How do you not feel like you are working for nothing when you are Old Style?

Ladyluck1

JackieO wrote: »

OK so bills can be worrying and often money can be tight but if the sun is shining and the sky is blue and the kids give you a cuddle that's worth much more than cash to me.

This is so true!
It's so easy to forget in the stress of everything that this is all that matters. Being healthy and having family
It is sad to see SO many families struggling again though.

Muser1

Jackieo what a lovely post! X

Broomstick

We are another home-ed family (waves at skipsmum ). I got my two boys making things and using real tools (under supervision ) from an early age. At 4 my youngest, using small but real tools, could use a small hacksaw and bench hook, hammer in nails accurately, use a light hand drill, glue wood using clamps etc. We kept stacks of spare bits of wood, cardboard, interesting things to make things with etc. Very little went into the recycling bins in those days.

(Tip: forget 'children's' scissors which frustratingly won't cut anything useful and let them use the small nail scissors sold for cutting babies nails with. These are the scissors which have rounded ends but real small blades - young children find them easy to control and use on paper and thin card and they actually work!)

All this meant that when they came across things like the Argos catalogue and saw a toy that they wished they had (Harry Potter's castle was one that sprang to mind), I could just suggest they built their own. That usually involved tons of cooperative play and problem solving and masses of time being busy.:T They realised that they could improve on the limitations of the bought version and add all kinds of new features.

Their confidence, as young adults, in making and mending things is really good. They wouldn't have gained any of that from a bought plastic toy.

B x

Purple_kitten

What a fantastic post and great replies.

I am another who didn’t want to read and run. I know what you mean about just how blumin hard it is to stay afloat sometimes it can feel you are just surviving.

I fondly remember things like pooh sticks, cycling an enormous amount. I adored the outdoors which helped anything to do with the sea side Building sandcastles, , and as I have got older its more countryside and wildlife. I was also a geeky reader and loved to paint draw all be it badly for my poor parents

Reading this is useful I didn’t realise the national trust occasionally release vouchers, I will keep a good eye out

My mum used to get me helping while she was cooking, which I always remember.