Back to school à la Earthy~

Just a small rant:

I have been blessed these last 5 plus years to be at home with my girls.  My daughters Bryten and Daphne have never participated in preschool or had any paid child care.  It has been our choice to have them with us all the time.  And although the teacher in me wanted to continue keeping her home and home-school, I also realized that right now it is not what she wants.  She is really excited to go to school.  Now how she ends up getting on is a different story, I have felt she will be bored in kindergarten.  But then I realized I need to let go, it's just kindergarten.  If she likes school, school it is.  If she doesn't then it's back to classroom à la Mommy!  I am trying to just stay open minded!  When signing her up at our local school down the street, Birch School, (which is a fantastic public school with Montessori classes) I quickly noticed what going to school means to society, to kids, to parents, and I have to say I was a hair overwhelmed.  It's meetings, and PTA, and buying clothes, and supplies, as well as presents for teachers and sheesh the list goes on.  Kids going to public school can be a little pricey if you are going to go by society's standards!  I on the other hand do not, and it is always a fun challenge for me to keep my girls in the normal range but also keep my strong conviction for not abiding by society's rules.  

Supplies~What is super nice about the school that my daughter will be attending is that they don't send home a list of items to buy before school even starts.  They actually, later in the year, send home a letter of items that would aid in special projects and if you would like to, you can make contributions.  I love this way of doing things because we are consuming less and only get what is needed.  So instead of taking Bryten to get a bunch of school stuff for her classroom I thought it would be fun to go and buy things we need in our home classroom to keep reenforcing what she is learning in school at home.  Here are some of our eco supply finds.


http://www.theultimategreenstore.com/p-1552-environotes-recycled-binder-filler-paper-college-ruled-100-sheets.aspx


http://www.theultimategreenstore.com/p-1533-crazy-crayons-eco-stars-recycled-wax-crayons-box-of-20.aspx


 
 http://www.theultimategreenstore.com/p-464-recycled-newspaper-pencils-set-of-24.aspx



  Clothes ~ Well you know how I feel about that already!  I feel that America uses Holidays and milestones such as starting school to boost sales and that is not okay to me.  How many clothes do your children really need?  Now I understand going and having them pick out an item to feel fancy the first day, but I don't understand letting them spend hundreds of dollars on 2 weeks of new clothes for no reason.  "Do they actually need those clothes" is what I want people to ask themselves.  For my daughters they don't.  We have been blessed with a family member who has 2 girls, and whenever her children grow out of clothing she always sends the gently used items my way.  And to be honest those special deliveries are a treat to us.  We get so excited to fish in the bag and pull out beautiful clothes that can use another go around.  So suffice to say my children have a ton of clothing.  And I won't be buying Bryten new clothes for kindergarten when she already has more than most children.  SO how am I going to make the whole school clothes rage be a fun thing for my daughter without consuming?  I have decided to do a closet and dresser revamp.  I am organizing her clothes in her drawers by school clothes and play clothes.  I think this will make her excited to create cute outfits and have it all be in one place.  So that the clothes appropriate for school (some she has not seen because she is always in play clothes) can be in her school clothes drawer and she can be excited about dressing for school in the mornings.  All I am really going to get her is some new glasses and perhaps shoes and a backpack but she is set for the rest!  If we were low on items I would also be shopping at JBF sales or Etsy because I really love my gals having items that are unique and not the same as all their pals!  :) 

 
http://www.theultimategreenstore.com/p-1653-ecogear-glacier-recycled-pet-backpack.aspx 

http://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/product/shoes/youth/shoes/sula/ensign%20blue
 
 http://www.rakuten.com/prod/eco-lunch-box-set-large-bl-gr/223181376.html?listingId=252521028


At the end of the day you may not escape buying some odds and ends, but you can sure be smart about what you buy.  Choosing U.S.A made, fair trade, cruelty free, up-cycled or recycled items is the way to go.  First evaluate the need, that is what I did.  I stopped frantically stressing about getting items together for my daughter when I realized she did not really need those things.   Do you or your child need these things, truly?!  Or do we just want new items because that is what we are trained to do this time of the year.  Always weighing want verses need will help you start becoming an Earthy Consumer.  Good luck with back to school pals.  I will be wimpering over here and I am sure there will be photos...  ;) 

Tread Lightly~