Michael and the family flamingo!
It was two summers ago when my husband chose to purchase this ridiculous flamingo. Most people would use it to just float around on… but not my family. We have a small boat. When we go to the beach which is about a 15-minute boat ride across the lake, we take turns. We were a family of six now we are a family of 16!! When we get together for holidays at our trailer and the decision is made to go across the lake to the beach… that is a lot of trips for our little boat. So this particular summer, Michael who is blowing up the flamingo ( there was quite a bit of complaining as I recall), when it came time to go across the lake, Michael and his wife Jordan decided to paddle the flamingo across the two or so miles across the lake to the beach. It was really funny. The lake was filled with all these fast boats ( not ours but it works just fine) and then across the lake comes this flamingo. It was memorable.
Bill and I certainly bought our kids what was needed or had them pray for what we could not afford. We also taught them that sometimes we need to make do with what we have. Why does this matter?
We cannot always afford what is newest and best and often do not need to.
It helps kids become resourceful (flamingo across the lake- it would not cross most people’s minds)
It helps kids learn that sometimes we need to be content with what we have now. This is never a bad lesson. It helps fight against the consumer mentality that is so prevalent in our day.
It challenges kids to take care of what that bike or sweatshirt or whatever when they understand it will not be replaced so easily. Therefore, they need to take very good care of what they have now.
It is more environmentally friendly. We teach this to our kids already from all kinds of angles, this is another one!