34 Responses to “When I wear old shoes, I raise my focus”

1. traci
   August 26th, 2009 @ 5:36 am

   Very interesting post. I understand this concept to a point. I understand using some school supplies left over, without any difficulty at all. But most schools, even sell you the supplies now, you do not have a choice.

   Clothes – I am amazed how many parents that grew up getting new clothes now decide that their children cannot have them. Most parents that had hand-me–downs make sure their kids at least have a mixture. I have a friend who only dresses her daughter in Goodwill. She always got new clothes, they can afford it, but she wants to teach her a lesson. The lesson usually ends up being resentment.

   Kids can tell whether our stategies are real, like loss of job and money and real need, or when we just get an idea, and decide they need to learn a lesson. We must also back that up by making sure we don’t buy anything new either and that our husbands all go to work in Good will clothes too. Because school is their job, and that is what we are asking them to do. So we must follow suit and do without, what we ask them to.

   It is hard for kids at school who wear Good will etc – a mix could be a good compromise. I only shop consignment and Good Will myself. I don’t have an outside the home job, so there is no reason for new clothes. But I would not ask my husband to do the same in a competitive job market. And when I buy kid’s clothing – I don’t have to buy whatever and how much they want – but it is new. And there is always something that I can give up, to do that.

   And the mall thing – why don’t we want our kids to have the same chance to wade through these issues. Did we not have any?

2. Leslie
   August 26th, 2009 @ 5:42 am

   As much as I love fresh sharpened pencils, I hear you. We’re reusing a backpack, lunch bag, and a bunch of other items and well you know me after labor day going to target with the next years school list and buying them all at 75% off. I think this is a great idea way to go and actively create a family culture in line with your values.

3. Sue
   August 26th, 2009 @ 5:54 am

   I can still remember back to school shopping as a child and how exciting it was. I loved to get a new folder with new dividers. I love things to be organized and this love was strongly there as a child. I loved being able to get new crayons or markers. The fresh new smell reminded me it was a fresh new year. When our kids are school age I plan on reusing basics, like a back pack, but still want them to be able to buy a few new things so they can have that excitement too.

   I think back to school clothes have a lot to do with kids simply growing too. By the time a girl is finished growing she’s usually old enough to have a part time job that can fund the extra or new clothes she’ll want.

   (We bought new stuff regularly but my mom was a coupon/sales nazi and that actually carried over to my adult years and I’ve always been quite thrifty when shopping even though I don’t have to shop used. I say have to because there are definitely situations where you have to).

4. April
   August 26th, 2009 @ 7:16 am

   We are in the same boat! This year it is new sneakers a few supplies they can’t do without and the same old backpacks washed and scrubbed! I imagine in October or November we will get a few sweaters maybe a new pair of jeans. It will all be on sale then. We are trying hard not to buy simply because we want to. We have lovely things left from the spring. Early summer is a great time to buy a few things for September. I find we are not alone it seems everyone is cutting back. I don’t think it is about depriving kids. I think it is about getting back to the basics after everyone bought into the more is better mentality. It will take a little adjustment, but after a while we will find a better balance. It feels good not to worry about the Jones’ Who are they anyway? : )

5. Ardis
   August 26th, 2009 @ 8:02 am

   Ah, but it isn’t just a matter of frugality! Going back to school is a new beginning, a chance to start over, a season of resolutions, a brief time when past mistakes are forgotten and the future looks full of bright possibilities. It’s New Year’s Day and your baptism, rolling around anew every September.

   The serviceable old stuff doesn’t have to be discarded in favor of 100% everything, but I hope you recognize the part of going back to school that is the perfection of newness. To encourage and prolong that fresh feeling and the commitments to starting over and doing better that come with it, your kids need something new if you can in any way afford it. A perfect pink eraser, brand new pencils, book covers without last year’s bored doodling — something!

   Time enough in a week or two to resupply their closets and pencil boxes with the old but serviceable stuff you’ve saved.

6. Ahna
   August 26th, 2009 @ 8:16 am

   One of the best parenting decisions we ever made was to turn over part of our family budget to my daughter when she was about twelve. We figured how much we spent in a year on her clothing, school supplies, everything except things like piano lessons, divided by 12, and began giving her a monthly allowance. At first, she was thrilled beyond words. Until she went shopping and realized exactly how much a new pair of jeans cost. She’s learned how to budget, plan, and be creative. I never thought it would happen, but she now makes far more frugal choices now than I did when I was making the decisions.

