We all want to get it just right: that end-of-school-year teacher gift. How can we express our gratitude for all that our kids' teachers have done for them this past school year?!
Well, I took a very scientific poll (or not so much) on Facebook to find out just what teachers love to receive at the end of the year and I shared the results on The Better Western Mass show on Western Mass News. (Spoiler alert: it's a lot simpler than we all think).
An easy way to help the kiddos do good this summer -- help them create a care package for our troops. A few pointers:
I shared these tips and more on a recent segment on the Better Western Mass Show on Western Mass News. Check out the link here.
It's time, mamas. It's time for the annual back-to-school fundraiser. As you know, I'm not exactly a fan. Don't mistake me: I am 100% all in for supporting our schools and our amazing, hard working PTOs. I'm just not a fan of spending my hard earned money on overpriced stuff I don't need (it just doesn't fit with my green/minimalist goals). I've varied through the years between placing an obligatory order (blech) and just writing a check to the PTO (yay!) So I was overjoyed to find this notice in the kindergartner's backpack the other day.
Pretty sure this is the best school notice I will receive this year. I hope many parents jump on board with this idea. While I never mind baking cupcakes, I do not want to hit up family and friends, and while I'm always up for fitness, I do not need the t-shirt. This takes away all the guilt of not participating in the fundraiser while directly showing how else we can support the school.
Thoughts? Which is your favorite way to support your school? Let me know in the comments below. I've gotta go write a check...
Dear Fellow Human Beings,
Are we doing to best we can do?
Or can we do a little bit more to create a better world?
A world where everyone has an open mind
A world of tolerance and acceptance
A world where if one of us rises, we all rise
A world where everyone has a home
A world where every single person get the love and respect they deserve
This is a world that is within our reach
Change won't happen until we make it happen
Let's be brave enough to take action
To be a leader in change
To know that it only takes one person to make a difference
To stand up for each other
It starts with each and every one of us
I pledge to be fearless and kind
To be inclusive
To stand up for those who need my help
And to make a difference whenever I can,
wherever I can, because I can!
These are the words of the Be Fearless Be Kind campaign initiative created by Hasbro. I recently discovered this campaign while attending Hascon 2017 in Providence. Of all the the exciting things I was able to do and see at HasCon (we actually got to meet the team behind My Little Pony -- pretty much a dream come true in this family), this simple pledge has stood with me the most.
Maybe it was the "Dear Fellow Human Beings" that caught my attention. Or maybe it's my love for the idea that little changes add up to big changes. And if we just take a baby step, we can walk a mile. It's probably because I'm just so tired of all the judgement and negativity in the news lately.
But on the brink of a new school year, I'm hopeful this campaign will gain traction in schools and communities across the country. The pledge encourages all of us to be fearless, kind, inclusive and to make a difference. The foundation of the Be Fearless Be Kind campaign focuses on empathy -- the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions and or the ability to share someone else's feelings. The website has great resources (tool kits, printables, videos and curriculum) on how to put empathy into action. Some of my favorites:
I encourage you to check out the website, print out the pledge and hang it on the refrigerator. To consider implementing some of the resources in your classroom, scout troop meetings, or office. We have a pocket size version of the pledge that we read every morning before school. Encouraging empathy has no age limit.
There's a grant program available through Youth Service America for organizations and K-12 schools who are looking to encourage young people to stand up for others, include everyone, and take action when they see a problem. Application deadline is October 31, 2017 and projects must be completed by December 15, 2017. You can find out more here.
"Are we doing the best we can? Or can we do a little bit more to create a better world?" Yes, a definitive yes, we can all do a little bit more. #befearless #bekind #kindnessmatters #raisethemup
I'm always looking for ways to instill a generous heart in my girls and a new project we've recently started is the $5 Challenge. When we go grocery shopping, I hand them a $5 bill and challenge them to see how much non-perishable food they can purchase for that amount. Then we decide which local food bank will receive the goods.
These are some of our recent purchases. Not too bad for $5/photo. I love to see what their choices are. This project not only instills in them generosity, but it is also a chance to practice smart shopping, leads to discussions on wants versus needs, and of course teaches them how to interact with the cashiers and store staff. Stretching the grocery budget by finding things on sale is an important life skill. We made these purchases without any coupons or stock up sales. I can't wait to take them to a mega stock up or a B1G2F sale so they can see some real savings in action.
