Less is More
I know, this post isn't about my my time in the hospital or Baby Girl......or is it? I was on Pinterest the other day looking for ways to organize our closets, when I came across this article The Great Laundry Experiment. You can read it here http://theglamoroushousewife.com/2014/10/laundry-experiment/
This woman and I have loads in common (see what I did there? laundry/loads...hahaha) We have bonded over our hatred for laundry. And yes, I know it's one of those necessary evils that we face. But like many things in our lives, we overcomplicate instead of simplify. We get drawn into the gadgets of the and gizmos thinking they will in fact make things easier. But the truth of the matter, they often do quite the opposite.
We recently remodeled our basement, and in doing so we planned out our new master bedroom including the closet. It is a rather sizable closet, much bigger than we actually need. But I do have a crazy closet obsession and logistically (and finacially....doors are expensive!) it's how it worked out. Our contractor laughed when I said that the "small end" was mine (it's about a 4 foot space) and the rest would be Art's. I don't blame him for laughing. It would seem on the surface that I have tons of clothes. I do not. Years ago, I cut down my wardrobe much like the author of the Laundry Experiment. I did it for several reasons. For one, I hate laundry and I always seem to have piles and baskets of it lying around. Secondly, if we are honest with ourselves, we really only wear the same few things over and over. This article from Banana Republic is wonderful. In just thirteen pieces you can have "a wardrobe full" of outfits that will last an entire month. The key is accessories and every article of clothing can be worn with something else. http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=72560&tid=brem005061&EV=BWP9202011&CD=BNC_BIN&DI=53452802 I do have more than thirteen pieces in my closet, but like I said earlier, all of my clothes including shoes fit neatly into a four foot space. But the concept is there. Live with less. It's totally doable. And actually somewhat freeing.
I've applied the same concept with Arden's clothes. I limit her wardrobe to about ten outfits including dresses per size. Yes, I have to do laundry more often. But there is less of it to wash, fold and put away.
It's an excellent concept when tackling toys and such that seem to accompany babies and kids. In all reality, kids have their few favorite toys. The rest just collect dust. Currently, we have more than I would like. I think part of that is what happens when you have a birthday so close to Christmas. Everything is concetrated in a couple of weeks instead of spread into two seperate occassions like if you had a July birthday. I will weed things out over the next few months. Some will get packed up because she's outgrown them. Others will get put into baskets that get rotated so she always feels like she has something new. By the time she's 3, we will limit like we did with Drake. He had four bins-Cars, Trains, Tracks and Legos. He still had a few random board games and stuffed animals, but most everything fit onto one little shelving unit.
I also limit "noise". I turn the TV off during the day opting instead for music. I "hide" any toys that pop, click or make other random sounds. I avoid toys that take batteries. I HATE toys that take batteries. I could write a whole blog entry just on that alone! Kids need to use their imagination. And I strongly believe when everything is battery powered or gadgety we take that away from them. Arden is thrilled to pieces to place with a cookie cutter or an empty box. Most babies are the same. Only we as adults think that toys need to "do something".
I see this in the things that are marketed towards new parents. It is the whole reason we didn't own a baby swing for Arden. I searched high and low for a swing that did just that....swing. They are much like Santa. They don't exist. Everyone of them lights up, makes noise, and does everything but fly to the moon.
When we as parents learn to live simply, our kids will learn to live simply. They will not feel they "need" things to define their worth or to attract friends. They will not care if they can "keep up with the Jones'". They will learn to make mud pies and climb trees. They will occupy themselves for hours with bubble wrap and bed sheets.
When we as parents live simply, it's easier to focus. It's easier to focus on everyday life. It's easier to focus on God. When we start to do that, stuff just doesn't seem as important. And isn't that what we want for our children most of all? Them so focused on God and having a heart for him that the temporal things no longer matter.
Matthew 6:20-22
But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth ocrrupt, and where thieves do not steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
This woman and I have loads in common (see what I did there? laundry/loads...hahaha) We have bonded over our hatred for laundry. And yes, I know it's one of those necessary evils that we face. But like many things in our lives, we overcomplicate instead of simplify. We get drawn into the gadgets of the and gizmos thinking they will in fact make things easier. But the truth of the matter, they often do quite the opposite.
We recently remodeled our basement, and in doing so we planned out our new master bedroom including the closet. It is a rather sizable closet, much bigger than we actually need. But I do have a crazy closet obsession and logistically (and finacially....doors are expensive!) it's how it worked out. Our contractor laughed when I said that the "small end" was mine (it's about a 4 foot space) and the rest would be Art's. I don't blame him for laughing. It would seem on the surface that I have tons of clothes. I do not. Years ago, I cut down my wardrobe much like the author of the Laundry Experiment. I did it for several reasons. For one, I hate laundry and I always seem to have piles and baskets of it lying around. Secondly, if we are honest with ourselves, we really only wear the same few things over and over. This article from Banana Republic is wonderful. In just thirteen pieces you can have "a wardrobe full" of outfits that will last an entire month. The key is accessories and every article of clothing can be worn with something else. http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=72560&tid=brem005061&EV=BWP9202011&CD=BNC_BIN&DI=53452802 I do have more than thirteen pieces in my closet, but like I said earlier, all of my clothes including shoes fit neatly into a four foot space. But the concept is there. Live with less. It's totally doable. And actually somewhat freeing.
I've applied the same concept with Arden's clothes. I limit her wardrobe to about ten outfits including dresses per size. Yes, I have to do laundry more often. But there is less of it to wash, fold and put away.
It's an excellent concept when tackling toys and such that seem to accompany babies and kids. In all reality, kids have their few favorite toys. The rest just collect dust. Currently, we have more than I would like. I think part of that is what happens when you have a birthday so close to Christmas. Everything is concetrated in a couple of weeks instead of spread into two seperate occassions like if you had a July birthday. I will weed things out over the next few months. Some will get packed up because she's outgrown them. Others will get put into baskets that get rotated so she always feels like she has something new. By the time she's 3, we will limit like we did with Drake. He had four bins-Cars, Trains, Tracks and Legos. He still had a few random board games and stuffed animals, but most everything fit onto one little shelving unit.
I also limit "noise". I turn the TV off during the day opting instead for music. I "hide" any toys that pop, click or make other random sounds. I avoid toys that take batteries. I HATE toys that take batteries. I could write a whole blog entry just on that alone! Kids need to use their imagination. And I strongly believe when everything is battery powered or gadgety we take that away from them. Arden is thrilled to pieces to place with a cookie cutter or an empty box. Most babies are the same. Only we as adults think that toys need to "do something".
I see this in the things that are marketed towards new parents. It is the whole reason we didn't own a baby swing for Arden. I searched high and low for a swing that did just that....swing. They are much like Santa. They don't exist. Everyone of them lights up, makes noise, and does everything but fly to the moon.
When we as parents learn to live simply, our kids will learn to live simply. They will not feel they "need" things to define their worth or to attract friends. They will not care if they can "keep up with the Jones'". They will learn to make mud pies and climb trees. They will occupy themselves for hours with bubble wrap and bed sheets.
When we as parents live simply, it's easier to focus. It's easier to focus on everyday life. It's easier to focus on God. When we start to do that, stuff just doesn't seem as important. And isn't that what we want for our children most of all? Them so focused on God and having a heart for him that the temporal things no longer matter.
Matthew 6:20-22
But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth ocrrupt, and where thieves do not steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.