It's spirit is waning, gasping for strength it slowly, slowly loses the battle as each hour passes; as day turns into night. The hot, muggy days are quietly being stolen away by the cool wind brought by earth's slow journey away from the sun. A silent scream cries out from my heart as I begin the mourning of the demise of my dear friend.
Summer has almost ended. We are just days away from a new beginning, but by its very presence in our lives we must say goodbye to our dear old friend--summer. It is flip flop wearing, sun tan lotion fragranced, no coat, out door cafe eating summer that I mourn for. I love everything about summer. The easiness of our lives, the constant stream of my children's birthday parties, the ability to breathe deeply without an agenda.
Oh summer! I will miss you! Why does summer have to end? Why must a new school year filled with activity now demand our attention? Why do we have to become disciplined to a fault and work so very hard?
My anxiety-ridden sadness is calmed by rational remembrance. Our family does not have to mourn! As I watch my neighbors bustling about with back to school purchases, running to school orientations and slowly increasing bed time requirements I remind myself, "This does not apply!". I breathe deeply, release the creeping anxiety and remember this is one of the main reasons we have chosen to homeschool.
We can choose to sleep in on rainy days if the occasion arises; spend extra time mingling over lunch and enjoy each other's company to the fullest. We can choose to read books by the fire on "snow days" and take a much needed break on "sun days". We can rush to our local park for a school mandated picnic on the first warm, spring day; take a school holiday to visit with Grandma, and have lunch at Wendy's on Fridays with Dad, just because. All of these benefits bring back the same joy and rest that my friend, summer, offers. Summer will forever live on in our hearts and minds as the seasons change.
I realize the temperatures will drop. Summer will vanish and the activity schedule will heighten adding new responsiblities and deadlines to our lives. I can face it however, because God has blessed me with the opportunity and vision to homeschool. Change is inevitable and seasons will come and go. I have vowed and will stubbornly resolve to remember and retain the spirit of summer, because we homeschool. 
Comments
Aug. 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by GardenGirl639
Never, ever, ever go to Super Wal-mart on the night before public school starts. NEVER!!!!!!!
Tomorrow, whilst everyone else is doing the "common" thing, I will be celebrating another wonderful summer (yes, Virginia, August is still summer) birthday. We might even have time to watch a bumblebee or two.