Our Big Y purchase logged in at $5.22. They were excited to find big bags of rice (one of their faves) on sale for B1G1F. And we talked about how salt is an important element to many recipes but is not something that is often donated to food banks.
Our ALDI purchase, also $5.22. Admittedly, the oatmeal was my strong suggestion because I'm crazy about the stuff but the mac & cheese was all Faith.
Stop & Shop totaled $5.16. Eden was excited to find a huge sale on pasta and veggies as she could eat that combo every single day.
Our Geisslers purchase was made for $5.11 and was our fun money as Froot Loops and seltzer water are certainly not needs; however the girls agreed that just because you are getting your groceries at a food bank doesn't mean you wouldn't want a treat once in a while. Well said, my loves, well said.
We had some great discussions as we bagged up all of the purchases for donation and talked about meal planning and how we could combine the different ingredients to make healthy meals. We also talked about how easily we spend $5 on a Happy Meal, which is just one lunch for one person; however $5 can make a much bigger impact to purchase ingredients for a whole meal for an entire family.
Give it a try with your kiddos! It's fun to see what they'll choose and this little project offers practice with so many life skills. And for most of us $5 is an easy amount to donate with each shopping trip. LMK how it goes with your family!
#giveback #payitforward #raisethemup
Lent is upon us once again. No scrambling for unique ideas for how to make the season meaningful for the whole family this year. I've searched around the blogosphere for some of the best and easiest to implement Lenten projects out there. Here's a round up of some of my favorites:
Create a Lenten Acts of Service Jar (Not Consumed):
Create a Lenten Prayer Chain with 40 links (Free Kids Crafts):
Participate in the 40 Days 40 Bags Challenge (White House Black Shutters) and donate the items to a local charity:
Participate in 40 Cans for Lent (40 Cans For Lent) and donate to a local food pantry:
Practice the Jelly Bean Prayer (Mama Jenn):
Print and follow a Lenten Calendar (Autom):
Instead of "Giving Up" a particular item, give through a Lent Collection project (Calderwood Baptist Church) and donate the items to a local organization:
I love these Odd Lent Lessons for Students (Youth Specialties):
How does your family honor the Lenten season? I'd love to hear your ideas too. However you choose to honor the season I hope it brings your family closer together.
One of my goals for 2017 is to be more intentional -- defined as to be more conscious or purposeful. To set up little checkpoints in life to celebrate small gratitudes. How do disinfecting wipes count as intention?
Eden lost two days of school last week to a stomach bug. It sucked and was exhausting. However, in the big picture, dealing with a stomach bug is absolutely nothing compared to what some families deal with on a daily basis with health crises and chronic conditions. So I try to be grateful for just a stomach bug.
When my girls miss a day of school due to illness, I'm going to make it a habit to send in some wipes to the classroom upon return. It's a very small way of being intentional and recognizing the blessing that is complete recovery from an illness.
I always intend to follow up with the teachers throughout the school year and ask if they need any supplies, but it usually ends up as one of those thoughts that floats around my head until June with no action. By making it automatic to supply some disinfecting wipes after a sick day I'm supplying an item that is usually on the classroom which list but which may not usually make it into my shopping cart. Linking the two will hopefully create a sustaining habit. A small way to adopt an attitude of gratitude. And to be a bit more purposeful. #begrateful #supplyallthewipes
Oh. Yay. The school fundraiser is due tomorrow. I put if off until the last minute. Again.
It's not that I don't want to support our schools. I do. I absolutely do. I just always waffle between actually placing an order or just writing out a check to the PTO.
I have a very hard time overpaying for anything. I have a hard time writing out a check for a magazine subscription for $20 when I can get the same subscription for $8 online. I have a hard time paying $20 for a dozen big pretzels when they cost $2 in my grocer's freezer. I'm a huge fan of Dollar Tree Christmas wrap. Where it costs, you know, $1 per roll?
And then there's this:
The junky prizes dangled before the kids enticing them to sell, sell, sell! UGH! Also, the fact that they take time out of class to hold the "fundraiser pep rally" where they show off the prize wheel. Where the kids can have a chance at winning dollar store trinkets for selling overpriced pretzels and magazines. Just not sure where the economics lesson is here.
