Back To School Summer Bonus Blog

Yeah , it's still not September and I'm fairly certain it's not Tuesday...It's been a rough week with back to school, at three different schools, and ONE VERY SPOILED BABYBOYBLUE  who has lost his entourage, lol.

But I am INSPIRED!! Special thanks to a really awesome lady, Jamie Pearson @TravelSavvyMom, I follow on Twitter. She blogs too! About the funny side of family travel.  http://www.travelsavvymom.com/ Check it. She's pretty darn awesome. ;)

Anyhoo... she posed a question on Twitter this morning: "... teens... clothing... budget... How are you handling this?"

And as all Young Lovers know, if you ASK any FREAKING near RALEY, you GET Raley, LOL.

So, I imparted all  my vast knowledge on the subject via multiple continuing tweets, because you all know how I view it as my civic duty and all... tee hee ... and by the time I was done, I basically had a full blown blog post of my own. So I'm going to impart the wisdom and entertainment of back to school shopping in our house. I hope it will inspire you if you find yourself in the administrative position of the BackToSchoolMassExodus or least find comfort in knowing you are doing it right if not feeling particularly well or successful about it. And if you are a young person taking part in said activity, you will be inspired to do your part in making the process easier... or at least take solace in the fact that your dear Auntie Raley, sucks just as much as your own folks. Always glad to help, however I can. ;)

Here's the deal: each kiddo gets $100. They have to buy school supplies first and then they can buy whatever they want as long is isn't going to get them thrown out of school. (*RaleyBlueNote: Mommy can show her cleavage. She's grown up and has grown it to perfection. It would be wrong not to share her beauty with the world. ;) ) Anything they outgrow or they forget to buy, has to come from a second hand store or some other cost effective venue. New replacements are for the Chrimbo wish list.

SonnyBoyBlue(15): Yeeaaaaaaaaaaaaah, that'll buy me like two pairs of carpenters and one trainer. Maybe I can buy the other with my birthday money. Good thing I still have all my folders from last year and a stash of pens in my desk, I'm gonna need 'em. God.. *exasperated sigh*

Well, Young Lovers, that's exactly what I'm hoping to hear if the truth be told. This is a no frills family. We live on less than 30grand a year. There are six of us. We are not on Government assistance except for health care which isn't offered by boyLovey, Axl's work. So budgeting is important. This starts with the knowledge that we can only buy so much with what we have. I am delighted by Sonny's realization that he will have to plan ahead. I am proud that he realizes, he can indeed use his old folders and pens that are still in good shape and thereby save money for other things he wants and needs. Sure he isn't pleased with the sitch, but he will figure out he only needs one new pair of carpenters because he has another in the back of his closet that he will find when he cleans it, and Dad who is the same size, has a pair my Aunt gave him for Christmas that he wouldn't be caught dead in because he wears The Uniform to work. So, there's our "Other Trainer Dough." Magic, I tell you. ;)

*RaleyBlueNote:Birthday money is a treat, but I only owe you enough clothes keep you from being naked. So if you want more... I suggest you evaluate carefully just what the word "treat" means to you. ;)

SonnyBoyBlue: Thanks, Mother. Brilliant. What-eves...

(but he does it anyway ;) )

KatBlue(13): I hate Bub's old gym suit. It's ugly.

Me: Newsflash, it's the same exact suit you'd buy for 22$ new. His fits you. It's free. Or you can pay 22$ You have a choice.

(Giving choices is very important in raising children, you know. ;) )

PengBlue (11): I don't fit anything, I grew!

KatBlue: Take all my old kitty tees. I can buy new, if I wear Bub's gym suit. Have my glue sticks and crayons too. I won't need them in Jr. High.

(Creative Problem solving is also a key childrearing skill to impart. ;) )

PengBlue: Yay! Now we can both get new stuff at CrapMart.

KatBlue: If we color coordinate our new stuff, we can mix and match and borrow some of each other's stuff. Especially accessories. Where's the sales flyer from the paper??

Me: Why?

All: Duh to make lists of what stores have what and what's on sale! You're not the only one who can make a list on her cell phone!

Me: *huge sigh of relief. They do watch me as I laboriously buy their food and the cat's litter each week!!!!!!! *

I think it comes down to living as an example and relying on your good parenting knowledge.

• Setting limits
• Organization
• Offering choices
• Creative problem solving.

YOU'VE TOTALLY GOT THIS!!!

And if your kid happens to come to you with a sob story about how SoAndSo DownTheStreet gets whatever he or she wants from his or her parents, I say give them a very special Mama or Daddy Hug  and remind them they can wear it anywhere they want and SoAndSo ain't got nothing on that! ;)

Sooner or later they will see that you're giving them something that's irreplaceable and they'll never outgrow. You want to be imparting this kind of knowledge. Even if it is while arguing over the perfect black tee shirt. Omigod!!