Some Pros and Cons of Minimalism

Over the past year, I've increasingly become more of a minimalist. I'm all about "simple" living, and I feel like "living with less" goes hand in hand with that concept.

Matt tells me that when he mentions to his coworkers that he has four kids, one of their most frequent responses is how busy we must be.

Yes, of course we're busy. But when you have less STUFF sitting around in your house, fewer toys and clothes and books and everything else, there is honestly less TO DO.

But minimalistic living has pros and cons.

CONS:

If you have one mint-colored tank top (that you really like), and it gets discolored in the wash (who knows why), then... it effects *several* outfits, and not just one tank.

Your husband suggests an afternoon away at a state park, and you have to go out and buy shorts AND lace-up shoes, because you don't own any.

You sell your church shoes. Then, you must wear flip-flops to church until you buy another pair of church shoes.

You hear the incredible idea of only wearing what you LOVE. So you get rid 3 shirts, and you're left with three.

What you wear for pajamas are also staples in your during-the-day wardrobe.

You overhear a conversation between your kids and the neighbor kids...
Neighbor Kid: Do you have any dolls?
Your kid: No.
NK: Do you have any dress-up clothes?
Your kid: No.
NK: Do you have any games?
Your kid: Yes, we have a matching game.
NK: Well, what do you play?
Your kid: We play blocks. And we draw. And we play outside. Aaand... that's it.

Your husband is leaving for a business trip, and you realize he doesn't have enough nice socks to carry him for even a short trip, considering he wouldn't be doing the wash every day!


PROS:

Packing for a trip is a cinch. You open your kids' drawers, pull out their nicest clothes (leaving *not much* in their drawer), and pack it into a suitcase.

You tell your kids to clean up their toys, and they stick all their blocks in a couple boxes. BOOM. Done.

You tell your kids to clean up their books, and they grab their few books (scattered around the house) and stick them in a basket. Done.

Everything has a place--whether it's the diapers, the shoes, or the cooking utensils. There's only one or two of each item (okay, besides diapers ;)), so as long as it's returned to its proper place, it's not easily lost.

Laundry is simplified, and there's less OF it.


We aren't completely minimalistic, believe me. I love variety in accessories, for example, and so the girls have an entire BOX of hairbands and bows.

But for this season of life, living with LESS has been so helpful. There are fewer messes, which are easier to clean up... For me personally, there's less stress, too, so I can focus on doing what I enjoy!

Why Four Kids Have Been Easier than One

If I'm being honest, I don't look back on my "early motherhood" days (when I just had one or even two kids) as the most-amazing-days-ever. I remember feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, and inadequate. And believe me, it wasn't like I hadn't had any experience with kids before! I had three younger siblings, and as a teenager, I logged many hours as a babysitter.   

And yet... being a mom was different. These babies were mine, and the responsibility was great. While as a babysitter, I would watch the kids for a few hours and then leave, being a mom was full-time. 

It was hard to find time to do anything BUT watch my children. My bathroom would sometimes sit neglected for weeks, and there was almost always a pile of unfolded laundry on our guest bed. 

The transitions between children were hard, too. My hardest transition was probably from no-kids-to-one, but transitioning to two kids was hard, too. It was a little easier with Matthias (#3), but I remember crying a LOT his first month of life.

A few weeks before Caroline's due date, I started stressing out about adding a fourth. What would my already-full days look like? How do you peacefully add a fourth baby to days that aren't always calm? 

And then, she arrived. Surprisingly, I hardly cried at all. Within the first couple months, I was feeling better and more on-top of my "life" than I had ever before as a mom. I felt completely comfortable taking care of four children, and I had the time to start "officially" homeschooling Rachel and Jemima.

I was shocked to realize that four kids was somehow easier for me than one had been. This of course led me to wonder: why? Shouldn't I be four-times more stressed out and overwhelmed? 

I'm still trying to figure out the difference, but here's what I've come up with so far...

1. I have four years of experience in the mommy-hood world now! I don't need to be nervous changing diapers, considering how many hundreds (thousands?) I've changed. I've tried out many different ideas (I can't tell you how many laundry methods I've tried), and found which ones work best for our family. I've made many mistakes, and [hopefully] learned from them! 