   This was an idea from a wise friend, and I love to pass it on. The trick to make it work is that parents can’t add a little cash here or there.

7. Dovie
   August 26th, 2009 @ 8:37 am

   Some years I have bought new clothes and supplies for everyone. Or rather the ones going to school. Now it is a little bit more of a needs based system. “Do you have functional shoes that are in good shape and that fit? Do you have a back pack that is in good shape.” etc.

   I always try to make sure they at least have a new shirt for the first day even they don’t “need it.” This year I realized in the week before school started that I had five days and five children that would attending school. I took each of them out individually and we got a few things. It really adds up though. We probably got a little more than we should have. Especially for my oldest. She is a junior in high school this year and wants to look nice. I shop clearance racks and sales. The jeans she walked out the door with this morning cost $3.00. They fit her well and no one but she and I know the the secret. (and now all you ladies)

   In sixth grade that same daughter lost the nice coat that we bought for her the season before so we told her that she would have to buy one for herself to replace it. She was/is a perpetual loser of jackets so I felt like I was justified in this consequence. I told her that a new coat would cost about forty dollars. She had a little money she had gotten for her birthday but was bane to spend it. She was also adverse to thrift shops (I love them). After the initial sticker shock she timidly asked if we could try and find one at the local thrift shop first. Which we did. Eight dollars and she wore it for two seasons after that.

   I remember not having enough clothes to wear to school, improperly fitting clothing and not having “stylish clothes.” In sixth grade my mom bought me one pair of Levi’s. I was able to wear them for two seasons. I washed them almost every night. I hung them up on a hook near a vent in the ceiling so that they would dry by morning (we didn’t have a functioning dryer and the outside clothesline did not work so well in the winter). I had one or two other pairs of pants but those were my favorite.

   This was in the late eighties and all the cool kids were wearing 60 dollar Guess Jeans. It was hard to be poor in a school where there was so much affluence and everyone wore it on their back pocket. I had a lot of social quirkiness and difficulty typical at that age but extra deluxe in my case. Clothes mattered. I think I learned a lot from being socially outcast scorned for what I wore.

   I want my kids to learn that it not about what they wear but who they are and how they behave that matters the most. I just hope that the path to that enlightenment can be a little less difficult for them than it was for me.

   My fourth of four daughters and wearer of many hand-me-downs ask me once of a new outfit when she was in preschool “Is it new for me or new from the store?” When I told her it was just “new for her” she got a little teary eyed and said “I just want something new from the store.” and thus the “new shirt for the first day of school” tradition (for everyone even preschoolers) was born. I realize that this may not always be economically possible but it is a system I feel good about.

   I do love your provident self reliant sentiment. There is something so empowering about solving it myself. At some point I decided to ask the question, “How can I solve this without spending money?” when faced with some problem. As I have put those answers into practice my faith has increased and my capacity has expanded.

   My grandmother told me growing up she had three dresses one to wear one to wash and one for Sunday. Sometimes when faced with the mountain of laundry everyday I think that is a wonderful idea.

8. FoxyJ
   August 26th, 2009 @ 8:56 am

   I’m in the camp of combining both ideas; we do buy a few new things if they are needed, but I don’t feel a lot of pressure to get everything all new. Backpacks and many school supplies can be reused. My daughter’s feet grew two sizes over the summer and she really needs new shoes. She gets tons of hand-me-downs from a generous cousin and so far hasn’t noticed that she doesn’t get many new things from the store. She’s only 6, so I’m going to go with the the hand-me-downs for as long as I can. We do also buy a lot of clothes at the thrift store, both for myself and for the kids. I think it’s good to have a balance. I was also raised with parents that never bought us new stuff and told us everything was ‘too expensive’ (so was my husband) and we don’t want our kids to have the burdens that come with that. I like the idea of helping kids be involved in the decision making as much as possible so they can gain an understanding of and appreciation for the things that they have. When it is your own money it is much easier to understand why thrift-store shopping is fun.

