If you want to present  a gift that costs exactly what you want it to cost;  that will last and have a lasting effect, one that can be adjusted to be developmentally apt and personally apropos, boy oh boy (and girl), do I have an idea for you.

First, let us concede that everyone is creative, everyone has an interest and a special talent.  Yes, you do!  You too!

By now you may have guessed what I propose:  Let’s call it an Imagination Pack.  First of all, know your recipient.  Second, get a container of some kind, such as a basket, a tote bag, a box.  Make selections from or add to the following, all according.  Mind you, adults like this kind of thing too.

Paper in a variety of sizes, colors, textures, weight, also blank and lined, tissue, card stock …

Crayons, markers, paint pans, poster paint, chalk

Brushes, pencils, pens.

Erasers, pencil sharpeners.

Chalkboard

Scissors, blunt for the young.  A variety of scissors are available.  I especially like the ones that go ~~~~~~~~~

Hole punches

Stamps and stamp pads

Glue, glue sticks, etc.

Stencils (example, for preschooler, shape stencils)

Boxes of baggie-type storage bags is a nice addition so that the creator can keep creations in progress apart, store crayons together when the box breaks down.

Another handy addition is a box of wipe’ems.  And magazines, flyers and catalogs that have pictures worth the joy of cutting out and pasting.

Thanks to a couple of generous donors, each child at Better Beginnings has received an abbreviated version of the above so that they are sure to have the materials needed to enjoy their family-student interactive week-end funwork.  (See Better Beginnings’ website where many have been archieved.) Our ambition is to have such a package available to every family/child who enroll in Better Beginnings so that they will know from the start how much we value family involvement , creativity, and the special gift that each of us (you too) possesses.

for Saving Money and Re-Using:  This idea came to the Pincher while she was watching the Carol Duvall Show.   Carol cut off the outside rim and used a large snowflake punch on the inner part of the plate as the basis for a  Holiday Decoration.   While this was a nice idea which PP will pursue at a later date, at this time she focused on the rim.   Possibly because we have a call out for indoor activities that develop gross and fine motor

A special thank you to every one who contributed to bless the tables of our families and children.  They included Alice Sanchez, Dennis McClary, and the Hightstown Elks BPOE 1955.   “Mr. Jonathan” Craig brought in many more coats and sweaters to help

Thanks for asking.  Store walking is my personal version of Mall Walking.  Mall walkers get their exercise by walking or jogging around the Mall.  Many Malls accommodate these exercisers by opening the Mall before the stores open.    Myself, I prefer a store.  Most people would not even guess what I am up to (or maybe are just too polite to let on) as I wheel my cart up and down every aisle, then once around the outside, and then check out.  (Of course I check out.  One of the extra rewards is that I often find unadvertised items on sale, for example.  Or I can also stock up on needed, useful items.)

To meet my criteria, the store must be large enough for me but not too large; it must offer restroom accommodations as well as a sitting area, both just in case.  It also needs to have a friendly staff.   Carts are essential for elders as alternative to using a cane.

On Black Friday, I enjoyed a store that meets all these criteria and more.  Although they had opened at 6 am, and it was now nearing 4pm, the staff were perky, friendly,

energetic and helpful.  The Manager, Kathy B., set the pace.  Although her name was called frequently for help here and there, she was always cheerful and helpful.  So was the rest of the staff.  Many appeared to be teens hired perhaps especially for the influx gift and bargain shopping customers.  I like it that they are giving teens this constructive opportunity.  I especially liked the courtesy shown me, even after I left.  A young woman came chasing after me, holding a cash register receipt.  Seems I had earned some extra “cash” I could use at my next visit.  I had accidentally left it behind, and she wanted me to have it.   “What a special act of kindness on her part.”  Her name tag said “Chris” something.  Thank you again.

Oh, yes, the store is the CVS in Twin Rivers and I am one of many who is happy to have Milford Road open again.  Please let me know if you have a nomination for a store walk.  My goal is three a week; the rest of the time I resort to calisthenics and/or parks.   Stores are more fun, for me.

Liston said that I needed to bring in my charger.  He was fixing my laptop, so I was eager to comply.  As an animalist and former farm girl, I thought of but immediately rejected bringing in a horse; although there is a horse farm near my abode, it still made no sense.  I have known Liston for over 30 years and he has never shown any interest in horses.  That made no sense at all to me.

Perhaps, I thought, he needs to charge a part at the store or something and needs my credit card.  But that didn’t make any sense either.  

Aha, I was finally made to understand, he wants me to bring in the wire that connects the machine to the electrical outlet. Aha, I said, you meant the WIRE!   I said I would, and I did.   But I could only reflect

that wire at one time meant telegraph.  Does anyone send telegraphs any more? 

Two Cents Worth is deliberately placed at the column’s end.  It satisfies my need for and love of word play.  Since I have been made to understand that not everyone enjoys this pastime, I am placing it here so that those of you who are deficient in this category humor can cut the column off before you get this far; also the editor, if he has a crowded paper, can cut it off at that place.   Editors like cutoffs, but that is for another day.   In the meantime, if he does cut if off (the column ending), you can read it at the Better Beginnings’ website.  Liston likes puns too.

Bettie Witherspoon is a former executive director of Better Beginnings, which has provided affordable child care to the East Windsor/Hightstown area since 1967.