NANA SAYS ENJOY THE END OF SUMMER

Since July is over and August has begun, the stores are full with back to school items. There can be a pressure to get organized now. Get over it with some school supplies shopping- buy a package of pencils! Then get back to the continued enjoyment of the summer. Stressing too much about the new school year filters down to the children who may be enjoying their time at camp or camping or just being with their parents and families more. Yes there is shopping with the little ones-maybe! You know their sizes! When my girls reached an age where they wanted to buy their own school clothes and supplies, they were given a nominal amount. They had to be frugal with the money. Actually if you hold off until the middle of September for clothes, many things go on sale anyway. For older children, they often wait to see what the other kids are wearing and may reject the earlier purchases. Save the bills! So see there is no real need to rush the month away with worrying about school shopping yet! If you are lucky, Nana has a new activity! As each grandchild starts school, she will buy an outfit! Last year one but this year three! Two grandsons start Junior Kindergarten! As for the granddaughter starting Grade Two, well Nana plans to try to have a special outing with her to buy that outfit. It is seen as stretching out the gifts bought for birthdays and Christmas. One less at those events budgetting to help the working parents with their budgets! So back to summer. Nana and Granpa have a babysitting gig in a week- 5 days and 4 nights while one couple celebrate a special anniversary away in a southern location! Plans to go to a  farm for children to enjoy things like a wagon ride and enchanted forest, splash pad visits and of course an ice cream or two! That's the real meaning of summer- simple, slow fun things! And yes a nap or two in the afternoon when the children are expected to read a book with quiet time!