Also, the more I've learned, the more relaxed I am about motherhood. Breaking up fights and nap-times and changing diapers and feeding multiple kids has become less of a "big deal" and more of a every-day-all-day-long occurrence. 

2. Instead of doing all the housework by myself, I have helpers! The older kids are a HUGE help to me. They sort and put away their laundry. They can load and unload the dishwasher, and set the table. They can dress themselves, and the girls are learning how to shower themselves and do their hair! Many of the tasks that I used to help them with, are now their responsibilities. The girls enjoy being independent, and I don't mind delegating! 

3. I don't worry about the kids needing me to entertain them: they entertain each other. Almost everything my kids do, they do together. As for Caroline, the kids could sit and talk to her or "play" with her for hours. They especially love when I leave Caroline in their "charge" while I do housework elsewhere. 

4. This point probably ties in somehow with #1, but I think motherhood has gotten easier for me, the more I embrace that this is my life. Of course I knew along that these children were my responsibility, but once you realize that these kids will take up your time, and that is a healthy thing... that it's "normal" to type and hold a baby at the same time, or breast-feed while reading to the three other kids piled around you... That there is really no other task more important, or more worth your time than investing in these little souls... then I think motherhood somehow becomes easier. You're not always thinking, "Well, I need to take care of the baby so I can do..." because you're used to the fact that your kids will be there at your side (or nearby) all day long, every day for a VERY long time. 

Of course, not everything is easier with four than with one. Such as, grocery shopping--or buckling and unbuckling car seats! But while I feel like with multiple children, there is more noise, more crying, more arguments... there is also more laughter and snuggles and fun times. 

I can say without a doubt that I enjoy being a mom more than I ever have before. But what would I say to the new mom, perhaps who is feeling the way I did when Rachel and Jemima were little? 

I wish I could give you a hug, and say that everything will be okay! Don't be afraid to make mistakes or to ask for help! If you feel like there's so much you need to learn, or you're feeling inadequate, just know... this is normal. I am sure every mom has gone through this. You have many wonderful years ahead of you in which to learn and grow.

Enjoy your family time this weekend!

Nine "Cleanliness" Habits we are Teaching our Children

I'm going to let you in a little secret: I don't actually love cleaning.

If I could spend an hour doing whatever I wanted to, cleaning wouldn't make the list. 

But here's the thing--I live in a house with four natural mess-makers, otherwise known as children. It can be a full-time job just cleaning up after my kids!

When little ones are still toddling around, drooling and wiping banana-hands on your glass, there's not much for a mom to do besides follow them around with a Windex bottle.

But I've discovered that as children start getting older, they are capable of more than making messes. In fact, they can help keeping your house clean!


And I don't just mean teaching them how to scrub the toilet (though that is, of course, a brilliant idea.) 

Keeping a house clean is all about habits--those little things we either do or don't do, every day, all day long, which determines if our house will be neat and clean or a chaotic disaster.

I've found some specific habits that have been extremely helpful to keeping my housework minimized, so that once the kids go to bed, I don't have to spend the next couple hours cleaning!


Nine "Cleanliness" Habits we are Teaching our Children:

• Take off their shoes at the door. We generally have a no-shoes-in-the-house policy (unless they're "inside" shoes). You'd be surprised how much less dirt is tracked in onto the floors and carpets. I still have to sweep and vacuum, but this policy has gone a long way in keeping especially our carpeting and rugs nice. As a follow-up to taking their shoes off, we also teach them to...
• Put their shoes away. If their shoes are very dirty, I'll wash them or hit them together outside to shake off excess dirt. But if they seem relatively clean, they need to immediately put them away in their shoe box. (Even Matthias, who is 2, can easily do something like this.) This keeps the foyer from getting cluttered with shoes!
• Make their bed before leaving their room in the morning. If you want your kids' rooms to instantly look more presentable, straightening their sheets and pillows is a huge step in the right direction! The girls still need help making their bed, but we're working on this. It's a great goal!
• Clear their dishes after eating, and stack them into the dishwasher. This only takes each child a few seconds, and it helps keep the table and the kitchen counters clean! 
• Wash hands [and face] after every meal. Of all these habits, the girls have this one "down" the most, probably because they love running water so much. I still help Matthias with his face and hands.
• Keep all food items in either the kitchen or dining room. The only exception to this rule is popcorn while watching movies (in our family room), but no other food is allowed outside the dining room area. Remember, all these habits are about lessening the amount of general cleaning that the parents need to do. Food crumbs are not only disgusting, but they invite ants in your lovely home. No, thank you. 
• Put their dirty clothes in the laundry. As opposed to, of course, on the floor. Floors are meant for walking on, not throwing your dirty laundry!
• Clean up their toys when they're finished playing. While the kids are young, their biggest messes will often consist of toys, but as they grow older, there will always be things that need cleaned up or organized. I figure if they learn to "clean up" now, it'll be so much easier to adjust to other, bigger "messes" when they're older!

