the same this year, as he’ll start preschool next year. The only change is that he’s starting “dance” class one day a week. As he’s always bopping his head and wiggling, I can’t wait to see him in this new environment. I hope he loves it!
My 4 year old daughter would choose the purple owl. She is going to be going to pre-k this year and attending school 5 days a week for the first time. I wish there was a way to slow down time!
Kaydence would love the monkey backpack! She will be starting preschool this year. She is very shy and I am nervous to see how she will be around kids every day. She is used to her older sister and baby brother only.
The pick for my daughter would be the grey owl. She is going to daycare twice a week now. She’s 18m old and mom has been with her everyday from the start! We’ve been looking for a good backpack lunchbox combo. I think she’d like the cute owl face
The owl!! My little guy is still too young for school but loves his animals!
My daughter had HUGE changes ahead of her. She has never gone to a day care that is a school setting, so when she enters pre-k, which is four days a week and full day, she will have A LOT of adjusting to do. I know she would feel more secure with a friend because she has already asked me if she could take toys from home to school with her. She would LOVE LOVE LOVE a monkey back pack since she is CONVINCED she is a monkey. She jumps around all day and one of her nick names is monkey
My 4 year old is starting her second year of preschool in September. Even though she’s been in school for almost a year now, I can’t say that her first day in the 4 year old class will be any easier than her first day last year. I can already feel my eyes welling up with tears.
She would most definitely pick the purple owl. Purple is her favorite color (at least for now!)
My 2yo starts preschool three days a week! I think she’d like the pink bunny cuz the long ears are so cute. I’m definitely nervous, but she’ll be at the same school as her 4yo sister for a year. They will be in different classrooms but will see each other throughout the day, so I hope that makes it easier for her.
My 2.5 year old starts nursery school this year because like you, we’re in nyc and that’s what we do here! 😉 She’d love the purple “hoot hoot”.
These are so cute! Probably owl for my daughter and bear for my son. No super huge changes this fall, just continuing daycare….
Big congrats to Ruth and family. Beautiful little girl!
As for my little girl, she is struggling with the idea of leaving her pre-k 3 teacher. She adores Miss Catherine and is so sad to leave her. This is the first year she is really cognizant of moving up a “grade”. Thank goodness she has friends moving up with her!
I think my girl would choose the bat backpack to carry off to pre-k 4. She is in to mummies, vampires, zombies and the like at the moment and gravitates to the adorably creepy.
My 4 year old will be starting preschool this coming year. It will be a huge change for her since she’s not used to all day school. My daughter would love the purple pack since it’s her favorite color.
My little guy would definitely choose the bat as he transitions into 1st grade
My daughter would choose the purple penguin because her world revolves around the color purple! She goes to weekly daycare at our neighbor’s who has 4 girls who are all going back to school Wednesday. From 4 friends to none 🙁
I love the fangs on that bat backpack. This fall my little guy will be transitioning to day care. We are very nervous about it but I feel he will do okay but I’ll struggle letting go of my buddy each day. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly.
My daughter would probably pick the purple owl. Because it’s totes adorbs
My daughter would probably pick the purple owl. Because it’s totes adorbs. She’s going into kindergarten.
Congratulations to Ruth!!
all so cute! My daughters would go with the purple owl for sure.
I think my daughter would choose Who in purple.
She is Harlows age and will also be starting pre-school! But we are doing half day 9-12. I am really nervous, she’s my first, but I think she will do well.
My daughter would probably choose the owl because it’s purple! She’s starting a preschool coop this year so we could definitely use some gear!
the bat and monkey are super cute! our little lady would love one!
My son might pick the money backpack. But he really likes pink, so he might choose the bunny instead. They are all cute.
My daughter would totally choose the bunny, because WHISKERS. I don’t pretend to understand her two-year-old logic. She’s starting nursery school two days a week, two hours a day, next month. Those four hours would normally be used for precious mommy alone time (aka cleaning the house), but I just had to go and have another baby! So, they will instead be spent trying to make her seven-month-old sister to get cracking on those linguistics milestones.
