Saturday Sentament

Off with your hat, as the flag goes by!
And let the heart have its say;
you're man enough for a tear in your eye
that you will not wipe away.
~Henry Cuyler Bunner

Decisions, Decisions: Teaching Children to Live Within a Budget

I heard this cute little poem many years ago that I use for buying my children gifts:


Something they want
Something they need
Something to wear
Something to read


Lately I've let the kiddos choose the "wear" gift themselves within a certain budget.  I recently took one of my kiddos shopping for their wear gift and the child wanted over three times the budgeted amount.  She decided to spend almost the same amount of her own money, but still couldn't afford all the items she loved.  Being one of the younger kids, she gets mostly hand-me-downs - so I can understand the desire for new things.  And her love for clothes and shoes continues to grow.  I could have a real clothes horse on my hands ;)  


It was so tempting to spend a little more, but she(and many people nowadays) needs to learn to live within their budgets.  She needs to learn to choose what's most important.  If she doesn't have to learn it at this level, when will the lesson be learned?  At one point, she was getting disappointed with the shopping trip because she was focusing on the things she couldn't buy, instead of the cool things she was adding to her wardrobe. It's important as mothers that we teach our children to be grateful for what they have and what they can afford.  The lesson comes easier for some children than others, but it needs to be taught consistently regardless.  

By the time she got home, she was excited to show her treasures to the rest of the family. Hopefully she's one step closer to understanding!

June Numbered

My friend Raimi wraps up the month "by the number".  The idea is so fun, I'm playing along.


One lost tooth - finally.  This puppy's been loose for about a year; the adult tooth already grew in!
Two books read; the second and third in the Percy Jackson Series.
Three den meetings.
Four trips to the library.
Five movie tickets at the $2 theater to see "How to Train Your Dragon".  It was super cute.
Six days at Girls Camp.
Eight articles written.  Check out the Homemaking Cottage and Arizona Mama!
Twelve days of stay at home summer camp.
Twenty five blog posts.