Single hen

[Jules.]

We were chatting at lunchtime today about what we will give up for Lent. It's not something we normally do, even though we are a Christian family. We thought we'd make the effort this year.

Ethan ( aged 5 ) is giving up nothing (rebel)

 

Alexander is giving up salt.

 

Hubby hasn't decided yet.

 

I'm giving up the Omlet forum

 

It's something that I will really miss, but I'm going to see if I can live my life without it, & I will report back at Easter with the things that I have done with my time which would normally be spent on here.

The only thing I will look at is any PM messages I might get, so if you want to keep in touch with me over the 40 days then that's the way to do it!!!

[Cinnamon]

Good luck to you Jules

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I shall give up cake, biscuits,chocolate and alcohol..........I give up the same every year, in attempt to break the habit of eating such things...........every year the same happens, after Easter I slowly slip back.

[Couperwife]

I dont think I will give anything up.

 

but I am going to try and do and act of random kindness every day

 

this should be quite easy at school as there are always children who need a nice word or a bit of extra attention

 

it should be fun, ill try and keep track and tell you what has happened (but each week, not day )

 

cathy

x

[Tessa the Duchess]

Gosh! I think life is quite miserable enough without making it worse I was brought up a catholic and my mother and I always gave up chocolate for lent but Sundays didn't count and you could eat as much chocolate as you wanted on a Sunday. Instead of giving something up I quite like the idea of doing something 'good' every day through lent, maybe something you don't really like doing but it makes the world a nicer place? Good luck to all those giving up

 

Tessa

[kitbag]

 

I'm giving up the Omlet forum

 

Wow! Good luck! I'm not giving anything up this year - i find it too hard!

[Egluntyne]

I dont think I will give anything up.

 

but I am going to try and do and act of random kindness every day

 

I like this idea. This way someone else benefits in some small way.

[poachedegg]

no Omlet forum for 6 weeks - wow you're brave!

 

We always try to do something - last year as a family we gave up desserts, the year before takeaways....not decided on this years yet!

[Ygerna]

I have been thinking about lent and what to 'give up' but I really dont think I am in a strong enough state emotionally to do so. However. I do like the idea of doing something good or nice everyday and I think I will give that a go instead. Hopefully after 6 weeks I shall be so used to doing it that it has become habitual.

[Chickvic]

I couldn't give up the forum for 6 weeks. I'll have to think of something else

[Guest]

I dont think I will give anything up.

 

but I am going to try and do and act of random kindness every day

 

this should be quite easy at school as there are always children who need a nice word or a bit of extra attention

 

it should be fun, ill try and keep track and tell you what has happened (but each week, not day )

 

cathy

x

 

Now Cathy I think I could do that one too. I was going to give up shouting at my tutor group (year9 and VERY noisy!) but I try that every day and then lose it 10 mins later when the register still isn't done!

 

So I'm going to go with a random act of kindness every day too.

[Plum]

I'm giving up the Omlet forum

 

 

Did you read Tessa's post Sundays don't count so we'll see you then.

 

Chocolate and cheese for me I don't have your strength.

[fluffyknickers]

I defo couldnt give the forum up - my poor chickens wouldnt want me to either!

 

I am giving up..erm...er...brussel sprouts. Oh yes I will find it very hard .

 

No ok, I will do an act of kindness every day too.

 

We should then start a post entitled "what was your act of kindness today" and we have to put on there what it was.

x

[Bassett]

I've also been trying to decide what to give up for Lent. What a fantastic idea to do a kind act every day - I might adopt that suggestion!

 

I think I would also like to give up something unhealthy, but have yet to decide what it will be. Maybe chocs, sweets, takeaways, evening snacking ........ I'm guilty of them all !

 

The last time I managed to last the full 40 days was many years ago when I was at primary school and gave up sugar in my tea! Since then my willpower has declined dramatically, so I'M DETERMINED THAT WHATEVER I GIVE UP I WILL STICK TO IT UNTIL EASTER!!! DD is also thinking about what to give up, so we can support each other through our ordeal!!!

[riane]

Oh its nearly Ash Wednesday and I have not decided yet. There are so many things I should give up...just need the self discipline to do them. Always a good idea to try to do something good each day. I'll keep thinking

[Guest]

We're still debating too. Two years ago we decided to do the old traditional thing and be vegan - no animal products - for Lent. It was very hard and I'm not sure that using vegan butter and milk, soya mince etc is really doing it properly. DD2 said a week ago that she would like to do it again. I'm very reluctant because of the eggs! I'm not sure I could bear to give them all away and not eat a single one.

 

DH has suggested being vegetarian for Lent and cancelling the 2 meat boxes, donating the money to the Bishop's Lent Appeal. I think we might do that and possibly go vegan for Holy Week.

 

We always give up sweets and chocolate for the whole 40 days plus Holy Week. We don't take Sundays off either, but occasionally relax a bit for birthdays. It's hard to start with but gets much easier and then I am always nervous of Easter arriving and being 'allowed' to eat sweets again.

