Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
back to school
Hi ! Today we have:
- thoughts on anxiety
-a big back-to-school edit of preloved/vintage toddler and kids clothes
-cheerful teacher and papa inspo
- and a fun kids room edit!
This was an absolute blast to put together. Thank you to everyone who has been encouraging me to continue writing LOL. It’s a real pleasure.
If you want to see the whole kit and caboodle be sure to read LOL in the substack app or click on "View entire message" at the bottom.
LILA GREER, TEACHER OF THE YEAR
by Andrea Beaty
This week’s story is about getting comfortable with uncertainty.
Is anyone ever ?
ANXIETY
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
Brought to you by Zoloft!
MOTHERHOOD
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
I’m incredibly lucky. I’m deeply thankful. I’m totally fine.
And,
lately, I’ve been overwhelmed by simple chores. You can tell because my toddler keeps throwing her head back and saying, “OH MYYYY GOOOOOSH I have to go to the store and get stuff to make dinner!” It’s hilarious until I realize she’s performing me.
If kids live in a state of imitation what am I teaching her? To panic while you poorly accomplish mundane tasks?
I wish I was the kind of person who left the house like a human who had control of their limbs. But I don’t. I’m a can of silly string exploding into mid-air without warning. A melted spoon wandering out of Toon Town into blinding materiality.
It’s unbelievable how chaotic it can get the last 4 minutes before I exit.
Maybe if I tell you about my method of madness you can help me? You’re calm right? I’m teachable!
So, once I realize we have an hour before we have to be anywhere I run around like my hair is on fire flinging objects at the threshold of my door this way I won’t be able to exit without tripping over them.
You ever heard of an EGRESS DOOR? “An egress door is designed to allow an easy escape from a building in the case of an emergency or during an evacuation.”
Not in my house. I create the emergency.
Eventually, I collect so many objects that I fully block the door. Then I know it’s time to start packing the car. Armed with a general laziness and sans a basic understanding of spacial reality, I march out arms full of the most random objects known to woman.
You wouldn’t be surprised if you saw microphone stands, a case of Topo Chico, and multiple tissue boxes in one hand — a pink dinosaur with orange teeth, a mini whisk, and a ball of tangled yarn in my other.
Before I know it I’m restraining the children in their car seats.
After they are secure I feel triumphant. Relieved! It’s as though the children are causing the chaos.
But it’s not them. It’s me.
I realize this when I sprint back inside and have absolutely no idea what I’m doing there.
Sometimes, I walk into the kitchen and eat something. Sometimes, I go to pee but realize I don’t have to. Sometimes, I just stand at the door and take an anxious inventory of everything I am definitely going to forget or have already forgotten but realize I’m just holding yet another fist full of random objects!
It’s utter insanity.
What is the way around this? Oh. You want me to put everything by the door ahead of time? The night before?!
What if it rains? What if we all have the stomach flu? What if I see a dead mouse and need to call the locksmith!?
How can you plan for this!?
I digress.
After I accept that it’s seriously time to go, sometimes, I take one last look in my trunk. Typically, I’m stunned by how many objects I see. It’s like one of those I Spy books from the 80s.
and somehow
it’s never enough!
The blissful moments in the car when I can no longer grab any more objects are completely thwarted by the stunning realization that
I remembered 5 of the same bib but no sun hat. 27 varieties of trash bags but not a single wipe. Two hair things but no strap. This doll not that. A shirt not a broom. A tooth instead of a pen!
…
Earlier this week we went to have a playdate at a friends house and — I can’t believe I’m telling you this — my kid didn’t have shoes.
That’s right. I ran around doing “the method.” We got into the car. We drove all the way to our friends. We got out of the car.
She had no shoes.
No shoes. NO SHOES!? Are we cosplaying Annie? I’ve lost it. How did I forget her shoes?? Do you know how many fucking objects I have in my hands at any given moment?!
…
“Goodbye, Mommy. I’m going to the store,,” my two year old says from the living room floor.
“What are you going to get at the store?”
“I’m going to get paper towels, and lemons, and apples!”
“Sounds great! Just please — remember your shoes.”
FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
Vintage Overalls (4T), Vintage Cardigan (3T), Vintage Ringer Tee (4T), Vintage Skirt (3T), Vintage Barrettes, Vintage Puzzle, Knee-High Socks, T-Bar Shoes , Vintage Cardigan (3T)
Vintage Cardigan (3-5T), Vintage Dress (2T), Vintage Apron, Vintage barrettes, Vintage Booties (8), White Socks
Vintage T-Shirt (2T), Vintage Button Down (3T), Vintage Socks, Vintage Rocker, Vintage Tank (5T), Vintage Vest (12months), Vintage Jeans (4T),
FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
Vintage Dress (6), Vintage Skort (6), Vintage Rain Boots (8), Vintage T-Shirt (5), Vintage Barrettes
Vintage Overalls (6), Vintage Pants (6), Vintage Sweater (Small)
FIRST DAY OF ELEMENTARY
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
Vintage Overalls (10), Anthropologie Fruit Clips, Vintage T-Shirt (12), Milk Teeth Pants, Kids Crocs, Mini Boden Tank (9/10), Vintage Shorts (8)
Stella McCartney Dress (8), Meri Meri Headband, Meri Meri Clips, CHRISTIAN DIOR Dress (8), La Coqueta Shoes, La Coqueta Dress, Western Boots
Vintage Baseball Uniform, Vintage Polo (10), Rylee Cru Shorts (8), Gucci Button Up (10), Gucci Shorts (8), Gucci Pants (8)
Vintage Shorts (8), Off White Jacket (8), Vintage Sweater Vest (7), Dr Martens Sandals, Vintage Pants (10)
PAPA
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
Bode Suit
Bode Jacket, Vintage Beanie, Bode Pants, Vintage Jacket, Vintage Beanie, Rototo Socks, Vintage Backpack,
TEACHER
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
Sandy Laing Skort, Miu Miu Top, BOTTEGA VENETA Bag, Balenciaga Pumps
KIDS ROOM
by Lila Greer, Teacher Of The Year
Vintage Town, Primary Romper, Oeuf Bunk Bed, Big Stuffed Octopus, School House Coverlet, Haptic Lab Kite, Vintage Pull Toy, Plan Toys Rocking Horse, Vintage Truck, Rice by Rice Baskets
Vintage Children’s Table and Chairs
Thank you love, this is so sweet and def familiar! Thank you for sharing ❣️
Hilarious and sweet and deeply relatable. Keep on creating, mama bear J ❤️