It’s finally April. Baseball season is underway, college hoops are over, daffodils are definitely making their presence known. Easter is still a few weeks away but soon enough I’ll be cracking open plastic eggs and snarfing down my children’s chocolate bunnies when they are asleep. And, that stupid plastic Easter Basket grass will inevitably show up at my house in some random gift. It will get loose all over my house. It will stick to my bare feet and I will be picking it up for months (along with the remaining renegade pine needles from our Christmas tree).
Stores are now lined with lavish Easter outfits for children. Delicious patterns, fluffy dresses for princesses, dapper suits and seersucker knickers for boys. At first glance the displays are adorable. For a short second, when I see the clothing, I imagine my children running through a sunlight field of grass, arms outstretched with shoes and cardigans that perfectly match the plaid liners of their monogrammed Easter baskets. A spring dream come true.
Insert horrible record stopping, scratching sound here.
Reality check. Overpriced clothing my children will either hate wearing or ruin the moment they don it. Scratchy lace and stiff shoes. The fields around us are still mostly brown and muddy. Since it is only April there is a good chance it will be cold and or raining on Easter. And, no plaid inserts in our Easter baskets. But still, I glance at all the getups and wish for a brief moment that we all looked as chipper and cute as the posters.
So, if you are like me and find reality enticing, in that you admit way too much money and time goes into outfits for this holiday, consider joining me on an adventure this year. DO NOT BUY A NEW EASTER OUTFIT for your kiddos.
Stop for a brief moment, scroll through your rolodex of friends, who can you borrow a dress from? Do your neighbors have a tie for a toddler you can borrow? My reason for the challenge is this: we spend more money on clothing for one day than some families in the developing world spend on attire in one year. So, if you are up for it, consider this challenge. Do not buy your kids new Easter outfits this year and instead, flip the change you would have spent on their clothing into a charity for kids. Compassion, World Vision, Children’s Memorial Hospital, International Justice Mission, Food for the Hungry. St. Jude’s, Heifer International. You name it.
You can still get gussied up, just grab it from a resale shop, a neighbor, or the back of the closet. And then make a conscious decision to calculate the cost savings and pass it along to another kid. My daughter has an absolutely divine Lilly Pulitzer dress, handed down from a friend, waiting for her in the closet. Did not cost me a dime. Part of the Lenten journey we are on this year together is to become more aware of how we spend our resources and what takes our time, energy and focus. Considering this challenge would be a great step on the journey together.
Any thoughts from out there on this challenge? Pass it on! And check back tomorrow for the week #4 winner and the give aways for week #5. Remember, leave a thought on facebook, this blog or twitter and you could win!
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