9. Melissa M.
   August 26th, 2009 @ 8:57 am

   I’m enjoying these thoughts! I’m with Sue and Ardis. I guess I always buy the kids a few new things for back-to-school because they are excited to be beginning a new year and fresh new pencils, crisp new folders, a new pencil box and a new shirt for the first day of school are part of the excitement of a new school year. We recycled some things this year (like the pencil box and that backpack), but we still got a few new things. When I was growing up my mother was pretty stingy about buying us clothes for school, even though we could afford it, and I always felt a bit deprived, somehow “less than.” I’ve been more generous with my children, but it’s a constant delicate dance between overindulgence and providing what they need.

10. lee
    August 26th, 2009 @ 9:02 am

    My husband and I swooped into JC penneys and bought eight pairs of jeans for $64. that’s two each for four kids. I only had to buy shoes for two kids, backpacks for two, and a couple of new shirts required by the school. Of course I had to buy boatloads of cheap basic school supplies, but Walmart’s crazy deals helped out there. All told, I put four kids into school for around $300. And my pantry is loaded with extra supplies for home use.

    My kids have many hand-me-downs and yard sale items. They know the relationship between work and money and they are cheerful about “making do.” They know we do homemade lunches to save money, as I can’t see laying out $8 a day on lunch, even if the government income scale says we can afford it. According to that chart we’d need 10 kids to get a price break. Working on it, working on it,….ha ha.

11. Fairchild
    August 26th, 2009 @ 9:10 am

    I wonder if this is a gender thing? My boys don’t care at all if they have new or old from last year. They truly don’t even notice. I have never done back to school clothes shopping even though they are 8 and 11 because they just keep wearing their shorts and shirts from summer here in Texas. They couldn’t care less what they wear the first day of school. They have no problem reusing a backpack or lunchbox. Am I just lucky that they are so apathetic? Or are they just still too young to care? I wonder how it will be for my girls (ages 4 and 1) who right now wear mostly hand-me-downs from cousins and love opening a new box to see what treasures are inside.

    My parents divorced right as I entered middle school, so all of a sudden we were poor for my teen years. It shaped me in huge ways. Starting at age 12, I bought all my own clothes and personal effects (jewelry, entertainment, EVERYTHING, etc.) I felt bad asking my mom for $ because I knew she didn’t have it, so I stopped asking. I learned to be frugal to make my babysitting money stretch. I didn’t know about thrift stores but I only bought on sale and never name brand so my money would go further. That is what I tell my children, not “I can’t afford it.” but instead “I don’t choose to spend my money on that. I would rather spend it on this since it’s a better value.” I want them to learn that they control their spending choices and they can be smart about it if they choose.

12. RaNae
    August 26th, 2009 @ 9:34 am

    I’m with you Jenny, You are my HERO. I see this about lessons of need, economy, and value verses expectations of entitlement; also the lesson that “things” do not bring happiness; a very important value lesson in this day and age. On my mission I met many families that had very little by worldly standards, most were happy, open, loving families that didn’t base their personal value on “things”. They seemed to have a better sense of community because they had to rely on each other more.
    Most were easy to get to know and love because not as much pride got in the way of having meaningful conversations and relationships; I miss that.

    This down economy has been hard, but also a great blessing to our family, it has helped us realize who we really are and what is truly important verses worldly “fluff”. I am thankful for this great opportunity for growth even though at first it was very hard; it has helped me rid myself of “some” of my false pride and worldliness. Father gives us the lessons that we truly need, Heavenly Father is truly awesome!

13. Ellen
    August 26th, 2009 @ 10:56 am

    Back in the day, my parents took us to Fedco (in So. Cal.) before school and let us loose in the school supplies department and we could get whatever we wanted. I think it was their way of getting us all jazzed about school (they were both teachers). If it was now, I bet they’d have us rifling through our own desk drawers at home to gather our supplies for the new year! I’ll go thrifting with you sometime! Great post, Jenny!

14. Pasha Plum
    August 26th, 2009 @ 11:40 am

    I am a die hard thrifter and teaching my kids to be also. If we have the time we check the thrift stores first for what we need and then we go to Target (or wherever) for the necessities. However, I now have a teen foster daughter and she expects all new for the new school year. We have compromised and she doesn’t complain too loudly but it really makes a difference how you do it for kids in the early years. I have just noticed that she is wearing only the new clothes to school, I guess I am going to have to get her a few more things–so much self esteem is bound up in the externals for so many girls at this age (13).

