Sustainable Christmas Gifts for Kids

I am getting way excited about the gifts I've gotten for the kids, especially the ones that were "found." To me it gives the gifts more meaning because this practice is one way that we can live a more sustainable lifestyle. Some of the items we are gifting were passed our way and we have been saving for the occasion. Some of them we "rescued" from the thrift store, and I still need to clean them up and add the finishing touches for Christmas morning. My kids are going to be thrilled! I hope to post pictures of some of those in posts to come, but first, here is my current sustainable gift I have ready to give.

This little gal is a 2004 Cabbage Patch Kid that I rescued some weeks ago. Although in great shape, when rescued her, she was only wearing a bow in her hair and an undershirt. I've worked on her hair and made her a dress from an old shirt that I thought had a cute print, (and also some pleats that I integrated into the bodice.)

I save old fabrics that come my way, as well as old ripped or stained clothing that cannot be donated. They all go in boxes, and when I want to make something, I just dig through the boxes. I always find what I need. I love the reconstructing process. Much to my husband's dismay, the boxes of fabric are always floating around in inconvenient places, but he does always support me in my recycling ways. My next project will be to find a better way to organize the stuff.

Even though the little girl this is going to won't care, I decided that she reminds me of a young Emma Woodhouse from the Jane Austen novel. She will love her Emma!

Procrastination

I am sitting here writing a blog post in order to postpone ordering supplements. I know, it's bad. I love the supplements and what they do. I know that they are necessary and to put off keeping the supply up is just not a good idea. It's just the drain on the bank account that I dread.

Earlier this week I stopped in for parent-teacher conferences. I heard my son sincerely described as "highly intelligent." I actually chuckled. The irony was not lost on me. You have to understand that I have never doubted the intelligent nature of my child. It's just that I have spent lots of years just trying to help him be a normal, functional, happy boy. My seven year old son who has developed his own method of speed reading is still learning how to tie his shoe. Ironic, yes?

I am extremely grateful for the experience I had a the conference. Learning more about how my son functions academically helps me to understand his lack of patience at times. He already gets it, and he is bored. He wants to move on and explore his ideas and create.

Understanding this is already helping me to be to appreciate his creative side even more. It is helping me to be more willing to make myself available for his projects he wants help with at times. We made airplanes this week from a children's book that was published in 1978. (That really appealed to my vintage-loving side.) I understand why he is so relentless about soliciting my help at times. I was a creative child as well, and when I could not follow through with my ideas because, 'Oh, I can't find the scissors,' that was way frustrating. I am hoping that by encouraging his projects, he will also make gains by way of fine motor skills, which he really needs.