No way! Not a chance! There are no protractors or No. 2 pencils making their way into my cart! Cashier, please just scan these flag-patterned flip-flops, this bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, and a bottle of Coke that I plan to share with my daughter. I’m not ready to leave this summer bubble just yet; the calendar still shows July. Let me take in the humidity and feel the burn from my leather seats. I want to get caught in an afternoon downpour and admire the stunning purple and gold sunsets because it is still summer! Don’t push me into fall, Mr. Five Star First Gear. I simply won’t have it.
I’m not prepared for supply lists that will yield half-empty notebooks or entirely unused graph paper and red pens by the year’s end. I’m still convincing myself that sunbathing will flatten my stomach. I can’t afford to stress over whether my child will develop scoliosis from lugging around six different 1-inch binders and three-subject college-ruled notebooks in a middle school with no lockers.
I know there are organized parents out there today eagerly checking off their back-to-school lists, basking in the bliss of not having to fight for the last pair of left-handed scissors. But I’m not one of them. At 3 p.m. today, my child and I will be debating whether we should indulge in a salted pretzel or a churro at the water park. We still have five weeks before tackling this conversation:
Me: Are the vocabulary words in the book or on a ditto?
Kid: A what?
Me: A ditto. You know, when the teacher prints the words on a sheet of paper and makes copies for the class?
Kid: What is making copies?
Me: Seriously? Like a copy machine?
Kid: OHHH! You mean a copy machine! No, the words aren’t on handouts. They’re in the book.
Me: OK, so she wants the assignment done on loose leaf?
Kid: On what?
I get that this is the retail cycle: back-to-school items hit shelves in July, Halloween costumes appear in August, Christmas decorations pop up in October, and Easter baskets replace Valentine’s Day candy by February 15. But how can we savor today when tomorrow looms large? The moment that first three-prong poly folder enters our home, summer is practically over. I am not ready. I haven’t even made it to Disney yet! So I’m standing my ground and focusing on one season at a time. It’s still summer, and it will remain so until that first bell rings on August 24.
For those interested in navigating this journey of motherhood, check out our other blog posts, like this one on at-home insemination kits, where you can learn more about your options for starting a family. For more detailed information, you might also find benefits from reading about the ICI method, which provides great insights on self-insemination. And if you’re curious about what to expect during your first IUI, this resource is invaluable.
Summary:
This article expresses the reluctance to embrace the back-to-school season too early, emphasizing the desire to enjoy the remaining days of summer. It humorously illustrates the disconnect between organized parents preparing for school and those still reveling in summer activities. It highlights the importance of savoring each season and the inevitable transition that comes with the academic calendar.