15. jks
    August 26th, 2009 @ 11:48 am

    1. Spend money that you can afford.
    Never a credit card. Food and retirement savings come before new clothes.
    2. Spend your money on what is important.
    If school is important and you want your kids to know you think it is important, spend your time and your money on it. Kids notice these things. (I recently realized that to increase my 9 year old son’s interest in sports, I need to follow this time/money philosophy so happily bought all the proper equipment for his soccer team, and I make sure he is on time to practice, etc.)
    3. If you aren’t always overbuying, then you don’t feel guilty/wrong about buying what your children actually need. My children actually need new (or gently used) clothes in order to attend school because their existing clothes are worn out, too small or summer wear.
    4. I want my kids to not be too materialistic but still be normal. I am comfortable in our income bracket because we have to be really careful with out money but they can have the things they need, even if I sometimes tell them they have to wait until next week….still waiting to afford the last of the school supplies but we’ve bought backpacks and most of the school clothes.

16. wendy
    August 26th, 2009 @ 12:12 pm

    I love this, Jenny! Ds isn’t school age yet, but we are working on frugality over here big time, and most of the few toys he does have are not new (clothes, too). I’d love to see the repair jobs your Mom did on the kids’ jeans. Here is a link to my recent experiments: http://ohwhatabeautiful.blogspot.com/2009/07/use-it-up-wear-it-out-make-it-do-or-go.html

17. Tay
    August 26th, 2009 @ 1:39 pm

    Where I am, thrifting doesn’t save a lot of money – too many thrifty people around here not needing to donate a whole lot of stuff! So to Target clearance I go. My brothers always got new school shoes, but that was because their shoes were trashed from use by the end of summer. Or their feet grew a ridiculous amount.

    As for school supplies, I think kids need a couple special writing utensils to get them excited, along with a new notebook. Backpacks are typically good for a few years. I was always embarrassed when I got a new backpack – I just wanted to have one that looked used and not stiff, or one that would last a long time. But if budgeting doesn’t allow, we don’t get it. But oh how lovely a new box of crayons can be!

18. wonder woman
    August 26th, 2009 @ 1:58 pm

    You mentioned yearning for the cash-only mentality of your grandparent’s days — I say, do it! I am living in a cash-only state right now, and it’s amazing the thing it’s done for our budget. I get x amount every payday, and that’s it. Food, dates, clothing, co-pays — it all comes from there.

    My children are only 3 and 4 and not in school, so I have yet to do back-to-school shopping for them. But when I was growing up, back-to-school shopping was definitely kept at a minimum. By the time I was 12, my parents simply gave me cash and told me to spend it wisely. I think I got $50 every year. It was a fun challenge for me to see how much I could get for that amount. That obviously changed by the time I had a job, but it was a valuable lesson. To this day I cringe at paying full-price for anything. However, the flip side of that is that I want to buy EVERYTHING that’s a good deal.

    Which is where spending only my cash comes in. Do I want that new top? Or do I want to go on a date with my husband? (There’s not really a right answer to that one. I just have to determine which is most important at the moment.)

    Good luck with your daughters!

19. Laura
    August 26th, 2009 @ 3:13 pm

    i just walked out of the store EMPTY handed because the shoes my 12 year old wants are $92.00. I REFUSE!
    I do LOVE to buy new pens and pencils….for the kids and to refill my drawer. BUT, I tend to wait for the after school starts sales!
    Jenny YOU are my hero!!!

20. Paula
    August 26th, 2009 @ 3:39 pm

    Go thrift, go! This mamma is cheering you on. If the crayons they brought home looked good in June my kids are using them. Ditto pencils and a few folders. I also took advantage of one cent and cheap deals around town, so all my school supplies for three kids was $17 bucks. Rah, rah, rah. I think there is enough of a balance of new and used and they all still seem excited about the first day of school with their bag of “new” stuff. And I bought longer jeans for my longer-legged boys. (I do like the idea of a new shirt for each kid for the first day of school, so I better get crackin.’)

    I think the culture of consumerism is linked to television-watching. We haven’t always had cable, so I’ve heard more “I wanna buy its” since getting more channels. I never shop at WalMart (well hardly ever) yet my 8 year-old insists that WalMart is the low price leader and THE place to go for pretty much everything. Think it’s a coincidence that WalMart advertises a lot during SpongeBob?

21. Whitney
    August 26th, 2009 @ 6:22 pm

    I want my kids to know that when money is scarce, life is still good.

    Like that quote.