My daughter would go straight to the pink bunny! My daughter is going to start preschool next month and it will be interesting to get her up early. She sleeps in till 9 am and school starts at 9:00 am!
Ruth and Arami are such a wonderful addition to your family!
My son would choose the Monkey backpack without question, they are his favorite animal. We’ve already got tons of stuffed monkeys around, at least a backpack would be useful, too.
We’re going to try starting preschool part time this fall, I have no idea how it will go. My son has always been very attached to me, but is becoming much more social lately. I really hope he thinks preschool is amazing!
I would choose the white owl backpack but I have a feeling my 2 year old would pick the pink bunny like Harlow did. She loves pink and I’m sure she would love the long ears. Her biggest change this school year will be moving up classrooms in “school” and adjusting to new teachers. Luckily, her friends should stay the same.
My daughter would pick the purple owl. Every item she chooses now is her favorite color – purple. This year she will go to school without her big brother who has advanced to kindergarten at a different school. Both her big brothers will be together full day in one school while she will be a few miles away alone, half day, then alone with me until her brothers get home hours later.
My daughter would probably choose the purple or white owl. My son maybe the monkey or bear.
Lots of changes for us this year. My daughter is starting half day kindergarten and my son is atarting half day preschool 3 days a week. Up until now, they have been home with me full time. They are both very excited for school. I’ll be the one fighting back tears!
Definitely the monkey. Or the “onkey” as she says. My two year old is starting two days a week this fall and it is stressing me out. She’s gotten extremely attached this summer and cries for me when I leave the room. It will probably be good for both of us!
My daughter, Eliza, will start kindergarten this fall. She’s much like Mazzy in that she enjoys being around other kids and has little trouble meeting new people. She’s also like Mazzy in that she will not dress in anything that does not include pink, so of course she would choose the bunny backpack. Good luck in all-day preschool, little Harlow!
My son Cale would love the bat backpack!
This year is a major year of change for our 4 year old. We are active duty military and my husband has received orders to move to Texas from South Carolina! He is leaving all his friends and his part day private preschool to a full day public preschool.
We know this is going to be hard on him but we are lucky to have family helping us during the transition!
My daughter would love the pink bunny backpack. This year she is staying at the same school but will be in a class with a new group of kids.
Ellie would probably choose the owl. She is starting preschool this year. Two half days. This is big, she is coming from full days home with me. She has only ever been to playgroups with me so her first time alone. She is MORE than excited. Keeps telling me she can’t wait for me to take her to school and leave!
the white owl for sure! an my sweet 4 yr old boy just started kindergarten and before school y club. Today was a lot for him and I am grateful for the kind y club coordinator and a sweet 2nd grade boy who took goo care of him AND called me with an update.
Joel would choose the penguin backpack! He loves zoo animals. He is transitioning from day care to preschool this week (same building, different hallway). so far the visits to the new room have been going ok, but he seems concerned that we will leave him there forever because he says ‘mama daddy coming?’ breaks my heart.
I love the owl backpack! My daughter already started but the backpack we bough was too small so we need a bigger one that fits her folder.
My daughter would chose the bat, or the white one that I would have to try to keep clean. 🙂
I’d say my daughter would choose the purple owl, which means she would probably actually choose the pink bunny. 😉 Her preschool is year-round so she already started her new year. It was a rough start as one friend left, one took the summer off, and one had a rough transition and wouldn’t play with her, but things seem better now. They’re currently saying goodbye to the kids who stayed for the summer and are now going to kindergarten. I’m not looking forward to next year when she heads to transitional kindergarten at a new school, but for now things are good.
Ugh!!! I literally just ordered the bunny backpack 2 days ago! I would have loved the 20% off!!
My 4 year old would love the bat. He just started pre-k this week and is having a great time!
I think my son would love the monkey lunchpack. He has been obsessed with monkeys after watchinf Curious George.
