Don't panic, January is a warm-up

January and its friend February. The festive season has been neatly packed away, the tree's gone bald and everyone's left with the scent of sunscreen lingering on their lives.

- Carien Grobler

h, January and its friend February. The festive season has been neatly packed away, the tree's gone bald and everyone's left with the scent of sunscreen lingering on their lives.

Just as you thought you had things under control, reality swoops in with its first major demand: cover those schoolbooks.

The act of covering books is one of life's great mysteries. A fresh start to the year, they say. Neatly wrapped books inspire pride and organisation, they claim. Regardless of your effort, they don't say what those books will look like they've been dragged through a war zone by April.

The process is a universal ordeal, a rite of passage for parents.