    Fun to read your guest post!

22. Amy J o
    August 26th, 2009 @ 7:08 pm

    Love your post. Ditto at my house. I guess I’m surprised at some of the posts, which is fine. Different opinions make our world spin. You make me proud. Use it up, make it do, or do without.

23. Kristin
    August 26th, 2009 @ 9:14 pm

    This has been an interesting conversation. I think this is one of those areas where being led by the spirit in your home can lead to different conclusions that are all still correct.

    You know, I find joy in new clothes. I find joy in opening a new package of gel pens. Even now. And so do my kids. I also find great joy in eating chocolate.

    But, I find great joy in how my body feels when I eat wholesome foods. I find a certain thrill about pulling a “new” outfit out of my closet by creating a different combination of clothing I already owned. And when I find a working pen at the time I need one, that makes me happy.

    There is an important element of moderation here.

    I don’t think there is intrinsically anything evil or less righteous about buying new clothes for the school year or new school supplies as opposed to reusing what you have.

    We buy all new school supplies every year through the school. It is just easier that way. At the end of the year they bring some of their old stuff home to use at home, and the rest is donated through the school. Our lists are very extensive and I am maxed out with other responsibilities such that the few dollars I would save by running ragged trying to make sure we had it all just doesn’t work for me. I feel fine about that. I want my kids to feel great about school, and I think this is one thing that helps them, and me. However, if it works better for another family to reuse everything because of financial situation or choice, I think that is great too.

    For clothing, we do a lot of hand-me-downs through my children and from a cousin. I mostly just buy for what they need, and I do so through great sales. But I always buy a few new things for each child every year even if they don’t need anything…things they pick that they feel great in. I do think that what we wear shapes how we project ourselves and how we feel about ourselves. There is a reason why we wear our Sunday best to church. The clothing has an influence. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on clothes to put forth a good face, but if someone can afford it and wants to spend more money here, I think that is okay too.

    I am fascinated by how people spend money, as I think it really speaks to their priorities. I also find it interesting how often pride becomes involved when people talk money…either being prideful about their cool stuff, or prideful about how they avoid cool stuff. But when the pride is taken out, I think we can really learn from each other. I have appreciated the various perspectives shared here.

    Sorry for the long post!

24. wendy
    August 26th, 2009 @ 9:33 pm

    Ooh, Kristin, I love your point about pride. I’ve definitely fallen into the “prideful about avoiding cool stuff category” in the past, but I think I have a better balance/perspective than I used to. Thanks for bringing that up so well!

25. jks
    August 26th, 2009 @ 11:17 pm

    “I yearn for the cash-only mindset of my grandparents’ generation.”
    I am actually hopeful about this. I think it is wonderful for my kids that they might grow up in a recession climate. It is nice that people are starting to care about thrift. We’ve never financed anything besides our house and once a car, but we felt like the only people in the world who lived like this.
    So, while I feel for all the people whose lives are in dire straits (I sympathize, my husband was laid off too), I like that maybe, just maybe, my kids will get a non-consumerism, non-debt message from other places, not just home.

26. Tiffany W.
    August 27th, 2009 @ 5:59 am

    I liked Kristin’s point about pride. I think it goes two ways. There are people who are prideful about having money or appearing to have money to buy whatever they want. And then there are people who are prideful about being thrifty–not spending because it is “wasteful” or appears prideful.Both are wrong because pride is involved. And it involves looking at people in a way that says “my way is best and you are sinful or wasteful for your ways”.

27. Tiffany W.
    August 27th, 2009 @ 6:03 am

    I would also like to say that shopping at thrift stores is a skill or an art. Some people have the knack of finding great things that are useful and practical. I’ve never had much luck. I’m also put off by the smell of thrift shops. Not that I am adverse to wearing hand-me-downs. I love getting them from my sisters. I just don’t really have the knack of shopping at thrift stores. I do have a knack for finding great deals on clothing. When I only spend $.80 for a shirtor a pair of pants, somehow I don’t worry about not buying at a thrift store. There are great deals to be had on new clothes, if one is careful.

