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As An Eco-Conscious Parent, Here’s How I’m Doing Christmas For My Kids
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ^ | 12/4/19 | Janice Quirt

Posted on 12/11/2019 8:23:26 PM PST by mkleesma

I consider myself a minimalist. Too much stuff gives me all kinds of stress, from ecological to financial. I’m a big believer in experiential gifts and spending time (together), not wads of money.

But I’m buying my kids presents this year.

They're tangible, need to be unwrapped and aren't just experiences or vouchers. And I’m feeling good about it. It’s not out of guilt or peer pressure, or any of those other powerful emotions. There is a method to my consumerism.

First of all, when I say I’m buying my kids presents, I don’t mean a pile of plastic, electronics or toys. I am not anti-toy — in the past I have purchased Lego sets. Pored over the Maplelea Doll catalogue. Become well-versed in BeyBlades and My Little Pony. But this year, my kids seem to have enough of those items. They didn’t even appear on wish lists. And so I’ve changed my approach.

So for Christmas I decided to gift my kids items that they need and that appeal to their sense of adventure: excellent day packs, perfect for carrying essentials whether exploring a national park or a city.

I also researched to find ones made by truly ethical companies that employ fair trade practices and that help the workers, not risk their safety. I even found neat packs that are made from the remnants of other products. The rainbow pattern for each is individual and based on the preferences of the worker, not a blueprint. My kids and I will talk about the unique and creative process behind these bags, and how it is important to support ethical and sustainable manufacturers with our all-important buying power.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bloggers; crazy; fakescience; liberal; parent
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
Actually, once you get past the hippy-dippy crap, she has very sound and substantial principles for gifts ...

Agreed but, as you point out, there is a lot of apparent eco-baggage as well.

Speaking personally, I as a gift giver and as a conserving conservative, look first at the desires and then find appropriate matches that encourage individualism and responsibility as much possible.

We should not surrender the concept of *conserving* to the LEFT, it is a vital part of OUR political DNA. I take joy in minimizing my use of most things AND it ALSO is quite rewarding to my bank account which is a talking point in my conversations. I live a Christian concept of being a good steward of my talents which is ANOTHER poke at the atheistic LEFT who ignore where this concept originates!

God Bless all & a Merry Christmas to all!

61 posted on 12/12/2019 3:04:15 AM PST by SES1066 (Happiness is a depressed Washington, DC housing market!)
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To: Pollster1

No bows & arrows?


62 posted on 12/12/2019 4:41:13 AM PST by polymuser (It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and so few by deceit. Noel Coward)
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To: mkleesma

“A football is not a very good Christmas present.”


63 posted on 12/12/2019 5:11:53 AM PST by paterfamilias
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To: BenLurkin

Yes indeed... “Aye, Aye, Aye...”


64 posted on 12/12/2019 5:38:12 AM PST by OKSooner (Free Beer Tomorrow)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
backpacks with essentials for outdoor activities

Handgun, extra ammo, survival knife, water purifier....etc. Probably not

65 posted on 12/12/2019 5:45:02 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Never take a centipede shopping for shoes)
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To: Hebrews 11:6

Darn right!


66 posted on 12/12/2019 6:37:13 AM PST by Calamari (Pass enough laws and everyone is guilty of something.)
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To: polymuser

Amazing what a little KClO3 and table sugar can do! And the method to combine them was published in the paperback version of the guide to amateur rocketry. You could get a little far off the straight and narrow!


67 posted on 12/12/2019 6:43:03 AM PST by Calamari (Pass enough laws and everyone is guilty of something.)
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To: Hot Tabasco

That collection may be a bit much for five year old kids. When the kids are grown, they can get their own survival essentials. Mom is setting the table for them for later.


68 posted on 12/12/2019 6:56:57 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: VanShuyten; mkleesma

Once my stepmom gave my sister and me (the other stepdaughter) umbrellas for Christmas. We felt about them like you felt about getting socks.


69 posted on 12/12/2019 7:11:33 AM PST by rimtop56 ("Our eyes are on you, Lord...")
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To: mkleesma

Good grief. The Left has gone completely berserk.


70 posted on 12/12/2019 7:13:17 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Calamari

Police were involved in my youthful experiment that led to the loss of my chemistry set ;)


71 posted on 12/12/2019 7:24:55 AM PST by polymuser (It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and so few by deceit. Noel Coward)
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To: trisham

The left has BEEN completely berserk for decades.


72 posted on 12/12/2019 7:26:02 AM PST by polymuser (It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and so few by deceit. Noel Coward)
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To: polymuser

It’s never been this bad.


73 posted on 12/12/2019 7:29:00 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: mkleesma

74 posted on 12/12/2019 7:29:55 AM PST by RightGeek (FUBO and the donkey you rode in on)
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To: trisham

It’s like spreading cancer.
It actually is social cancer.


75 posted on 12/12/2019 7:32:12 AM PST by polymuser (It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and so few by deceit. Noel Coward)
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To: polymuser

Or mass insanity.


76 posted on 12/12/2019 7:38:59 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: polymuser

Oops! We lived 3 miles out of town on 10 acres and it was very secluded. Noise and smoke was not a problem as long as the house and barn did not catch on fire!


77 posted on 12/12/2019 8:28:12 AM PST by Calamari (Pass enough laws and everyone is guilty of something.)
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To: mkleesma

My boys are grown, 1 is married with a 2 yr old, the other seperated with a 18 yr old who goes off to trade school when school starts. Both are getting Air Fryers. Eldest is a Type 2 Diabetic, so it should help him, his son is also overweight. I got him ear/speak buds so he can drive a 30 yr old car without being given tickets, and he gets a NRA knife.

Youngest will have a healthier 2 yr old and maybe a slightly slimmer wife with a Airfryer. 2 yr old gets learning toys and clothes. His wife will get a gift card so she can get what she wants or needs.


78 posted on 12/12/2019 8:54:03 AM PST by GailA (Intractable Pain, a Subset of Chronic pain Last a Life TIME at Level 10.)
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To: Calamari

Kathy Douglas, the girl next door, was willing to be Dale Evans, but only if I would also play in her playhouse and be the Daddy.


79 posted on 12/12/2019 10:33:40 AM PST by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)
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To: polymuser
No bows & arrows?

Forgot to mention those.

80 posted on 12/12/2019 2:30:24 PM PST by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
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