Back to School: Bucking the Trend

We are--I think it is fair to say--a consciously active, environmentally friendly society in California, wouldn't you agree? So why is it that in certain areas of my life, as a parent specifically, I find myself at odds with this lifestyle? Case in point: the back-to-school season.

Can someone explain to me why it is that a kid's backpack and its entire contents  last only one school year--if we're lucky? Just because we have a nine-week break over the summer, are the pens and pencils our little cherubs were using only a short time ago suddenly rendered useless?

Or in AYSO soccer: When a new season comes around, everyone gets brand new uniforms, including shirts, shorts and socks. What happened to the old ones? Couldn't we, in this waste-conscious age, hand them down to the next age group coming through? I think my daughters play eight or nine games a season; even if these uniforms are made in some obscure Asian island country, surely they can last two or three seasons at least? That's only 24 games.

It's true, I may be emotionally attached to my money, but isn't it a good idea for parents and teachers to have these future captains of industry actually understand the value of a dollar?

So I have made up my mind that the backpack that worked in June is still good for September. My children will have to come up with a valid explanation as to why the pencil they used in May to get the A- in math cannot be used in December to write their teacher a Christmas card. I am putting my foot down and leveraging the "go green" movement to teach my children a lesson in economics. Anyone want to join the revolution?

I figure that with the money I save I can afford some new golf clubs.

I bought them 25 years ago. 

Mike King is an associate partner at Partners Trust Real Estate and Acquisitions. He is passionate about three things: Family, real estate and McVities Chocolate Biscuits (or cookies to the uninitiated). You can connect with Mike on Twitter @mikeking4re and on Facebook.