Don't Be A Sheep

So who had any crotch goblins that started school this week?

I had a 9yo son start today and my 13yo daughter starts tomorrow. Time sure does fly when you've got enough kids to form your own baseball team. And when you...ya know...fucking live an awesome life! Or s shitty one I suppose but then it would suck even more. Choices choices people.

I'm going to be honest here with you all though regarding this whole "school shopping" shit. I didn't take either one of them massive school shopping and buy them a ton of unnecessary crap. The last couple years I've had teachers send supplies back after the first day and it's SUCH a waste of money and time when they do that. Why am I buying what's on the list when you end up sending some of it back? Makes no sense. I see teachers all the time who really need this stuff and you're SENDING IT BACK? WTF? But anyways...

So my husband and I told the kids this year that we were not buying them school clothes just to buy them clothes. We believe in using stuff until it's life is done, then discarding of it and buying another to replace it if the shoe fits. So no new backpacks, no whole new wardrobe, only the essentials on the school lists, and each child got one brand new outfit, shoes and hat included if they wanted it. Sam had wanted to look at the Goodwill and found three pairs of shoes for under $20 that all looked brand new so that was an awesome steal right there. Our kids seriously had an awesome time picking out their brand new outfit while we didn't overspend or buy unnecessary products and Ry and I were teaching some valuable lessons in the process. It was a bunch of wins all over the place.

I have a problem with the importance that seems to be placed around buying all this brand new unnecessary shit for our kids when school starts. The major businesses capitalize on it and society is just throwing money away on stupid crap. I don't mean that some shit isn't needed but the excess parents seem to buy for their children these days, in my opinion, is wasteful and unnecessary. So we bought the

kids what they needed, a new first day of school outfit for a little added confidence, and a couple of things they didn't need but we're fun, silly, or cute ya know? But there were a lot of no's going on with the kids and a lot of simple explanations from me. It worked. The day was awesome and we ended it on a good note. Mom and dad win for sure.

But we didn't overdo it and I think that is really important. I really feel like society places too much importance in general on materialistic bullshit that is temporary satisfaction and doesn't positively impact individuals lives in any way and definitely not in the long run. That shit doesn't add to the bigger picture and end goal for any individual. I love shopping as much as the next person, more than some I'm sure too, but large corporations use the sheep to gain for selfish financial gain. Most of them, not all, yes I am aware of this. But in general this is my opinion. The big corporations use all of the holidays for financial gain as well. Holidays are not about the actual holiday anymore, the real meaning and it's really sad. It hurts my heart so much that my husband and I have decided to forgo mostly materialistic gifts and have instead decided to give gifts that make our children get up off their ass's, interact and engage with others and maybe even further their interest and passion in something. We want to start making more memories with our children. Not spending ungodly amounts on stupid shit that most kids just toss aside within weeks because they have moved on to the next best thing. AND THE FUCKING SCREENS ARE DRIVING US NUTS.

We can't deny the coming of this new age where a screen (tablet, t.v., phone, computer/laptop, music thingymabob, etc) and AI is used for everything but we can inform our children of the negatives of so much screen and sitting time and support them in doing other activities that challenge their mind and bodies. Whew.

Don't get me wrong though, we sit on the couch, vegg out, do inside shit, and all that jazz often enough but definitely not as often as the average human being I feel. But this is that age where everything is done on a screen and we can't stop the inevitable. So we inform our children and others and more often try and set an example of a simpler, calmer, more in tuned and conscious life. It's working. Ripples are being made.

Anyways...

So my original point is that I'm glad we have instilled the morals and values in our children that allows them to understand why we don't follow societys "rules" and we make our own. The proverbial school shopping is all bullshit. Get your kids what they fucking need, don't let them bully you into buying them all this stupid shit and spending a shit ton of money on dumb crap and in the meantime teach them how to not only save money and still get cool shit but also that they don't have to follow the crowd and be like everyone else. They can learn that materialistic stuff can be fun and awesome but it doesn't make people happy long term. It doesn't fix issues, Brand new clothes or shoes will not make them into a different person although some extra confidence might present itself and that's not a bad thing.

What I'm really just saying here is if the world focused more on feeling good, on being happy, on the long term gratification and bigger picture of life and focused less on materialistic crap, instant gratification, and keeping up with the Jonses' society would be better off.

But that's just my opinion. I'm just a speck in this massive universe. One tiny speck just trying to make some positive ripples that will last years after my soul has moved on from this current human experience.

Focus on giving. Focus on receiving. Focus on learning. Focus on opportunities. Focus on moments.

Focus on life. #livelove