<p>Also, as an aside, those of you who were interested in messenger bags for your kids, the academic superstore has timbuk2 bags now at $60 for the medium size. All you’ll have to do is fax in your child’s student ID to get the discount. It’s also an excellent place to purchase software, since the student discounts are usually substantial.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.academicsuperstore.com%5B/url%5D”>www.academicsuperstore.com</a></p>
<p>do you think they give retroactive discounts? My son ordered a Large custom bag a couple of weeks ago ($140).</p>
<p>dmd,
Her old jansport from high school is a beat up lilac one and the backpack she wants is not the regular school kind. She wants a backpacking one, the kind with the sternum strap and the waist belt. And she wants it for backpacking, but didn’t think I would bite for both messenger bag and backpack so was trying to convince me that the backpack would work fine. She will be student teaching in a private school in St. Louis. Just think the mountain girl look might not be how she wants to be known right off.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, since he got a custom bag, I don’t think timbuk2 would take it back- and since you didn’t buy it from academic superstore, I don’t think they’d rebate you any.</p>
<p>If your daughter is looking for a more “briefcasey” type bag, the commute is a little more “adult” in its looks and was designed to be a business bag. The discounts on that bag aren’t as good at AS though.</p>
<p>“She will be student teaching in a private school in St. Louis. Just think the mountain girl look might not be how she wants to be known right off.”</p>
<p>I don’t know about that. It may put the fear of God into the kids if they think they’re dealing with a tough, outdoorsy type!</p>
<p>Might be a good idea at that, at 5’ and about 100 lbs, she needs all the intimidation factors she can get! Last year she student taught 7th grade and the majority of the kids were taller then her.</p>
<p>just to tell you, if your daughter’s that small, the medium bag will be huge next to her. I’m that size and the thing swam on me. The commute is more compact in its styling and comes with the grab handle she wants- and even if she’s not carrying a computer, that computer slot is great for organizing loose papers.</p>
<p>dmd, i don’t think i’ve ever seen any of my teachers or my sister or cousins teachers with a backpack… i’ve seen briefcases, the rolley-things, and messanger bags, but have never seen them carrying a backpack. I guess it’s a PA thing. :)</p>
<p>either that or I just never noticed :)</p>
<p>Fendergirl–I’ve noticed lots of regional variations in what’s considered acceptable. You might have noticed how many east coasters were appalled by flip-flops, while most of us west coasters couldn’t figure out what the fuss was about. In Washington, being anything but an outdoorsy type is considered a little strange (even middle-aged women bait their own hooks, as a friend of mine explained to me some years back), and so not owning and using a backpack is more unusual than not using own. (In fact, I realize most of the women I know use those backpack purses, too.)</p>
<p>I like flip flops, but I hate the little thing that goes between the toes. I’m more of a sandals person myself. (As long as there is no little thing between the toes). I really can’t stand the backpack purses. I can just see someone trying to break into my backpack purse while i’m walking around with it on my back. No thanks. :)</p>
<p>I personally do like backpacks… I always pack my clothing in them when going on trips, and they’re great to pack stuff in for a day at the beach… I just haven’t seen teachers carrying their stuff in them to school… they just seem very informal to me.</p>
<p>Thought I would let everyone know what we ended up doing. My son’s medium size messenger bag (slate blue and navy) came and it looks great and son actually looked enthusiastic about it! Daughter otoh, thought it looked too big with her petite size (you were right about that Lauren) and after checking out the dimensions of the small one ordered that in all black. She thinks it will work fine for both student teaching and teaching (!!) as well as her last months as a student.</p>
<p>We also ordered her a new NorthFace backpack, good for day trips backpacking. We got a good deal on that from eastern mountain sports on-line. By the time she decided though, it was too late to ship here and they are on their way to her college as I write…</p>
<p>dmd, can’t help but get a word in about flip flops and back packs… I live in sandals myself and have a few pairs of flip flops. As a kid, my sister and I would wear them or go barefoot all summer. I have a problem when I see people wearing them in clearly inappropriate weather, such as under 60 degrees when it feels wonderful to wear toasty socks. I use a backpack purse and have for a number of years. I may be in the minority but I always get compliments on one that I have so I guess it looks okay.</p>
<p>I love my leather flip flops. Once I found a pair that didn’t make my feet bleed, I’ve been living in them. Can’t wait to get another pair.</p>
<p>After I saw this threat, I decided to get a medium sized Timbuk2 in black/grey/black for myself. I love it so much…it holds the same amount of stuff as my North Face but it fits better because it’s not compartmentlized (did I just make that word up?).</p>
<p>My flip flops are all ruined because my dad decided to wear them while painting the house. :(</p>