Going "Green"

It seems like you can't open your eyes nowadays without being constantly encouraged to live a more "green" lifestyle. Now I know that almost all Moms try their hardest to live a more eco-friendly life by recycling and buying "green" products. But when you think about it, what's the point in recylcing all of the plastic bottles that you encounter, and then buying a toy race-car made with a thousand little plastic parts that's only going to break and be thrown away in a few monthes?

That's why I love the more durable toys; they are often more simplistic, bordering on old-fashioned, but I have found that they are usually the kinds of toys that kids love for years upon years. So what if they love the latest and greatest toy that speaks and flashes lights and has a dozen moving parts? I bet in just a few months they won't love it as much any more. But I have a few toys that I bought for my oldest son, and not only does he still love them, but they have been passed down to my younger boys, who also love playing with them. Instead of buying lots of toys that will break within a year, I chose a few quality toys that I knew would last for years. I chose quality over quantity, and I think that was one of the greatest things I could have done.

Plus, how can you go wrong with classic toys that have been popular for generations? Not only will they last longer (and keep you from throwing away all of those broken or no-longer-loved toys), but they will be remembered for years to come.