28. priscilla
    August 27th, 2009 @ 6:15 am

    Jenny,
    WEll said as are many of the other comments.
    You know that I am a thrifty person.
    WIsh that we had had enough money when you were all growing up to follow ADNA’s comment. I have heard one or two others who did the same with giving their children a budget for the year and allowing them to LEARN to handle it. THe first year might be a disaster. I think it’s very important if you do the budget to sit down with them and help them anticipate each of the 12 months and what they might need in the spring as well as in the fall.
    Perhaps that would be a wonderful thing for the high schoolers.
    mom

29. m2theh
    August 27th, 2009 @ 10:07 am

    Since I only have 1 kid, money doesn’t have to stretch too far getting her ready for school. We try to mainly buy on sale–I love when Gymboree has their $7.99 sale, and we do a lot of clearance rack shopping. It only pains me a little when I donate her super cute and still in great shape clothes to DI, but I figure that someone else needs them and she has gotten pretty good about wanting to donate her clothes that don’t fit anymore to someone else.

30. Merry Michelle
    August 27th, 2009 @ 11:17 am

    I LOVED this post! I want to be you and consistently have this desire. I vacillate between thrifty and Paris Hilton. We re-used a lot this year more out of necessity than inner goodness. I need to stay the coarse!

31. Liz C
    August 27th, 2009 @ 3:04 pm

    I’m mixed on the topic. We learn at home, so the school supply list is largely dictated by the kids, and we do stock up this time of year (we’re still working through the filler paper I bought for 10c a pack–four years ago…).

    On the other hand, we tend to look at clothing, backpacks, etc on an as-needed basis. I’ve had many conversations with my bigger kids, and asked if a particular need could be filled with retail, or resale? When my DD-13 was gearing up for girl’s camp this year, I asked if she needed anything, and she said she wanted to hit DI for some pants she could “wreck up” if need be, a new hoodie, and something lightweight/long sleeve for the hike. She found some great stuff, and we spent $8 on camp this year. We’re very choosy with resale, though. It’s rare we have an immediate, has-to-be-today need with clothing, particularly, so we take our time, and find the best of what’s available.

    With my girls, a few things are easy: I sew, and am willing to design to suit, so if the girls see something they like, 90% of the time, I can make it from my stash. Or, we can use something resale as a base, and embellish (my oldest adds custom embroidery–really cool stuff–to plain jeans that are usually hand-me-downs or thrifted, and her friends all want to know where she found them. I know. Total Seminary film moment.)

    I 100% support looking at what things we have that can reused for new purposes. Our family does it with furniture, bikes (my son has decided he’s tired of his bike color, so he and DH are changing that this weekend–new bike, $5 in paint) and clothing–why not school supplies?

    My kids really like binders with the clear pockets, so they can redesign their school space any time they want. Even if we re-use the binder for a few years, there’s still the anticipation of breaking out the funky scrapbook paper, scissors, glue, colored pencils, paint, and getting a fresh start.

    Learning to have a spirit of gratitude and abundance is possible no matter the economics of the household. I’ll be very glad if my kids leave home knowing they can choose to enjoy life, and can be creative with their problem-solving, whether they have a lot of money, or not.

32. Jen
    August 29th, 2009 @ 9:01 am

    I just love this post. STICK IT TO THE MAN! It is time for a counter-culture revolution.

33. Malisa
    August 30th, 2009 @ 9:14 pm

    I could have written exactly what FairChild wrote. My boys (nearly 10 and 7) could care less. I don’t believe they asked for one single thing leading up to school. They both have clothes and shoes that fit them fine and I was/am busy and just didn’t have time to think about it. (However, I did pick up 2 glue sticks as required by a teacher. Back to school cost = .75)

    Maybe part of it has to do with whether you enjoy shopping or not. I don’t go if there’s not a need. I imagine that could change as my girl grows up though.

34. mormonhermitmom
    August 31st, 2009 @ 11:42 pm

    AMEN. I don’t buy school stuff unless we are out of it, it doesn’t fit, or is unrepairable. There is always some new stuff to buy, but I don’t go for spendy stuff.

    Unfortunately, our elem. school has narrow code of dress. I can’t go to second hand stores and find much that qualifies AND fits. And my son destroys his clothes, I don’t know how. It’s like he rolls in sandpaper or something. What survives him goes to the sister next in line. Thank heaven for unisex polotype shirts.

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• A Child of Divorce
• Solo Hometeaching a Single Woman
• I couldn’t decide which was more terrifying: having more children than I could care for, or not having more children despite continuing hunger. Please, I prayed. Let me know.
• Men, Women, and Mormon Blogging

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