The Cheapest Option is Sometimes Best

About a month ago, I was (sort of) agonizing over what to do for my son's birthday party?  Bowling?  Pizza?  And then I got smart, and just asked the kid, "Hey, kid....whaddaya wanna do for your birthday?"  My ingenious and wonderfully simple child exclaimed, "Go to the park!"  Wow, I thought; it's that easy?

So, today, $15 dollars and a few hours later, I had 5 happy, tired, sun-kissed children, and 4 un-stressed mamas.

Oh...and gift certificates are actually a great, compact, quick and easy gift for a lot of kids.  Besides, let's face it, most kids know exactly what they want (which is knowledge all us grown-ups are often lacking).  My son was easily as excited about these as he was anything else.  But, then, maybe he's weird.  (Is it is odd that on the way home he told me he wasn't normal?  He claimed that, instead, he was extraordinary.  And oh-so-modest, eh?)

The simplest choices often lead to the most extraordinary results. 

Save, Share, Spend (not just for children)

My son is almost 5.  He's had small chores (feed the pets, get dressed, clean up toys...) since he could walk and talk, but up until now, I've given him "pretend" money.

Since little guys need "instant" gratification to stay motivated, he would fill out his responsibility chart throughout the day (chores and behavior were included on the chart).

At the end of each day, he could earn a fake dollar if he'd done all that was expected of him.

He could then use this dollar to "buy" a little prize out of the prize bin (little, inexpensive items from dollar bins in various stores - I think it cost me about $15 to get one started).

Or he could "save" it to buy something bigger.  I had a few bigger prizes in the office so he could see the goal on a daily basis.  But, I also encouraged him to save up for items he wanted at stores.  I was actually surprised how often he chose to "save" his "dollars".  In fact, the first thing he bought with his own money was a book (I'm soooo proud) - Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik.  And then he saved up again for a toy logging truck.

The nice thing about him having his own money is it keeps me from buying things "just because".  If he says he wants something, I ask him if he has any money.  If he does, we look at the price tag to see if he can afford it.  If he has his money with him, he "purchases" it himself (I slip the fake dollars back in my pocket and use my debit card - the clerks totally play along).  If he doesn't have his money with him, I let him pay me back when we get home.  And if he doesn't have enough, we talk about how he can earn the money to buy it later.  I've never had tears or fits over something he couldn't have.  He just resolves to save.  And if he forgets about it, he didn't want it bad enough in the first place.  If he remembers (the toy logging truck took about a month to save for), then I know it's a good purchase that he really means.

I have a policy - "If you need it, I'll buy it.  If you just want it, you'll buy it." 

He seems okay with that.  And it keeps him from wasting his money on silly stuff (most of the time).  All it takes is a "do you really want to spend your money on that?" to get him to reconsider.

Anyhow, now that he's a little older, we're stepping it up a bit.  Last week we turned his responsibility chart into a chore chart...no behavior topics included.  He can earn fifty cents (real) each day he completes all of his tasks.  On Saturday, we add up what he's earned and he gets his allowance.  Then, we head to his save, spend, share jars (I just set them up today).  We put a little in his share jar (he's saving to buy pet food for the Humane Society in December), a little more than that in his save jar (for college or something big), and about half in his spend jar.  I got this idea from this website a long time ago.

We haven't lost the instant gratification factor, however.  We still have the prize bin.  This is now based only on behavior.  If he has a good day, doesn't get in any trouble at school or home, he can choose a prize.

A nice mix between delayed and instant.  Plus, it's real life skills.

Books for Green Parents and Kids

 Going Green: A Kid's Handbook to Saving the Planet

The Green Mother Goose

The Eco-nomical Baby Guide

The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle

50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth

  

The Three R's: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

Green Guide - Families

365 Ways to Live Green - For Kids

Everything Kids' Environment Book

I'm always looking for new resources.  These are just a few I found.  Anyone have any others to add?

I especially found it hard to find books about green families.  So, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Mama K's Aromatic Play Clay

Ohhhhh....this sounds tooo fun.

I know making your own clay isn't that hard...or this expensive.  But what a cute gift!

Bergamot
Cardamom
Chamomile
Geranium
Lavender
Lemongrass
Sweet Orange

Available at Country Aire Natural Foods.

Sick Kid Toolkit

So, I'm stuck at home with a sick pre-schooler. Really, there's very little that can make a parent feel more helpless than a sick kid who can't sleep, can't stop coughing, and feels miserable. Time to break into the medicine cabinet.
So, let's take a look at the standard choices and find better options for substitutions.
Vicks Baby Rub (most of the ingredients aren't really a problem - although petroleum has certainly had it's share of bad press over the last few years...as Proctor & Gamble - long-time proponent of animal testing)
Johnson & Johnson Vapor Bath (animal tested and the fragrance - though it smells really good - is not natural).
Over-the-counter cold medications (most are not recommended for children under 6 years of age, plus they have any number of unsavory ingredients...read this article on the risks and alternatives published by the Mayo Clinic).
Gatorade/Pedialyte (high fructose corn syrup and unnatural sweeteners).
So, not to be all uppity and holier than thou - I have been known to use ALL of the above products. But, that doesn't mean I'm not always looking for better solutions. After lots of shopping and researching, I have found some better, more natural options.
I got this wonderful kit from a friend as a baby shower gift! It really is the perfect present for a new family:

Maty's natural cold relief products

Badger Sleep Balm (I actually used this for our first few flights to calm a frustrated baby):