And lastly (and one of my favorites)...

• If they're finished with something that they want to keep, they must find a place for it. If they're finished with something they don't want to keep (a used band-aid, perhaps?), they need to throw it away. 

Probably because I'm so familiar with the trash can, my kids love throwing things away, too. I have to be very specific when I hand something to them, so that they know to put in the "laundry" or the "sink" or their "drawer," and not in the trash. 

Why do these habits even matter? Because they all add up to a naturally tidier home. Of course you'll still have to clean, but it shouldn't be nearly as overwhelming... even if you have kids. 

As a great alternative to YOU cleaning your house, why not choose professional and qualified cleaners to clean your house FOR you? If you live in Melbourne, I'm happy to recommend Maid to Clean, an environmentally friendly, simple to use home cleaning service. Offering a 100% price back guarantee, plus a $20 discount for new customers, Maid to Clean is the home cleaning service you've been looking for! 

Our Master Bedroom Update

Now that we've been in our house for a year, it was time to update our master bedroom! A few years ago, I was very "into" blue and dark brown, and thus our bedroom looked like this...

As we worked in the other rooms of our house, making them modern and fresh-looking, I decided I wanted a completely new look for our bedroom. 

Bright. Clean. Lots of white and light gray. Flowers. I wanted our bedroom to be a refreshing place for Matt and me to retreat to at the end of each day!

We bought the comforter set first, a couple months ago, and that gave us the inspiration for how the rest of the room came together. 

Here is what our room looks like now!

Much of the changes you see here are because of paint. My sister Hannah was an angel and helped me for hours as we transformed this room from blue to white. 

We also painted the dressers (yes, these are the same dressers!), chair, headboard, and lamp base. Paint works magic on furniture that needs some updating! 

Source List for Master Bedroom:
Wall color: Valspar Ultra White
Furniture color: Valspar Polar Star 
Chair: Valspar spraypaint white
Headboard and lamp base color: Valspar spraypaint glossy gray
Bedding: Target
Extra pillows: TJ Maxx
Headboard: found on an online yard sale group
Dressers: handed down from my aunt and uncle
Dresser knobs: Lowe's
Curtains and curtain rods: Target
Chair: Goodwill
Chair cushion: Target
Sign: birthday gift from my sister (purchased from My Paper Nest)
Small potted plant: Michael's
Wire basket: Target
Lamp base: yard sale
Lampshade: Walmart
Alarm clock: Walmart
Hydrangea: Michael's
Mirror: handed down from my sister

For those interested in the cost breakdown of this bedroom update, here you go!

Primer + paint: $116
Bedding: $80
Pillows: $20
Headboard: $40
Dressers: $0
Dresser knobs: $55
Curtains and curtain rods: $109
Chair: $2
Chair cushion: $10
Sign: $0
Small potted plant: $5
Wire basket: $3
Lamp base: $5
Lamp shade: $8
Alarm clock: $15
Hydrangea: $20
Mirror: $0

Total cost: $488

Have a great weekend!

Don't Forget the Children

So I've been noticing something troubling in my life, and that is: sometimes I feel so busy, doing all sorts of "important" things, that I forget about my children.

Well, it's not that I forget about them exactly, but I forget how important they are.

It's really quite silly, if you think about it. I'm a stay-at-home-mom, for heavens' sakes. What possibly could I be doing with my time, if I'm not focusing on my kids?

