Momfidence! - Read the Blog : What to Give for Christmas (and 15 Ways to Use It)

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Momfidence! cheers on commonsense parenting and sighs at the rest. How to worry less, wing it more. A.k.a. parenting by the seat of my mid-rise mom jeans.

About Paula Spencer

I'm the author of Momfidence! An Oreo Never Killed Anybody and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting, and a mom of four in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (where you can't even buy Oreos at the two wholesome groceries nearest to my home).

A rare foto in which all six Spencers face the camera! by Charles Harris

Some Kindred Blogs

Parentopia On mommy guilt
The Mother of All Blogs My fave fellow mom of four
MommaBlog in FotosLooks like my house
Parent Talk Today Kindred writer
Momformation ParentCenter
FreeRangeKidsSet them free!
Jane Austen Addict For diversion
Diet Naked For inspiration
Dr. Helen For conversation
American Poetry Alliance For mind expansion
BlythTimes For smart insights
LifeCoachBlog for positive reminders
Plan B for thinkin' past motherhood
Caring Currents Caregiver blog to which I contribute

What to Give for Christmas (and 15 Ways to Use It)

November 06, 2008

The newest entrant to the Toy Hall of Fame? The stick!

I love this. Cynics can call it a clever PR stunt but it's brilliant social commentary. A stick is the perfect representative for a whole world of play that's vanishing: Outdoors, unsupervised, imaginative.

How many uses have I seen for the glorious stick among my kids? Feel free to add to the list!

sword
gun
magic wand
troll bridge
fork
pencil
fort walls
walking stick
baby
mud house decoration
flagpole
antlers
whittling material
sign holder
and 100 other things I've doubtlessly forgotten

Comments

Tara says...

-spoon for mud pies
-stirring stick for rock stews
-starting line/finish line
-tool for retrieving lost items
-tool for making siblings behave ;-P
-used for making letters--especially "x"'s
-hole digger
-bug carrier
-something to dismantle into millions of little tiny pieces and then carry into the house to get all over the carpet in little tiny pieces that the vacuum may or may not be able to suck up....

I loved it when the cardboard box made it into the hall of fame too! That is definitely my kids' favorite toy! :-D

Susan Morris says...

You forgot baseball bat and hockey stick!

Melanie Hawkins says...

Bow and Arrow, Light Saber, Spear, Brake for Wagon, Whip

Devra Renner says...

A baton. I used to twirl them around when I was little. I also used to pack a sandwhich and a small can of Motts PM into a bandana and tie it to the end of a stick, put the stick on my shoulder and pretend to be a travelling Hobo. Yes, I know I lived in Brooklyn, but somehow I made it work. : )

Sarah says...

*an electric guitar
*a microphone
*marshmallow-roasting necessity

Melanie says...

I forgot fishing pole and sling shot

Paula says...

All excellent!!

I used to use a stick to train my "pet" worm to curl up into the shape of an S when I said, "sssssssss"....and this was before "stupid pet tricks" became a catchphrase....

Christine says...

The essential element in a game of limbo, javelin, hammer, oar, and finish line.

ann says...

balance beam

Kiara G says...

Arms for a snowman!

says...

jchopstix

says...

conductor baton

Jann says...

My kids braid willow sticks -- makes a rope, a bracelet, even a doll!

John says...

Does a bridge count? Really big sticks!!!!!!