Going back to school after a long summer was always one of the most exciting times of the year. The brand new uniforms, the smell of all of the new books and the big reunion with all of our friends.  Here are seven things that always happened during that big week in September... 1. The annual back-to-school photo Standing at the front door with big shiny smiles on your faces and snazzy new backpacks in tow, you and your siblings were subjected to the first day back to school every single September 1st. A moment every Irish parent needed to capture. 2. The excitement about seeing your pals Ah yes, getting the whole gang back together was a glorious occasion. Every September it felt like years since you'd last all been together, and the reunion was always a treat. 3. The hours spent writing your name on everything you own Copies, cardigans, shirts, pencil cases. You name it, your name was on it. 4. The pain in your hand after all the writing Not having written so much as a sentence throughout the long summer months, by the end of week one, your hand was ready to fall off with the pain. #TheStruggleWasReal 5. The moment someone calls the teacher ‘Mammy’ This happened to someone (often the same person) every year during the first week back to primary school. They were embarrassed for their lives, and the rest of the class was merciless. 6. The sizing up everyone else's stationery The stationery wars were real. And you were always in it to win it. No messing. 7. The comparing of summer stories You had stored up three full months of epic summer stories, and everyone was going to hear all about them.