Maybe if I knew what percentage of the sales actually benefit the school I'd have an easier time placing an order. So....what do you do? Do you buy from the catalogue? Do you write a check? Neither? Is there a better way? I'd love to hear how you work this issue. TIA!
Did you guys even see this flash sale being offered at Big Y on August 4, 2016 in honor of National Chocolate Chip cookie day:
This is the big tub (24-count) of their fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies for only $1.99. You have to show the Big Y Facebook page message to receive this price. Limit two per customer. This price is good for one day ONLY: Thursday, AUGUST 4. While supplies last.
Coincidentally, there is another food-related message circulating on Facebook, that the Springfield Rescue Mission is in need of butter:
I don't know about you but while I would definitely enjoy having one tub of cookies in my house, I do NOT need two of them! (TOOOO much temptation).
My plan is to visit Big Y in the morning, pick up my allotted two tubs of super delicious, super bargain cookies and also pick up some butter (Cabot butter is on sale for $3.99 this week). Then we'll swing by the Springfield Rescue Mission at 10 Mill Street in Springfield and drop off a donation of a tub of cookies and a few pounds of butter. Of course -- they would not say no to additional items in the grocery bag if you feel so moved. You can drop off anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
So -- what do you say? Anyone with me?? Anyone else want to sweeten someone's day with cookies and butter? (Please say yes!)
Melissa Ann Rodriguez of Springfield knew she wanted to be a foster parent ever since she was 11 years old and she met a family at church who had welcomed foster children into their hearts and home.
She finally got her chance a little over a year ago when she was able to welcome her first foster child into her home -- and the experience has been so positive for her family she just wants to shout from the rooftops her good news. But that would be weird. And a little alarming. So, instead, she recently started up a new Facebook group to encourage others in their fostering journey: 413 How to Become a Foster Parent.
"I really just wanted to get the word out that there are so many kids who need safe homes. I would love to see more discussions going on about the needs of kids in care," Rodriguez said.
She also envisioned a place where she can help dispel some of the myths about foster children -- about the stigma and stereotypes of how children who have been removed from their own homes behave. And she would know -- Rodriguez and her husband have had over 20 children in their home in the past year -- some for respite care which requires a short term stay of a few days and some for weeks or months.
"Not any single one of them has been anything but a typical kid dealing with extraordinary circumstances," she said. "They are no different than any other kids I've ever met -- they're just dealing with hard time. "
Rodriguez was inspired to start this group in her own research to find out how to best help the kids and also to help others who are trying to untangle the web of becoming foster families. She said the need in Western Mass is especially great right now due to the number of children being displaced due to the heroin epidemic that has gripped the area.
Rodriguez and her husband currently have two foster sons.
"They're such precious little pumpkins," she said. "The don't want much even though we always try to do fun stuff on the weekends. Most of the kids are just looking for the basics and they just crave being at home. They crave a home cooked meal -- just being a regular kid at home."
She's not naive to the concerns a lot of folks have about accepting a displaced child into their home.
"With some of these children their histories can be unsettling but with the right love, nurturing and attention they have done really well. You just have to find the way the works for them to help them soothe and heal."
Rodriguez also wants families to know that your house does not have to be perfect in order to host a child. She said the foster agency just wants to make sure it is a safe, stable environment. "They are mostly just looking for safety. That there is a working bathroom, that the water is right temperature, that children will have their own room with a closet."
"They are not looking for perfect people. They are just looking for people who are willing to give the kids a safe home and nurture them and help them grow. And the kids really just need to basics -- food, love, attention, safety."
If you're interested in finding out more about welcoming a displaced child into your home Rodriguez hopes you'll join the Facebook group which provides a good jumping off point about how to start the process, and can honestly answer questions from other families who are fostering or in the process of welcoming a child.
The process can take a long time -- between paperwork, background checks, and home studies -- in most cases it can take 3-6 months to be matched with a child. Once matched, there is a monthly or daily stipend given to the host families to offset the cost of taking care of the kids. And lots of support from the agency who matches a child with a family. Daycare can also be arranged if you work outside the home.
The point is, there is no magic formula and no specific set of requirements. And there is no limit to how the experience can change your life and the life of a child in need.
"The kids have been a blessing to me," Rodriguez said. "It is a beautiful experience. Not like the sad stories in the media. I just want people to know that."
You can find the Facebook group here.
Valerie Smart is a wife and mom living in Western Massachusetts. She is loving this blog life.
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