Gatorade Natural and Glaceau SmartWater don't have high fructose corn syrup...but your better alternative is really probably just tap water (add a little honey, sugar, or salt if your kiddo isn't eating much) - my son also likes club soda with some juice mixed in and a half packet of Emergen-C (they have a kids' version, but it's way more expensive, so I just halve the adult version).
For cough: 1) Apple cider vinegar (I haven't tried it yet, but I'll give it go on my little guy today to see if it beats the over-the-counter stuff. Lots of people swear by it. 2) Hot water, lemon, honey, and whiskey or bourbon - yep, I said it! It's an old-school recipe, one that my own mom used, and one that has been passed down through the generations. It works! And there are no weird side-effects. You don't feel groggy the next morning like you might with Nyquil (which contains alchohol, btw). Of course, I'd keep the alcohol at a smaller dose for a younger child...and I'd leave it out altogether for a child under 6. It's certainly more natural than the chemicals that many over-the-counter meds contain. 3) Chocolate? Hmmmm...well, according to this article by Treehugger.com it just might work (like we really needed another excuse to indulge.
Check out this link for a recipe for cough medicine. And my new favorite kids' cold relief product:
Abra Therapeutics Aromasaurus bath powder -

Just a disclaimer: I am not a health care professional, not a doctor of any sort...so my suggestions are simply that. Update: I tried the apple cider vinegar/honey/cayenne/ginger recipe on my son. He pretty much immediately threw it back up and told me it was disgusting and he'd rather cough. Soooooo....back to the search....(though I will probably try it on myself for my own cough in the future). I did taste it, and was terrible. I would definitely chase it with something that tastes good.

Local Re-usable Snack Bags!

I really meant to share this earlier. But, as you can see, time has gotten away from me.

I recently was given a link to an Etsy shop for "The Barefoot Seamstress" because a friend of mine knew I was looking for re-usable snack bags and that I prefer to support local business. Plus, while Snack Taxi and Chico (and dozens of others) have a great product...they cost more than I really want to spend ($7.95 to $14.95).

But, I found the holy grail of snack bags....

Photos and Prices available at Buzzy Bee Creations at Etsy.

Affordable - available lined in cloth or nylon - velcro seal - large enough for a good-sized sandwich.

I bought two sets; one for me and one for my son. Becky was so workable - even tried to find Spiderman fabric for my son's bags. She has a well-made product and a great price. I totally plan to buy more as gifts for this holiday season!

Check out her blog:


The Barefoot Seamstress

Back to School

It's that time again...time to think of ways to send your kids (or you) back to school in ecological style.

Things to think about - durability, materials, where it's made, ecological impact

Supplies - Crayola "is getting greener"...they now package their products in recycled paper packages and even offer markers made of recycled plastic and products made using solar power (I noticed these last year, so they shouldn't be hard to find).

Lots of other companies are now offering items made of recycled materials - buying cheap will ensure that the product will not last as long...so cheap really isn't all that cheap.

EarthBinder (recycled binders)
Sasquatch recycled school supplies (mainly paper goods)
Ecosmart World - A Back to School Guide for Students Going Green

Lunch - buying snacks in bulk uses a lot less packaging than individual servings packaged separately; use lunch totes and refillable stainless steel drink containers; try out some re-usable snack bags (Snack Taxi and Re Pac - made in the USA). Check out the Re Pac website (Snack Taxi is already in my "Google This" link list). Re Pac is currently offering a 1/2 off discount through mamasource.

Clothes and shoes - try to buy Made in USA...and remember, it's better to buy fewer things that are well made than to buy a bunch of cheap stuff that will look terrible after a few washes/wears (it can be hard to convince young ones of this) - just a note - many New Balance shoes are made in the USA. Also, check out your local thrift stores and check out this TED talk about recycled fashion (it might convince your teenagers).



All of us are trying to make our dollars stretch further these days, but it's no excuse to throw our money away on cheap crap. Kids are hard on their stuff, so well-made things are important.

Backpacks - this is another instance where it's way better to buy a good one that will last for years - L.L. Bean (made in Maine/USA) will even monogram the bag - and they offer matching lunch totes - Jansport (made in the UK) packs are also pretty well made for a decent price. Both companies provide replacement parts, warranties, and service.

Getting back into the routine - Most parents realize that kids do best with a routine...but summer is notorious for spontaneity, later bedtimes, and relaxed rules. It's important to re-institute school-year routines at least a week or two before school starts. Gradually move back to a normal bedtime (this goes for adults, too), and figure out how and when things will get done during the week - chores, meal prep, homework, sports, music lessons. No kid is too young to have a part in this. I love this little gem: The Melissa & Doug responsibility board:

Here's to a great new year!

The Annual Toy Cleanout

Well, it's done...and without discord from the toddler.

I've been priming him for a few weeks on this. "You know that Santa won't bring you any new toys if your closet is full of all those old ones you don't play with anymore. Wouldn't you rather give some away to another little boy who doesn't have as many toys as you do?"

He seemed to buy in...especially with the added knowledge that Santa might bring him something new.

So, this morning, while he busied himself playing in the living room, I cleaned away. A whole garbage bag full of old toys he won't even miss because he never plays with them anymore.

Phew! Now I can actually see the floor of his closet.

I also now have several bags of clothes he's outgrown to take to the consignment store. It's amazing how fast these little guys grow out of stuff.

All in all, a productive morning.