 

There's a little booklet called 'Love Life, Live Lent' which has little tasks set each day, such as smiling at a stranger, giving someone a random gift and other tasks. http://www.livelent.net/ You're right that Lent is about discipline, not necessarily about giving up things. In order to give money to charity, people had to give up a 'luxury' in the past. Nowadays we have enough money not to have to, but I think that's where the tradition comes from. So as I don't need a glass of wine every night, I can give that up and donate the money I would have spent to some worthy cause. (Just an example, I don't usually drink wine!)

[redhotchick]

I have been giving Lentern resolutions more thought than usual this year.

I've slipped into the habit of having a glass (or 2) of wine most nights, so I am resolving to cut back to Friday and Saturday nights only. Also giving up bacon on toast (a once or twice a week treat in work), chocolate, biscuits, sweets, crisps, pasties and takeaways.

I'm going to create a chart and allow myself a couple of "indiscretions" a week, with an overall limit within any category.

I will donate my "bacon on toast"/wine money to charity. Maybe Oxfam. A charity that helps people in poverty.

A real chore for me would be donating a bin bag of stuff to Oxfam each week. If I did that it would be both a penance and an act of kindness!

 

The way my week is planned next week means that on Shrove Tuesday I will be having a fast food breakfast, buffet lunch and (of course) pancakes! On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, I have committed to a work social. I can see a couple of "indiscretions" being used up on day one! Not the best start!

[BeckyBoo]

We're not a Christian family, or should I say that I'm not, but my two girls go to a C of E school and last year my eldest, who was 6 nearly 7 at the time, announced she was giving up hot chocolate for Lent (the children have it nearly every night before bed) and do you know she stuck to it for the whole 40 days, even though her sister was still having it? I was really proud of her!

I have no idea what, if anything she's going to give up this year, and as I said, I'm not a Christian, but I might try the act of kindness thing, although as I;m only ever at work or with the children it might be a bit tricky!

 

BeckyBoo

[Guest]

It could be anything at all Becky. For you at this time, I would suggest a real effort to do something together, something to bring you close to each other.

 

A story all together every evening - maybe read a long book together, one of the classics perhaps?

 

Growing salads and vegetables, maybe a crop each to be tended?

 

Going for a walk on Saturday or Sunday afternoons?

 

Visiting an elderly neighbour or choosing someone to donate a box of eggs to each week. You could all nominate someone and then have a family vote.

 

Playing a board game on Friday evenings, taking turns to choose which game. I know you have an age range but it's about being together and being kind to each other.

 

Just some suggestions! I'm sure you have loads of ideas.

[missuscluck]

Golly Giving up the forum for Lent. Wow you are brave. Not sure Ill be giving anything up. We dont usually give anything up. Lifes too short for giving up pleasures in my opinion.

[Cinnamon]

I agree.

We are giving up,giving up

[Bantambabe]

We've had some Christian Aid leaflets given out at church and I'm going to try to follow that for Lent. It's not about giving something up for lent, but rather thinking about something different each day and "Counting Your Blessings" - there's a different "task" each day: e.g. Thursday 26 Feb - The UK spends £10.2 billion each year on food that ends up being thrown away; Give 10p for every cookbook you own or Thursday 19 March - 14p could pay for a reusable milk bottle for a dairy project in Haiti that gives farmers better access to local markets and improves their income; Give 14p each time you drink milk today

 

The idea is that you collect the various donations - each time quite small but for a specific purpose - over the period of lent and then send the donation to Christian Aid at the end.

 

Here's a link to the info on the Christian Aid site if anyone is interested. You can print out the leaflet with each of the daily focuses on.

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved/lent/count-your-blessings.aspx

 

Probably ought to give up chocolate too though - want to lose 2 stone by the summer!

[Phoebe]

Bantambabe said

 

Christian Aid leaflets given out at church and I'm going to try to follow that for Lent. It's not about giving something up for lent, but rather thinking about something different each day and "Counting Your Blessings" - there's a different "task" each day:

 

I like this one, though I'm not religious. Its good to think of others and a prod to do so does no one any harm

Thnaks for posting this. x

[Guest]

I like this one too - although I have a long held issue with Christian Aid (which was probably only the fault of a very UN Christian local organiser TBH). Off to have a look at the pamphlet...

[Guest]

Crumbs - there are some good ideas in there BUT too rich for me - giving something monetary nearly every day in todays climate is a hard one. I've already had to make the tough decision to cut down on my charity gifts this year (although I also spend more in charity shops than I used to so that maybe evens out!)

 

10p for each time you flush the loo is a tough one for me - I wee a LOT and although I don't always flush at home (if it's yellow let it mellow...) I do at work where I go between every lesson AND I seem to go round flushing after James too!

 

I think I'd like to try one of those a month - to raise awareness of the issues. I might suggest it to my tutor group. If they shut up long enough to listen that is.