American consumerism. Always pushing towards the next “shopping opportunity,” the next holiday, the next event. How about stopping to enjoy today? How about savoring summer break instead of feverishly planning for the fall?
Just this weekend I finally inventoried the shelves, browsed my curriculum catalogs, and made my list for Emma’s upcoming eighth grade year. There’s plenty of time. No need to feel stressed. It’s not as if I have to wait six to eight weeks for a package to arrive.
In the grocery store yesterday, I saw a large back to school display full of pens and pencils. What? On July 2? How about we enjoy summer before we start thinking about school quite yet. I rolled right past the bargains on paper and glue and bought hot dogs. I am enjoying my summer break.
Are you?
My posting for July will be greatly abbreviated as I savor summer. I hope you enjoy your break too! See you this fall.
gorgeous watermelon photo credit
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Hi and welcome! I'm Jimmie and this is my online collage of our Charlotte Mason homeschool. Taking just a little more time to document our learning shortens the learning curve for other busy homeschool moms.
Feel free to browse around my posts and freebies. My aim is to bless each reader with something useful. 
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
AMEN SISTA! Say it L-O-U-D-ER!!!!! I am right with you…..I see so many posts about getting ready for the next school season, it’s refreshing to hear someone else taking it easy too….there’s a time and a place for everything…and right now…it’s time for us to relax and enjoy!
Amen!!
Phyllis recently posted Summer Learning and Fun, week 2: All Things That Glow, Zip or Pop.
I completely agree. I find I need a nice break to recharge, rejuvenate, and relax, just as much as the children do.
Ellen, the Bluestocking Belle recently posted Traveling? Don’t Go It Alone: Online Maps and Apps Get You On Your Way.
What?! Skip the sales on school supplies? No way!!!! We wait all year for those sales. Buuuut, it’s not about back-to-school. It’s about cheap crayons, and glue, and paper. It’s about creativity and fun, and . . . . OK, maybe some consumerism. But everything is soooo cheap . . . and I really don’t like watermelon . . . and, I’ve only done a little planning for next year . . .
Melissa Telling recently posted Make "Fireworks" In a Glass of Water.
I’m desperate for the school supply sales around here to start…we are almost out of glue sticks, and I think our last liquid glue bottle just got clogged…and knowing those sales are around the corner makes it hard to want to playas full price! LOL!
Funny how I read this post today. The children had not finished yesterday’s work yet & I was working them at a frantic pace. Then I realized, it’s not about school sometimes. Let them go play in the pool. That’s what I did and I don’t regret it one bit. Everyone came in refreshed and ready to get busy with their work. Thanks for the reminder!
Penny recently posted Hands On Artist Study.
Oh wow, I’m so glad I read this. I’ve been feverishly planning our next school year, and while I love planning, I’ve also started to feel stressed about it. That’s not what I should be doing on our break.
Babydoll has been asking and asking and asking to buy watermelon. Such a simple request. I’ve been putting it off. I feel ashamed.
We’re going to buy watermelon this weekend.
Tiffany recently posted Just Keep Swimming….
Yes! I love that our schedule isn’t dictated by the schools. We’re taking all of August off and enjoying travel and family time.
Enjoy your July, Jimmie!
Christine recently posted Top Ten Tuesday {10 pieces of homeschooling advice}.
Yesterday I was in a store and they already had Christmas items out. This wasn’t a small display either, it was rows of shelves and middle aisle displays in other parts of the store. I was shocked! And disgusted.
I haven’t come across any displays for back to school supplies, yet.
We just bought a watermelon today! Yay for watermelon! I admit, the reason I enjoy back-to-school supplies is because they are so cheap and I am a crazy stock-up type of person.
I wait until our TN tax-free day, though, so I have been sliding past all the school stuff for now.
Well, we are going to start school next week so we can savor FALL.
But, the principle you are discussing is still so important. I can’t stand the “pushing toward the next . . . ” mindset. It’s everywhere! It’s hard to beat it, too. Sometimes I find myself dreaming of “when I have a car, I will . . . ” OR “when the garden is finally done, I will . . . ” Going to plan as necessary for the future, but expend more energy enjoying the moments that fly by too quickly.
Ami recently posted What’s in the Bible Review DVD 8.
Ami, I think it is important to teach our kids that too. Don’t we all wish we had enjoyed our childhood more instead of wanting to grow up? And how many of us wasted our single years on dreams of marriage? Even now, don’t we sometimes dream of life when the kids are grown? We spend our whole life waiting for the next thing and miss what we’ve got now.
And right now . . . we have SCHOOL SUPPLIES ON SALE!!! (Sorry, Jimmie. I can’t help myself.)
Melissa Telling recently posted Make "Fireworks" In a Glass of Water.
I am always irritated by those displays. They seem to get earlier every year.
Twitter: homeschoolgrls
July 7, 2012 at 5:46 pm
I so agree Jimmie. There is already Back To School sales going on everywhere. They just got out for Pete’s sake! And what is so ironic is school here is actually starting back 2 weeks later and they are still out. Although I must admit I do love 10¢ notebooks
Karen recently posted The Week of Living Slower….
When I read this last week I chucked. Then I walked into Wal-mart today and was THRILLED to see the school supplies out. I have to agree with some of the commenters above…it’s all about desperation. I only buy once a year and by now we are out of everything. Plus I got a new rack from IKEA to organize some of this stuff and I can’t wait to use it.
kim sorgius recently posted parenting the toddler years.
We had a summer article where we talked about fun activities to do during the summer, developing skills while having fun. Check it out here: http://careerdots.com/blog/