But there are so many things that pull at our time--necessary things (like paying the bills), hobbies (painting walls blue just-for-fun), online friends (do we even know their last names?), trying to make a little "extra cash," that it's easy to become annoyed when our children pull on our time, our hands, our shirts... anything to get our attention.

Then we're snapped back to reality. "Oh yeah, we have KIDS!"

Okay, so I should clarify. Here's NOT what I'm saying: that every moment of every day needs to be 100% focused on your children. That the house can't be quiet for a couple hours every day, so you can concentrate on what ELSE needs to be done. That you can't have hobbies and interests outside of building blocks and dressing dolls and reading Thomas the Train. 

BUT. If you hear your baby crying, and your instant reaction is: "Again?! I'm trying to...!" or you see your son's messy hands, and you think, "Now I have to spend my valuable time washing him?" or a whole host of other ridiculous suggestions, we need to consider...

If we as mothers view our kids as distractions, as interruptions, as nuisances: What is it we are so busy doing anyway?

A Few of Our Favorite Books

Besides my Instagram feed, and the occasional article that pops up on Facebook, I really don't read that often. It's not that I don't have the time... it's just that I don't make it a priority. And I'd rather paint my floor in big checkerboard brown-and-white squares (more on that, coming soon!).

So yes, I'd say I read a book every few months.

Unless, of course, you're counting kids' books.

Because if you are, then I probably read a couple hours a day.

Seriously.

Reading is a huge part of our lives. 

We have Daddy reading time, kids' reading by themselves time, and lots and lots of Mommy reading time.

I love the fact that our kids are happy to sit down with a pile of books and just page through them, staring at the pictures! And they're happier still, when they're piled around me, one child in my lap, and we're reading story after story. 

As for our favorite books... we're constantly switching around which books we're reading, as the kids would love to read their "current favorite" a million times in a row, where I need a bit of variety, y'know?

We've enjoyed Thomas and the Big, Big Bridge (a favorite of Matthias's), Frog and Toad, Curious George, Mother Goose, all things Princess (Disney Princess stories, Barbie Princess, and "traditional" Princess tales), Caps for Sale, books about animals, Dr. Suess collections...

But I'd have to say my favorite books of all to read to the kids would be Little Golden Books. 

I especially love the "Classic" ones, such as Little Mommy, Doctor Dan, and the Little Red Caboose. After finding out that Baby #3 was a boy, I bought Daddies and The Fire Engine Book. So glad I did, as Matthias could hear these books on repeat!

As the girls are transitioning out of naps, their "quiet time" in the afternoon usually consists of "reading" in their rooms for a couple hours. This is a wonderful time of day--for both Mommy (who needs a couple hours of quiet!), and the girls. 

And as for my two-year-old... Reading to Matthias is one of the biggest ways I feel like I show him love. The older girls are memorizing addition facts and learning to write their letters, and that stage is so exciting for me that I can sometimes get caught up in educating them--and forget about the little boy toddling around, toolbox in hand, who needs just as much attention as they do.

So sometime, early in the morning, either before school or after school time, or both, I gather up a couple books and Matthias climbs in my lap, and we read. 

I love how bonding these moments are--and I know they are fleeting as well. It won't be long before the kids won't fit on my lap anymore, and they'll be able to read these stories to themselves! 

Until then, bring on the stories!

Batten Board in the Hallway!

Ever since seeing what John and Sherry (from Young House Love) did with the trim (i.e., batten board) in their hallway, I've been excited about that idea.

The project wasn't expensive (somewhere in the $60 range?), but it was very time-consuming. So many boards to paint, so much trim to measure and cut and nail to the wall.

But in the end, I think all that work was worth it! Batten board definitely transformed the hall from "blah" and boring to "WOW!"

You see the batten board as soon as you enter our house...

You can't really tell from the pictures (hello, camera photos!), but the hall is two [very similar] colors. We painted the upper portion Valspar Polar Star (it's a very, very light gray), and the bottom of the wall (including the boards) is Glossy White.

Rainy Saturday Morning + Our Numbered Stairs!

So... long story, but Matt's back to studying several hours a day, besides working full-time. It's a temporary situation, which will [hopefully] lead to many exciting changes for both him and our family! But at the same time, it's sometimes hard on our little family to have a daddy who's reading or working on the computer... and who isn't always available to play blocks or read The Bunny Book (Matthias could hear this book 10 times a day, without tiring of it!)

