Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Shopaholic


Our consumerism and materialism in our society has gotten way out of control! As you read this story that I am going to link, it is sobering to think that people are actually living like this and are not trying to change. This story of this shopaholic mom just says how bad it really is. I know people that are into "keeping up with the Joneses". Our family lives in southern California and it is extremely hard not to get caught up in what other people have. Sometimes you feel that if someone else has it why can't you, but then you take a step back and have a drink of reality. I have to constantly remind myself that people here can't even afford their house and car, much less the extras they charge. There isn't a person I know here that isn't in debt.
I know in our case, we absolutely despised living in debt. The fact that we couldn't pay a lot of our bills was killing our positive attitude on life. We have a handle on it now without going into too much personal detail. Our attitudes are much better now. I just cannot see how people can live in a constant state of stress like that. It's no wonder people are getting sick.
I urge you to read this story. Here is the link again. Just click on the link in blue.

Consumerist.com

Here's the same lady's story on Oprah. It gives a little more detail.

Oprah.com



Public school vs. Homeschool vs. Charter School

Again, this year, we are trying to decide what is best for our family. We've moved into a new school area and have asked around about this school. The consesus is that this school is worse than our previous school. Great. (Insert sarcastic tone here.) The ONLY positive thing about this new school is that it is quite literally across the street from our house.

We've checked out the charter schools in our county and the registration is ridiculously early and already closed. There isn't a garuantee that the child enrolling is even accepted. There is a lottery. Either way, we are MONTHS past the deadline.

So it is homeschooling again this year.
Which to be totally honest, is what I wanted to do the whole time. I did not want to give up on my kid's education. I still want the best for them. In my quest to finding balance in my own life, we are going to keep the homeschooling going for them. We will make everything else work.

It's all about priorities.