I would pick the purple owl backpack and the patterned stuffed bunny. Both would be good to take to Ever’s therapies.
My 4 year old starts preschool, 3 half days, this year. It’ll be an adjustment for him leaving his sister and new brother. My husband stays home with them so it’s a fun new adventure! He said he’d pick the bat backpack and lunch bag bc “bats are so cool mama!”
Would love to try the pjs or towels. Already have the bunny backpack for my 2 year old who used it for camp this summer and barely takes it off.
Aislyn would LOVE the pink,key word here is pink, bunny as well! She just turned 5 in July and is starting Kindergarten in a week! Bittersweet time of our lives and a new bag would make it awesome!
My son Jude would choose the monkey! He is 2.5 and starting preschool 2x a week starting in September and will be away from mommy for the first time.
Yay! Congrats Ruth! Enjoy the new baby smell and of course, the baby! Lol.
My son is in love with the penguin backpack. He starts kindergarten this year and it’s a major change since we recently moved and it’s a new neighborhood and a new experience.
As Emma heads off to Kindergarten and a new school, I know she would love the purple Who to help her feel confident and comfortable with change
My (almost 4 yr old) daughter would totally pick the purple owl. I am reminded daily when she says, “purple is my favorite color!” Many of her friends from preschool are moving up to kindergarten this year, so she will be one of the “big kids” now. (Well, big in spirit…she’s pretty pint-sized)
My 2.5 yo would probably choose the bunny backpack as well (or some other bunny-themed item). She will be moving into the mixed age 3-5 year old preschool class sometime this year!
Congrats to Ruth!
I would choose the purple owl for my daughter and the white owl for my son. My daughter will be moving up a class at MOPS and church as well as my son. My son will also be attending Moms Day Out once a week soon!!! Ahhhh
My daughter would pick anything “owl”!!
My little “bug” will begin a British nursery school. We recently moved to England. My 3 year old Lillian has been begging me to go to school. Her new nursery school is awesome. It is a farm nursery that has an organic garden as well as a forest classroom. We are super excited!
All of the bunny loot is amazing. I like the bath towel best.
We’re deciding what will be a harder transition for our daughter – going to preschool a few mornings a week, or spending full days with a newborn (and exhausted, impatient mom!).
I am a mom of 5 and sending my last baby to school for the first time in two weeks. She would love one of these backpacks.
My daughter is beginning Pre-K this year and wearing school uniforms for the first time! She would love the Purple Who backpack! She loves all things purple but her uniform color options are blue, red and khaki.
My “little bug” Lillian will attend a farm nursery school in England. We recently moved here with my husband as a permanent change of station. Lillian has been begging me to go to school. Her new nursery school is awesome. The farm school has a organic garden, bunnies, chickens, as well as a forest classroom. We are beyond excited. I believe she would enjoy the cute pink bunny to bring with her to attend farm nursery.
this will be my 3 year olds first year at a new school due to a move. She would choose the penguin backpack & lunch pack (or the bat)
My son would love Cubby the bear backpack and lunchbox. I am starting back to work part time, and he will be under the care of a nanny. This new backpack and lunchbox could make this transition a little bit sweeter.
Love the bat line-the backpack is adorable! I am starting back at work this fall so my kids will both be going to daycare.
My daughter would like to have the purple owl. They are so cute! She likes purple just like me. :))))
Thank yoy Mommyshorts in advance!
My son Dexter would love the bear backpack. He growls at everything. He is 2.5 and loves to carry everything himself. A backpack would be awesome to have. He is such a good helper. Mommas going back to work full time, so daddas gonna have his hands full. Definitely a big change for our little family.
My son is potty training and we are doing great with peepee but still working on poopoo in the toilet. He’d love the Monkey set!!!
My son is potty training so we are doing great with peepee in the potty but we are still working on the poopoo. But he’s doing great! He would love the Monkey Set!