The weekends seem to be especially difficult. We all are feeling the end to a long week, and everyone (including Mom) can become irritable and frustrated.

I've found that often in this sort of situation, Mom + Kids need to find something different to do, or eat, or play, or watch. I'll pop popcorn, or make a microwave cake, or give the kids a shower...

 

"I can comb my hair ALL BY MYSELF."

 

 

No, seriously, we're all happier when we're clean! If our house had a bathtub, it'd be happening... but we don't, so showers it is.

 

My latest project was "born" out of needing something different to do. Which is why, one afternoon this past week, I numbered our stairs!

 

 

 

It was really very simple, and took me almost exactly two hours. I printed off numbers (made them in Microsoft Word!), taped them on the stairs, traced them, and then painted the numbers on in black paint. There was also a great deal of measuring involved. But we already had all the supplies, so the whole undertaking was FREE... and the kids were thrilled.

 

What little kid wouldn't want numbered stairs, right? Oh, and I'm also working on a painted checkerboard floor (directly below the numbers). Which is why the steps don't look perfect... still working, still working.

 

Why I Write Mothering "Advice" When I Haven't Figured it Out Myself Yet

There's a question I've been pondering recently, and that is: Why am I giving out advice, or writing "tips for busy moms," when I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing?

Because, seriously... My house isn't always stress-free. My laundry isn't always folded-and-put-away by lunch time. And I definitely do not always manage my time well.

I know you're all shocked.



Well... I don't have a perfect answer to this question, but I have a few thoughts.

First, I was very blessed to be raised by a mother who was hard-working, kind, and pretty much the queen of organization. My whole childhood, she was teaching me what she knew, and what she was good at--and what she had learned from her mother. So much of what I talk about here, I was raised with.

And secondly, I'm involved in several mommy-groups, and I listen to these ladies talk about being a mother, and raising their children, and keeping their home. Many of these young moms were not blessed to be raised in homes like mine, and I'm constantly hearing, "My house is a mess! HELP!" or "My kids won't stop screaming! What should I do?"

Then, there are "Once you are a mom" lines.

"You might be able to take a hot, interrupted shower now, but once you're a mom..."

"Maybe you can keep your floors clean now, but once you're a mom..."

"You like when the house is quiet? Ha! Enjoy it now, because once you're a mom..."

Whenever I hear either the honest cries for help, or the once-you're-a-mom assumptions, I always feel like raising my hand, and saying, "I have ideas!!"

Call me crazy, ladies, but I don't think your house has to be loud. Your house doesn't have to be messy. You can enjoy a hot shower every single morning, if you wish! Whether you have no kids, or 10 kids.

I'm learning, and I'm seeking to learn more. I don't want to accept the stereotypes of what a house with small children should look like.

I'd even dare to suggest, that [most days] you can have a clean house... with kids.

Keeping Up With Six People's Laundry [Without Feeling Overwhelmed]

You wanna hear some sarcasm?!There's nothing better than getting ready to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer, only to open the dryer and see cold, wrinkled clothes that you'd totally forgotten about.

There aren't too many sights more beautiful-to-the-eyes than your guest bed, covered in piles of unfolded clothes.

Yeah, wow. What about your laundry room floor, strewn with dirty clothes... like, everywhere?

First thing that comes to mind, is to whip out your phone, and start pinning these awe-inspiring images to Pinterest, am I right?!

Ahem.

No. Not a chance.

Here's more the feeling that overwhelms me when I see this: discouragement. Feeling like the laundry is a MONSTER, that I'm JUST TOO TIRED to keep fighting.

I was a little nervous about adding a fourth child's laundry to our "laundry situation"--especially since a baby goes through a good deal of clothing the first few months. It's small clothing, but still... clothing nevertheless that needs washed and put away.

But honestly, it hasn't been too bad. Really. I adopted a system of doing things, that seems to be working nicely. It's pretty simple, too, and the laundry is almost always done for the day by lunch time. At least, that's the goal!

So, here are my favorite tips for keeping the laundry under control...

Dirty laundry everywhere? No. Designated spots where dirty laundry is contained, until washing? HUGE HUGE HUGE YES.

