Beyond the Blue Line

My oldest son fell in love with hockey at around the age of 2. We had no idea where this love came from, it was just always there. He wanted pucks in his stocking for toys and while skating on his own was work when he was 3, put a stick in his hand and it suddenly became fun. Because of this love we knew that we would put him in hockey when he was old enough to play. The past 5 years on the ice have certainly been an eye opening experience into a world I never really knew existed (I played piano growing up).

Hockey is certainly an exciting sport to be a part of, but it also an expensive one. We now have 2 on the ice and a third one declaring she wants to play when she is in kindergarten too. My husband I have to plan our budget carefully, saving year round to allow them the opportunity to play. Hockey is an expensive sport, there's no doubt. We have to be real about it too. We view hockey as a fun community to be a part of where our kids get plenty of exercise. We want them to do well, but you can get carried away. So many families put so much money into hockey. They buy specialized sticks and gear. They put their kids into all sorts of extra clinics and leagues above and beyond their regular team. I spoke to one mother recently who told me she spends $10 000 on hockey for just one of her children to play (and she has 3 who take part). Personally, I can't imaging spending that much money on one child for sports. There are other opportunities that we want for our children too.

Thinking long term, I want to give our children the opportunity to take post-secondary education. That's why from day 1 of our children's lives we have invested in RESP's with CST Canadian Scholarship Trust. Each month CST automatically withdraws money from our account and invests it for us, allowing us to save for our kids' futures. Life is all about balance. Absolutely, we love having hockey be part of our children's lives. We also know that it isn't everything in life. Here are some facts about balance from CST:

• 89% (of parents, surveyed by CST) believe it is important for parents in Canada to help their child pay for their post-secondary education 
• Three out of five Canadian parents (61 per cent) say they, or someone they know, have borrowed money or used their retirement savings to put a child through hockey or other extracurricular activities. 
• 36% believe paying for extracurricular activities like hockey is more important before saving for post-secondary education  

CST recognizes the need for balance between extra curricular activities and saving for our children's  futures.  That is why they are inviting the hockey communities (teams and associations) to tell them what they are doing for their community and to encourage the educational success amongst their players.  They will get a chance to compete for $10 000 to go towards their program and help alleviate the cost of hockey for their families.  You can find out more about this program at www.beyondtheblueline.ca

I think it is a fantastic opportunity for all of us hockey families to think about balance amongst their community.  I hope you do take the time to check it out.

Disclosure: I am part of the C.S.T. Consultants Inc. – Beyond the blue line blogger program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”
 

Teaching out in the Country

I haven't blogged about my country life in a while, but two things happened the past couple of days that I just had to share.

First, I took my class on a field trip yesterday. On the way back to school, our school bus driver slowed down a little and called out to the kids, "Look, there are a few deer on the other side of the highway". As soon as the kids saw them, one piped up, "Cool, let's shoot them!" Only country kids.

Then today our principal came on the speaker system and announced that we would be staying in for the lunch recess. The reason? There was a bear spotted just down the road near the school. That would be my first indoor recess for bears.
 

100 Day!

My son had 3 assignments for 100 day this past week. 100 Day is a much celebrated event in the primary grades. You can't just let the 100th day of school pass by without a lot of hoopla you know.

His 3 assignments were:
1. Make a poster using 100 something, the more creative the better
2. Wear 100 something to school
3. Bring a collection of 100 something

My son's  100's:
1. The Poster

I took a picture of the school principal.  We used scrapbook paper from my craft box and he cut out 100 ties.  Behind the ties are scrapbook border stickers to be the tie racks.  I was super proud that he would do all that cutting and make something like this.

2.  What he wore

Thank you Pinterest for this idea.  100 googly eyes glued on with applique glue.  I used a fabric marker to draw around it to make this 100 Eyeball Alien Shirt.

3.  The Collection

See the ziplock baggie - it's full of hockey cards, of course!  What else would my favorite little hockey player bring as his collection?

All and all a successful 100th day of school!