My daughter would choose the purple hoo backpack! As for big changes, she will be a big sister only a month after her second birthday! I am hoping she will handle the change well!!
My daughter would choose the pink bunny and my son would like the penguin. No, the bat. No, the monkey. (His words). We have decided to homeschool our kiddos but we are joining an umbrella school and we will be going to classes once a day.
All I have to say is OMG. . I never heard of that website before and I’m in love not only with the backpacks ( the bat is my fav) but with the stoller blankets !!! I loveeeeee it !!! My son just turn 3 – he is starting preschool this year and is super excited but nervous at the same time .. He brings his blankly everywhere and they don’t allow it here .. It’s going to be a struggle !!!!
Bunny backpack! She loves bunnies. And she’s going to be a big sister for the first time in the next few weeks so big changes!
I think my daughter would choose the bunny bag! So cute!
My son would LOVE the penguin backpack wearing a tie! He is getting used to his older brother starting kindergarten and having a rough go! I stay home with them, and do in home daycare, so not having big brother around all day has been an adjustment! He would love having a backpack of his own to get ready!
My girls would choose the hooded towels. We only have one now and my 2 and 4 year olds fight over it 🙂
The biggest change this year is that my oldest will have her sister join her at school!
My daughter would probably choose the pink bunny back pack and matching lunchbox because her favorite color is pink. I would choose the owl though because that is what we decorated her room with when she was a baby!
I showed my daughter all the options and she liked the bunny backpack the best!! I would have put money on her picking the purple penguin.
Now that we have two kids my oldest has to get used to getting up earlier and sharing morning snuggles with her baby brother.
My 3 year old would love the monkey one!!! He will be transitioning from having a private babysitter to two days of preschool a week this year.
My older daughter will be three in September! How time flies! She will be starting nursery school in September as well and going two days a week. We have such a a special bond and she is definitely a mamas girl so this new transition may be a bit difficult (for both of us!) she would love the bunny backpack and lunchbox. They r adorable! Thanks for the opportunity!!
My 2 year old is also about to start preschool and she’d love that bunny backpack!
My daughter is starting preschool. And we’d pick out a lunch box! She’d probably pick the bunny one too.
I think my little one would love the frenchy fox plush
My 2-year old starts German preschool in September. It’ll be a big change from her home daycare and I’m not sure who is going to be less prepared for this change. She’d pick a frog backpack if she could or just the same, she’d pick the monkey backpack since she’ll be in the Affengruppe (Monkey class).
my son would def choose the bear. and this year he is going to school for the fist time to PREK since always being home with me.. so scared for both of us
My second starts kindergarten on Tuesday! 3 full days a week. She is SO ready. 3 half days of preschool weren’t enough for her last year! She has a backpack all ready to go but we actually do not have a lunch bag yet, and I know she would love the Bunny lunchpack from Apple Park!
Monkey pack! My son is starting a toddler program four mornings a week. He’s been with a nanny so far, so this is a big adjustment.
I would choose the purple owl for my almost 3year old. Both my girls have been in daycare since they were born but this is the first year that my little one will be going by herself. She is starting Preschool on Monday and her big sister is starting kindergarten. I know it is going to be a transition without her sister around and like Harlowe she also takes a while to warm up to new situations and people. Good luck to both our babies!
My daughter would probably choose the purple owl because her room is loaded with owls! This fall she is starting preschool two days a week from 9-2. She’s never been in a classroom setting longer than 3 hours at church, so this will be a big adjustment for her, especially after lots of other changes since little sister has arrived…new room, new bed, etc
My daughter would choose the bunny backpack. It’s so cute and she would love the pink. She starts preschool this year and I’m so excited and nervous for her. Good luck in school Harlow! Knock em dead with your dance moves.
My son would love the bat backpack! He starts preschool in one week!
Thanx for introducing us to this great company! My son has a dog backpack he loves, but eco friendly is a WAY better choice. The owl is a hoot! He’d like that or the monkey for sure!