We have two laundry baskets--one in the girls' room, and one in our master bedroom. The girls are pretty much in charge of putting all the KIDS' dirty laundry in their basket. So if I'm changing Matthias's jeans, Caroline's sleeper, you name it... the girls come and get it [immediately], and put it in their hamper. The girls are more than welcome to change their own clothes, or put on their nightgowns, etc., as long as they put their dirty clothes in their hamper right away. We have a strict "no dirty clothes on the floor" policy.

What about dirty towels and sheets? Blankets? This might sound silly, but when we have dirty towels/sheets/blankets, I throw them down the steps towards the laundry room, and then whenever anyone of us (including the girls) are going downstairs, we pick it up and place it right into the washer. That way, they're already there, ready to be washed, along with the clothes.

How much laundry is there? I mean, isn't there, like, a TON, with six people? Okaaay. Maybe there's a lot, but honestly, I think you'd be surprised how LITTLE there is, all things considered. And here's why: We only change clothes if they're actually dirty. Otherwise, we wear them a couple days in a row. If you know me personally, I'm a bit of a clean freak, so don't worry--if the clothes are actually dirty, they're getting changed. It's not like I have dirty kids running around. And this system works VERY well in the winter time (when they're primarily playing inside), as opposed to summer days (when they're getting dirty and sweaty, having fun outside).

As for pajamas, the kids don't wear them every night. It's kind of like a special treat, though the girls are wearing them more often now, since they can dress themselves. But it'll take SEVERAL wearings of pajamas before I proclaim them needing-to-be-laundered.

I don't know how much this ACTUALLY plays into LESS LAUNDRY, but my kids' outfits are pretty simple, meaning they don't have a ton of clothes to begin with. The girls wear shirts, skirts, and leggings every day, Matthias wears a shirt and jeans, and Caroline's favorite outfit is still cuddly sleepers. ;)

The girls can mix-and-match the pieces in their outfits a lot, so that it appears that they're wearing different outfits, but really... we're working with the same basic pieces. :)

Oh! Oh! I want to talk about socks. I'm just a wee bit passinate about socks. ;) I buy ALL the kids' socks from Old Navy--every time. I try to buy cool designs--so Matthias has orange fox socks, gray and black raccoon socks, striped or plaid socks, etc.

Similarly, the girls have pink, polka-dotted, purple, striped, and so on. Not white, which get stained easily (not a fan of stains over here). When the socks are very colorful/specific (who could accidentally match an orange fox sock with a purple polka-dotted one?!), then it's easy to match them up, and tell whose are whose.

And by the way, the girls wear the same size socks, which makes it awesome. Old Navy had a 5 pairs for $5, so I bought five pairs, and the girls share them.

Once they're dirty, they get put in the wash. While folding clothes, all the socks get thrown a pile, where they are then matched up and distributed.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Each day, right after breakfast, the girls dump the two laundry baskets together, and I carry it down the stairs and start the wash. In this season of life, it's all one load, folks. No sorting. (But that's just based on our preference!)

[[our laundry room]]



An hour or so later, I go BACK downstairs, and switch the wash into the dryer. Then an hour after that, the laundry is dried and ready.

Woo-hoo! Excitement, excitement. Clean, warm laundry!!

And then what happens??? The girls open the dryer, pull out all the kids' stuff, and distribute it. We're still working on the folding aspect. Right now, each child has a dresser, with certain drawers designated to hold different pieces of clothing, and the girls deliver the clothes to each drawer accordingly.

Then, whenever I get around to it, I'm "in charge" of the adult clothing--which, considering we're doing a load every day, it isn't that much stuff.

As for towels and rags... I fold them, and the girls put them away.

What about all the bedding? Extra for an extra crib sheet, we don't have any extra sheets. So if I strip the bed (or beds) in the morning, I try to have the bed made up again by the time it's needed for naps/night time.

All this being said, my biggest tip for laundry (especially the distributing part) would be...

Just Do It.

Same with cleaning the bathrooms, wiping the floors, doing the dishes. Sometimes, it'll never seem easy, and you'll never FEEL like folding, even if it's a small pile.

So just start working on it, and little by little, you'll soon see your hard work pay off!

No more piles?! Hurray! Definitely a cause for celebrating.