Originally published in print and online at The Auburn Journal August 9, 2009

Yep, it’s summer, and as twisted as it sounds, that should mean back-to-school prep for parents to avoid the inevitable nervous breakdown that comes with waiting until the last minute on absolutely everything.

Don’t spoil your family’s fun in the sun by stressing out on break, but give up the notion that you can tick off your long list of school lead-up chores the week before the start of a new academic year.

“Parents enjoy the summer, too, and they don’t want to think about school,” said Stephanie Vozza, founder of Theorganizedparent.com and a mother of two school-age boys in Rochester, Mich.

“Your head isn’t there yet, but so many little things over the summer can make a huge difference.”

Here’s a checklist for tending to back-to-school tasks without summer buzzkill…

Read the full story online at auburnjournal.com