Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Show me the money!

Gathering opinions...At what age would you all suggest starting specific chores for money for a kid?

The Wee One is starting to get the idea that you have to pay for things but still totally unaware that you have to work for your money. I believe there are some things a kid should just do to be part of the family and personal responsibility, but I think there are some things that are appropriate to be used as opportunities to learn about work and "salaries."

I think it is important for kids to learn that you have to earn money in this life and then learn to be responsible with that money.  My debate is at what age do you start these concepts?  Particularly actually paying your kid for doing specific chores?  A friend calls these "earnings" rather than an allowance and I love that concept!

Thoughts fully appreciated on the following topics:
*age to start paid-for chores
*types of chores
*teaching responsibility with earned money
*amounts paid

Thanks!

Monday, October 08, 2012

Hodgepodge...a day early for once!

Thanks to http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/ for this week's Hodgepodge questions.  This is always a fun way to keep the blog posts coming.  : )  (For those not in-the-know...Hodgepodge is supposed to be a Wednesday thing - I'm early!!!).

1.  In what ways do you indulge yourself?
It all depends...I love a good massage or pedicure, but since I have a difficult time splurging on myself, I'm more likely to indulge with a full afternoon of TV watching on the couch.  Slightly pathetic - yes, I know.

2. Have you ever taken a cooking class? Any interest? What type of class would you most like to try?No, but I do think it would be all kinds of fun.  Pretty much any kind of cooking class would be pretty cool, but I would love to try something like a sushi class.

3. What does it mean to be a good citizen?
Love this question...what is "good"?  I believe a good citizen should find a way to contribute to their community, state, and/or nation in some way.  I believe it is good to vote, but only if you are informed on the candidates and issues.  We should all find some way to give to our communities and to demonstrate good moral and ethical leadership to youth.

4. 'Tis the season of the political advert...do these ads influence your vote?
Sadly, political ads don't influence me in any way other than to make me feel a smaller desire to be involved politically.  I try not to let the ads diminish my desire to be a "good citizen" but I do find myself becoming highly irritated by the political games that take place and I'm fully feed up with the way we allow politicians to advertise themselves.

5. What's something you see today that makes you wish you were a kid again?
Now that I have a kid, there are things I see all the time that takes me back to my childhood.  I admit that is not the same as "wishing I were a kid a again" but that's as close as it gets.  I really don't have a desire to be a kid again, but I do love the nolstagic moments of things from my childhood...She-Ra is definitely one that we happened upon recently and it took me back. 

6. What's your least favorite cliche?
I really don't know that I have one.  Probably because I use them.  hahahaha

7. What percentage of your Christmas shopping has been completed? How does that make you feel?0%...yes, I said ZERO!  I always think it would be good to get it done throughout the year, but it never happens.  We are also not the family that goes super present crazy.  I love getting gifts for others but I don't enjoy shopping so I like to go when I have a specific purpose.  I have found myself occasionally finding something that I know someone would really love and debating if I should go ahead and get it at the moment, so maybe I'm changing.

8. Insert your own random thought here: 
I had an emotional reaction to something today.  Really, it's been building over time, but it kind of hit today.  My precious child (The Wee One) doesn't really look like me.  This is something that I've just learned to deal with since she was born.  However, it has become a major frustration (just getting my feelings hurt) that apparently the only things that others see in my child that could possibly be from me or my side of the family are the "negative" things in life.  Even my own side of the family makes comments about this.  It seems like any time she does something sweet, cute or talented, it magically comes from my husband or his side of the family line.  If she demonstrates frustration, anger, stubbornness, or anything of the like, then magically someone shows up to comment on how that must be something she gets from me.  I gotta say...over time those comments hurt.  Realistically, I know this is not true and I know that no one would say these things to purposely hurt my feelings, but sometimes they just get to me.  My suggestion...we should all think before we speak a little more often.