Silly Bandz

I have admired Jim's skill this summer to use the newest fad for a productive cause. The silicon bracelets made in interesting shapes became the hottest trend this past spring and our girls became aware of them. They weren't asking for us to buy them but they were given a few from friends at school. This was right around the time of Jim's surgery and when we were out he picked up a few packs of the silly bands and put them in his sock drawer. Because of Jim's surgery he wasn't supposed to be lifting things and thats makes doing the trash impossible. So Jim asked the girls if someone would help him. He got a few takers and when the chore was accomplished he invited them to choose a silly band from the stash. The revelation of a potential reward certainly spurred more willing helpers as the need arose.

The regularity of chores provided ample opportunity for the girls to each collect a wide variety of colorful silicone bands. At the end of the year, Megan had a girl at school ask her for a band. Megan wasn't willing to part with it at the time but the next time she was given the chance she picked the duplicate of the band the girl asked for. Megan doesn't even know this girl's name but she is saving it for the girl until school starts again. Emma frequently sorted her bands in different color combinations on her arm, sometimes in cool vs. warm, or in rainbow order, or to match the colors she was wearing. I discovered her one day spreading her bands on onto the floor.

She made a color wheel.

Bridget has enjoyed the Disney packs of princess and fairy bracelets that Jim found.  Her wrists are so small though that they slide off and I find them around the house or in the laundry. She traded a unicorn silly band for a train with one of her cousins. The unicorn was one of her favorites so Jim was surprised and asked her about it. Bridget responded "I'm not that attached to it." And so as with any fad the appeal of the silly band is fading. I am just glad the passing of the fad coincided with Jim's recovery.