Spending Out - Don't horde the craft supplies!

Toy Story 4 and why I am practicing the concept of "spending out"


The picture that started it all
It all started with my youngest making a drawing and asking me to help him make it real.  He called it "trash" and was inspired by 'Forky' from Toy Story 4.  It was really cute and I did it without thinking, it was easy and I knew it would make him happy and create a happy memory.  This is my goal for the year to embrace and cultivate happiness, this is cool I can do this.  Then he wanted more of my craft supplies! 🤯

I took some deep breaths and thought "what would Gretchen do?"  The answer was to 'spend out'. Spending out is something that I think about often but it is really hard to do.  You may ask what "spending out" is and you can check out the information on Gretchen Rubin's site about the concept.  For me right now it means don't horde the craft supplies!





Trash and the aliens

I love craft supplies and I have plenty, I love shopping for craft supplies but I have stopped doing so because I have so many.  Yet the thought of using the supplies kind of drives me crazy, so the thought of my kids using them really can send me into a tizzy.

This is quite the paradox because I want my kids to do crafts, and I need them to be able to entertain themselves while I do necessary work for my business, and housework done.  I really needed to take several deep breathes and remember that we are fortunate enough to not have to actually horde the supplies, we can afford to buy more, and if you don't use them then what is the point of having them it is essentially wasting money.


The 'blogs'

It has been surprisingly hard for me but I gave the kids all my pipe cleaners and tri-beads and let them go nuts.  My one son made his creations and for some unexplainable reason calls them 'blogs', the other one has 'trash' and aliens.  The next morning was a work day they wanted the supplies again and I needed to get work done, so I handed them over and included some spools of ribbon and walked away to let them create.   They are having a ton of fun, I was able to get work done, and after the initial twitching and reminders that this is a good thing for them and for me, I am feeling better.




Part of the aftermath!  I know it doesn't look nearly as bad as I feared.



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