.
I was tagged by Moomykin with this interesting one….
1. Be kind to Mother Earth.
One of the taglines on National Geography is so true, “So, please: Use only what you need- it’s not like we can go shopping anywhere else” or something very similar in verbatim (I believe voiced over by Patrick Stewart aka Professor X and Jean Luc Picard).
I try to instil into Caitlin the mentality of not wasting stuff:
- Water the pot plants with the drinking water that isn’t finished (from her cup or bottle for during-the-night use)
- “Quickly, wash / rub your hands” (as opposed to holding her hands still under running water)
- Recycle good paper for her doodling. We have lots of 1-sided printouts.
- Switch off the lights / tv / air-cond when not in use.
2. Be healthy
I have been putting off getting back into an exercise regime. I blame this on my daily schedule; compounded by Hot Mummee’s usually late hours, compelling me to volunteer as the parent for the mandatory time-with-kids. When Hot Mummee was working closer to her parents and was able to shuttle the kid(s) there, I was free in the mornings for the gym before work. With her current job now I am the one geographically closer and thus more convenient. Also with Caleb’s odd-hour milk feeds, sleep has a higher priority now.
Only this week I did start getting back into the regime, sometimes leaving work 30min earlier just so to squeeze this in. Not sure how long I can keep this (mal)practise up though!
I read somewhere that if toddlers are encouraged to climb stairs themselves as opposed to being carried up all the time, they are likely to grow up as active individuals. Caitlin quite happily fetches stuff when she is asked, even if it’s upstairs 
Can’t wait for her to be old enough so that we can go skating together!
3. Be frugal
- Don’t accelerate too much / often. This actually burns more petrol. What’s the hurry anyway? There was a tv report on A Current Affair ages ago where they got Peter Brock and the reporter to drive the same route within Sydney; with Peter driving as recklessly as possible, and the reporter obeying rules and courtesies. Brock arrived only 55 secs earlier. The point was that in urban driving, driving in a hurry makes very little difference, what with other traffic and lights. I bet the petrol consumption differed a lot though.
- When at the smorgasbord, get only what I know I can finish! Eyes have been bigger than my stomach for too many months now!
- Finish what’s on your plate. My grandpa (he passed away when I was 5 or 6) used to say “Finish all the rice on your plate, otherwise you’d end up with a wife whose face would be just as polka-dotted!” Think I will use this on my kids soon!
- “I can’t buy you that toy- Daddee does not have enough money. After Daddee buys all the food and clothes for Caitlin and Caleb, Daddee doesn’t have very much left…” Okay trying to teach the idea of trade-offs and savings!
So how would you change your lifestyle?
Derek
ToddlerDaddy
Hissychick
Lynn
MidniteLily
Amy
A Dad Thing
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.daddeeyah.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this-small.png)
Tweet ThisIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I like how tagging Kin makes for more great ideas from loads of people.
Hubs and I just started our walking routine today, feels good
see how we feel later HAHA
take the kids for walks, teach C how to bike ride or trike ride. (forgot how old she is now).
Lias last blog post..Green living/cleaning.
Hi Lia, welcome and thanks for dropping by!
Caitlin turns 4 this November. Still a bit too young, in my book, to start skating.
I personally enjoy skating alot, and have been since uni days but not so much since returning to pedestrian-unfriendly KL. Besides, I have also developed a knee problem that aches at a commonly used angle when skating. Else I’d be tagging along with the Skateline guys (mentioned above) on their regular outings.
I do enjoy bringing the little one swimming though, so that’s a start, I reckon, to a lifelong habit of activities and sports.
BTW, love the site.
My wife and I changed our health habits. We both started exercising, and are both making great attempts at eating ‘better’. The latter being much more difficult!
Strong Ones last blog post..Random Bloginess
Hey I heard that bad spotty-face phrase from my friends in kindy! Then it was either you’ll marry someone like that or that your face would be like that. Either way was no good. Hahaha…
But we too were taught to empty our plates. Read that it’s really effects of war, especially survivors of of the WW1 and WW2. Good to waste not want not, anyhow.
Moomykins last blog post..So How Would You Change Your Lifestyle, People?
Welcome, Strong One!
Yes, I agree with the discipline on food choices. Lately I have been indulging in food due to some personal stresses, esp not having the time to hit to gym to take it out on the machines and weights! It’s real will power to revert back to increasing physical activities and cutting back on food indulgence…
Moomykin, you are likely right that such sentiments came from folks of that era. Those were very hard times faced by them. The younger crowd now may not have had that kind of exposure from their (younger) parents and thus do tend to waste resources quite thoughtlessly…
I agree with your last comments, we are trying to make the changes now while we are “young” enough (the way my knees complain after kneeling or sitting on floor for extended period, does make me wonder LOL)
Thanks for dropping by my blog btw
we can always motivate each other for “ubah gaya hidup” 
Lias last blog post..Tired but happy