We are in the middle of our first school break. Crazy right?! School just started back from summer break. But whatever.
In the name of minimalism and slow, intentional living, I have really focused this week on making memories with my kids and letting other things go.
Memory makings include a trip to the movies, playdates with the BFF, apple picking, fair fun, and a big family trip at the end of the week for an exciting adventure! The kids are having a blast! And these are days they will remember forever (or at least for the next year LOL).
Letting go of things is hard for this mama. She likes a neat, tidy house. She likes her to-do lists and checking things off. She likes a little quiet during the day. None of this is happening this week.
So what am I letting go this week? Here are the top 3.
1. A clean house and house chores: I have been cleaning up in the kitchen each day but other than that, I have let the rest of the house go. If you were in my house right now, there is clear evidence of this. The basement and the playroom are complete disasters. You can't even walk in either of them without stepping on toys. But the kids are home for the week and having fun. I don't care.
2. My to-do list: I usually have a long list of things I wish to accomplish in a week. I love checking things off and feeling accomplished. This week my to-do list is short and focuses mainly on what is a necessity. Groceries, laundry, fun activities for the kids. I scheduled no special appointments on this week on purpose. In fact, today is a FREE DAY. We are staying home to rest from our fun activities and trips this week and just hanging out at home. The kids love this idea and are burying their heads in tablets and video games. (which is just another thing I'm letting go this week)
3. What my child is eating this week: I'm not very strict in general on my kids' diets. But I do make sure they eat (or they are offered) plenty of fruits, veggies, and lean proteins. My focus is usually on a healthy dinner. And we don't eat desserts and sweets everyday. This week, however, I have let go of this. I allowed my 7 year old to buy a JAR of candy sticks at the apple farm with her own money. We ate funnel cake at the fair. And yesterday, they had ice cream and fresh apple turnovers that I baked from our apple picking trip. They are eating more snacks than they usually do. And I even let go of my own healthy diet a little this week. So there. Warm apple turnovers, fresh from the oven, are delicious!
Going into this week of school break, I set my intentions to do fun activities and trips with the kids. I wanted my focus to be on using this time wisely to make memories with them, to hear them laugh, see them grin from ear to ear, and watch them play. The house can wait, the chores will get done later, and there will be time to accomplish the to-do list when the kids are back in school. For now, I will savor the break and the opportunity to have fun with my kids while they are still young and want to be with their mommy. Awwwww
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Give One Every Day
We have been doing an experiment in my house recently. And it has been wonderful! I wanted to share with you guys so that you can feel the positive effect in your house like I have in mine.
We love love love Trolls in this house (kids ages 7 & 9)! So we have decided that once in the morning and once before bed at night, we will have HUG TIME! We give hugs for 10 seconds (my kids count "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi") each. The kids love this and I love it too.
It is not the only time we hug, of course, but it is a pre-determined time. If I forget, the kids remind me. "It's HUG TIME, Mom!" They smile. I smile. My heart feels the joy and love.
Our house is so much more joyful and loving and less stressful when it is HUG TIME. It doesn't matter if we were just upset or mad or frustrated or feeling down. When it is HUG TIME, there are smiles all around and giggles and open arms.
In particular, I think this has helped me with the 9 year old child. He is growing up. Pulling away. Working toward independence. But while he's doing this, he feels sad and he misses me and he still needs me.
HUG TIME gives him the opportunity to still snuggle me like a little kid. Still hug me and hold on for a long 10 seconds without pulling away. He loves it and so do I. And I do believe it has helped relieve some pre-teen/tween tension between us.
So if you have kids (or even if you don't - you can try this on your spouse, partner, or other family), try this at home! HUG TIME! A great addition to every day living. Free, simple, fun, and boosts your mood in less than 10 seconds. Guaranteed.
We love love love Trolls in this house (kids ages 7 & 9)! So we have decided that once in the morning and once before bed at night, we will have HUG TIME! We give hugs for 10 seconds (my kids count "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi") each. The kids love this and I love it too.
