We decided this year, in an effort to be more frugal as we save for our upcoming adoption, that we'd stay home with our kiddos during spring break and make a go of some fun and good memories right in our own back yard... The kiddos are at an age that they believe they are the ONLY human beings in our whole town that are staying home this year - that ALL of their friends got to go away for spring break BUT them. While this is not true, I am sure to a 7, 9, and 11 year old this probably feels true. I feel their pain. If I was completely honest, I would have to say that I'd much rather be on a beautiful sandy beach somewhere feeling the cool ocean breezes in my face, but it is a small price to pay to be able to save that much needed money. Next year, maybe we will go some place warm and far away, as a family of 6 instead of a family of 5 - whoo hoo! Then again, maybe we will choose to stay home again :)
It is a difficult lesson to teach little ones how to sacrifice... It is something that they need to learn early, bit by bit, I think! We send our kiddos to a private school, so we sacrifice for that. But, God has led our family to this decision, so God will provide, and He has provided. We decided to build our own homes - 4 in total over the last 11 years; God gave my husband the talents and skills to be able to build our houses without an outside contractor (outside of his 9-5 job as a high school assistant principal). We have sacrificed roots to keep moving and building equity. But, God has led our family to each piece of property, each house built, and each new move, so we sacrifice our roots; God has provided for us in every move in more ways than we could have imagined. After the birth of our second child, God led me to be a stay-at-home mom. I quit my awesome high school teaching job that I LOVED! Our income was cut in half, and I didn't want to leave really, but we knew it was the right thing for our family, so we sacrificed. But, God led us to this decision, and He has provided in every way for our needs and then some, more than we could have dreamed. And, I can't imagine my life as a full-time teacher (or even part-time teacher), AND one of being a mom. (I give all working moms so much credit - kuddos!) Now, God has led us to adopt. He will provide for this; I have NO doubt. It is hard on a daily basis to see God's hand in His provision for us, but it is always there. If we need to sacrifice by staying home on spring break, rather than go on a big vacation, we will do that. God will provide for our fun and memories here in our own backyard!
So, how do you teach little ones how to sacrifice?? For us, I think, it boils down to leading by example, in alot of ways. I hope our kiddos see that we have sacrificed to get where we are, but that sacrifice doesn't have to mean going withOUT. God provides, when we can't do it ourselves, but you have to ask yourself what the motivation is... The kids are getting "it" little bit, by little bit!
In preparation to have our staycation this year, I challenged our family to keep our week under $200 in activities. I scoured the internet; I accepted coupons from alot of friends that weren't staying around for break that I could use as money off of fun things to do in our town; we are relying on other families from around our town that are staying home, too, to get together with etc. etc. We are determined to sacrifice but not do withOUT!
Maybe this might help you, too! Here are some of the ideas I have planned for our family of 5...
Friday - Day 1 - Our local movie theater has free matinees every weekend in March and April, so we are going to go see a free movie (of course, since the movie is free, we will splurge on popcorn and pop for the kiddos - huge treat for us, as we usually don't splurge on those things when we go to the movies) ~~ $12 with free refills of pop and popcorn refills for a quarter.
Saturday - Day 2 - We are having a sleepover for all three boys and their friends... Built in fun, AND this proves we aren't the only ones staying home for break - ha :) ~~ $15 for food and special munchies and one movie rental (Redbox is $1)
Sunday - Day 3 - Our weather is fairly warm (about 60 degrees), so on this day we are going to a local park for a picnic, kite flying, fishing, and skate park extravaganza. We have a local park that has all of these fun things to do in one spot. ~~ FREE
Monday - Day 4 - A few families that are staying around town are getting together to go bowling. We all received coupons for one free game of bowling through our school, if we pay for shoe rental. ~~ $15 for shoes for the whole family
Tuesday - Day 5 - We are going to our local bounce house with cousins for unlimited play time. I downloaded deal coupons. $25 for the whole family
Wednesday - Day 6 - We had a family board game tournament in the morning. We own so many board games, but I also purchased one new one just to change things up a bit. ~~ I purchased the game Pit for $18.95. The boys then volunteered at our local educational farm for the rest of the afternoon, which they do on weekends throughout the school year ~~ FREE
Thursday - Day 6 - We are relying on families that are staying around town again. We are getting our kiddos together, called our school to let us have the gym for an hour, and had a few of the dads run a mini-sports camp for all of the boys in basketball and soccer and football. Then we walked to a near by park to have a Nerf gun war and have pizza - $10 chip in for pizzas and pop for the whole gang.
Friday - Day 7 - We are doing a screen day... The kids are allowed to finally play their electronic games (they had to earn time throughout the week to get this day - I gave them pebbles in a jar for completed chores, being kind to one another, etc., and predetermined the number of pebbles that they had to have by Friday to be eligible)... Wii, Dsi's, Ipad, etc for part of the day.~~ FREE Then, it's out to eat that night to Buffalo Wild Wings. We have 3 boys, and this is their favorite restaurant :) ~~ $40 for our whole family.
Saturday and Sunday - Day 8 and Day 9 - We called up one of our local hotels that has an indoor pool. They are doing a spring break special for a one night stay that includes a full breakfast buffet. You'd be surprised how hotels are willing to wheel and deal, if you ask. We can check in before 4 on Sat and ask for a late check out on Sunday! We brought munchies and ate dinner before we went, and breakfast is provided the next morning. ~~ $90
That brings our total to: $201... I think that is a pretty fun week, and it was extremely budget-friendly!!! We also took nature walks, went on bike rides, played football, soccer, baseball, etc in our backyard... On a rainy day or 2, we did crafts (our favorite is fusion beads, or.... as my kids like to say, "The big bucket o' fun"!), had carpet skate relays in our basement, played with playdough, baked and cooked together, made special reading nooks around the house and read our favorite books, etc. The boys never said that they were bored :) We kept them moving... that is the key!!
I think they learned that sacrificing is necessary in life, as they see us sacrifice for them and our lifestyle. We sacrificed by not going somewhere exotic on spring break, but we did not have to do withOUT. In fact, I think our family had a great time. My kiddos didn't complain, and I think they learned a little about sacrifice. That is a great thing!