It is not the only time we hug, of course, but it is a pre-determined time. If I forget, the kids remind me. "It's HUG TIME, Mom!" They smile. I smile. My heart feels the joy and love.
Our house is so much more joyful and loving and less stressful when it is HUG TIME. It doesn't matter if we were just upset or mad or frustrated or feeling down. When it is HUG TIME, there are smiles all around and giggles and open arms.
In particular, I think this has helped me with the 9 year old child. He is growing up. Pulling away. Working toward independence. But while he's doing this, he feels sad and he misses me and he still needs me.
HUG TIME gives him the opportunity to still snuggle me like a little kid. Still hug me and hold on for a long 10 seconds without pulling away. He loves it and so do I. And I do believe it has helped relieve some pre-teen/tween tension between us.
So if you have kids (or even if you don't - you can try this on your spouse, partner, or other family), try this at home! HUG TIME! A great addition to every day living. Free, simple, fun, and boosts your mood in less than 10 seconds. Guaranteed.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
I miss Mayberry
Remember that old TV show with Andy Griffith? Ok. Just me then. LOL
Mayberry was this very small town - where everyone knew everyone, people sat on porches, families sat down to dinner together every night, and no one hurried anywhere.
We are struggling as a society now to find more time and more space in our days and our lives. Technology keeps us connected and "on" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We work longer hours, drive longer commutes, and take fewer vacations than we ever have before. When someone asks how we are doing, we respond with "busy" like a badge of honor. When we have a moment to sit down and take a break, we feel guilty for not keeping up with our to do list.
This week I had the opportunity to have a little "Mayberry" in my house. School was cancelled for my kids and because it was weather-related, my children chose to hang out with me all day in our basement.
Now I can be a slave to my to do list. And I always have a list. On my to do list for this week included cleaning the house, doing the laundry, etc. A cancelled school day made for the perfect day to get things done on that list.
Instead the draw of a slow day and spending some lazy time with my children pulled me in.
SLOW
Recently I have been striving for slow. Making more time. Making more space. Breathing more deeply. Being less busy. These are things we all need. These are things we all want. And here was my chance.
So..... I took it! I spent the day curled up on a couch, playing video games, watching dinosaur movies, and snuggling with my kids. We ate lunch together. We hung out. We spent the whole day in the SAME room. And it was wonderful.
It was slow. It was lazy. It was relaxing. It was "Mayberry." We had all the time in the world. No hurry. No busy. No to do lists. No rush. Just time, space, room to breathe.
Everyday can't be a cancelled school day. I know that. But I will strive toward slow. I will look for a little Mayberry each day and welcome it. Will you?
Mayberry was this very small town - where everyone knew everyone, people sat on porches, families sat down to dinner together every night, and no one hurried anywhere.
We are struggling as a society now to find more time and more space in our days and our lives. Technology keeps us connected and "on" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We work longer hours, drive longer commutes, and take fewer vacations than we ever have before. When someone asks how we are doing, we respond with "busy" like a badge of honor. When we have a moment to sit down and take a break, we feel guilty for not keeping up with our to do list.
This week I had the opportunity to have a little "Mayberry" in my house. School was cancelled for my kids and because it was weather-related, my children chose to hang out with me all day in our basement.
Now I can be a slave to my to do list. And I always have a list. On my to do list for this week included cleaning the house, doing the laundry, etc. A cancelled school day made for the perfect day to get things done on that list.
Instead the draw of a slow day and spending some lazy time with my children pulled me in.
SLOW
Recently I have been striving for slow. Making more time. Making more space. Breathing more deeply. Being less busy. These are things we all need. These are things we all want. And here was my chance.
So..... I took it! I spent the day curled up on a couch, playing video games, watching dinosaur movies, and snuggling with my kids. We ate lunch together. We hung out. We spent the whole day in the SAME room. And it was wonderful.
It was slow. It was lazy. It was relaxing. It was "Mayberry." We had all the time in the world. No hurry. No busy. No to do lists. No rush. Just time, space, room to breathe.
Everyday can't be a cancelled school day. I know that. But I will strive toward slow. I will look for a little Mayberry each day and welcome it. Will you?
Sunday, September 3, 2017
The Best Things in Life Aren't Things At All
Sometimes people view minimalism as just decluttering or getting rid of "stuff" or things. I believe minimizing your stuff is only a small part of what minimalism is as a whole. You should minimize your stuff, but only as a way to have more time and energy to focus on what's important in your life.
In my life, what's important isn't the "stuff". The best things in life aren't things at all. The best part of my life is my people. That's what I want to focus on. That's what important to me.
We have a saying in my house. Love God and love people. This is our focus. I teach my kids that their family, their friends, their teachers, their classmates, and the people around them are more important than any toy, video game, or "thing" in their life. This is a hard lesson for them to learn at times. They are still so young and self-focused.
But let's be honest. This is a hard lesson for everyone to learn. I'm still learning it myself. I need reminders at times.
I need a reminder when I'm washing the dishes and trying to clean up the kitchen and my daughter wants to tell me all about her stuffies and what adventure they just went on.
I need a reminder when I'm sitting and reading a book and my son asks for my help in figuring out his video game.
I need a reminder when it's been a long day and I just want to go to bed and my husband wants to chat about his day.
The dishes aren't important. Neither is that clean kitchen.
That book isn't important.
Even sleep isn't as important as the person in my life who needs to talk.
Everyday I work toward this lofty goal of people over things. A friend calls while I'm out on a run. She needs a friend's ear to vent and discuss worries about things happening in her life. I miss out on my run but connect with my friend. I'm reading an article and my son asks for my help. I stop reading and help him. I can always read that article later. I'm hoping to sleep in on a Saturday morning but gladly welcome early morning snuggles from my growing 9 year old. He won't soon want to snuggle with his mama like this.
Once I was teaching the kids about safety and what to do if the house were to have a fire. My daughter was very upset that this could happen and asked me what if the whole house burned down with all of our things, how would we live?! I calmly looked at her and explained "We can replace the things and the house, but we can't replace you. And you are all that matters."
Remember the best things in life really aren't things at all. Who are the best "things" in your life?
In my life, what's important isn't the "stuff". The best things in life aren't things at all. The best part of my life is my people. That's what I want to focus on. That's what important to me.
We have a saying in my house. Love God and love people. This is our focus. I teach my kids that their family, their friends, their teachers, their classmates, and the people around them are more important than any toy, video game, or "thing" in their life. This is a hard lesson for them to learn at times. They are still so young and self-focused.
But let's be honest. This is a hard lesson for everyone to learn. I'm still learning it myself. I need reminders at times.
I need a reminder when I'm washing the dishes and trying to clean up the kitchen and my daughter wants to tell me all about her stuffies and what adventure they just went on.
I need a reminder when I'm sitting and reading a book and my son asks for my help in figuring out his video game.
I need a reminder when it's been a long day and I just want to go to bed and my husband wants to chat about his day.
The dishes aren't important. Neither is that clean kitchen.
That book isn't important.
Even sleep isn't as important as the person in my life who needs to talk.
Everyday I work toward this lofty goal of people over things. A friend calls while I'm out on a run. She needs a friend's ear to vent and discuss worries about things happening in her life. I miss out on my run but connect with my friend. I'm reading an article and my son asks for my help. I stop reading and help him. I can always read that article later. I'm hoping to sleep in on a Saturday morning but gladly welcome early morning snuggles from my growing 9 year old. He won't soon want to snuggle with his mama like this.
Once I was teaching the kids about safety and what to do if the house were to have a fire. My daughter was very upset that this could happen and asked me what if the whole house burned down with all of our things, how would we live?! I calmly looked at her and explained "We can replace the things and the house, but we can't replace you. And you are all that matters."
Remember the best things in life really aren't things at all. Who are the best "things" in your life?
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Favorite Blogs and a Magazine
I highly recommend all of the following blogs. They center around minimalism, simply living, family, motherhood, mindfulness, and living your life to the fullest. Pick one and have a good read.
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