After year one of home schooling we concluded that it was working for
us. We decided we would continue down
this path for the next few years we arranged our home to suit our schooling needs. We turned the dining room into the home
school room and the adjoining formal living room into a toy room. I love it!
Decluttering our toy room and home school room was easy for me. I have tried to keep these rooms organized in
a way that the kids can pick it up without me at the end of the day. (Any advice you have on Legos is appreciated. I had a system for Legos, but our collection
seems to breed like rabbits. We have out grown it.)
I tossed all the “dollar bin” like toys that have
accumulated over the past few months. Broken
crayons and full coloring books also found the trash can. I thinned out some of our favorite toys just
because it is summer and we aren’t playing inside as much. We can get them out again when we need
them.
Those decisions weren’t hard for me at all, but I love
puzzles, books and games. I try to
assure myself that Goodwill will find a good home for them. They are good but just haven’t won their way
into the hearts of my children. I see
the money that was spent by me or others who love my kids, and it is hard not
to feel like that money was wasted. I
don’t like waste. I constantly have to
remind myself that while these things are good they were intended to bless
us. If they aren’t blessing my family they
need to go.
The other pill have to swallow is my pride. I have limitations on how much stuff (both
physical and mental) I can manage. I see
it as a juggling act. If God gave me the
ability to juggle 5 balls at a time it does me and my family no good to try to juggle 6. I want to do it all, and instead I end up
doing many things poorly. I am I work in
progress.
Where to go from here…I think that the kitchen is
next on my list. I am not looking
forward to that one! I know that there
is a lot of work to be done. It will
feel good when I am done, right?
It is time to share what you have been working on
this week! I look forward to this every
week! Please let us know what simple move your are making toward healthy living in your home. Link up your blog post, or just leave a comment. Then take time to be inspired from other's link ups and comments.
Please read through the rules for those participating, and thanks for your participation.
1) No linking to giveaways or promotions for affiliates or sponsors. Give aways and promos are great, but they expire. I will delete giveaway links or promotional links.
2) Keep things simple and healthy. Avoid recipes with "cream of x soup," processed cheese or corn syrup. Crafts are cool, but unless they help organize or simplify please don't link them.
3) Link back to SimplyMadeHome.This is common blog party courtesy. It also helps build the community of encouragement. Check out other’s posts and leave a comment! It is fun to hear from others.
How to link up to your post? Read below.
Using the Mr. Linky, link back to your specific post, not just your blog.
Example of Format
Your Name: Tara @ SimplyMadeHome (Simple Vinegar Switches)
Your Link: http://simplymadehome.blogspot.com/2012/03/simple-vinegar-switches.html
This post is linked at http://www.raisingarrows.net/ and http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/
Please read through the rules for those participating, and thanks for your participation.
1) No linking to giveaways or promotions for affiliates or sponsors. Give aways and promos are great, but they expire. I will delete giveaway links or promotional links.
2) Keep things simple and healthy. Avoid recipes with "cream of x soup," processed cheese or corn syrup. Crafts are cool, but unless they help organize or simplify please don't link them.
3) Link back to SimplyMadeHome.This is common blog party courtesy. It also helps build the community of encouragement. Check out other’s posts and leave a comment! It is fun to hear from others.
How to link up to your post? Read below.
Using the Mr. Linky, link back to your specific post, not just your blog.
Example of Format
Your Name: Tara @ SimplyMadeHome (Simple Vinegar Switches)
Your Link: http://simplymadehome.blogspot.com/2012/03/simple-vinegar-switches.html
This post is linked at http://www.raisingarrows.net/ and http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/
Sometimes simplifying and getting rid of things is very needed. I think you hit it head on with the juggling example. We can make our load heavier than God intended sometimes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. I am glad that the juggling analogy made sense. Sometimes things are better in my head than written!
DeleteWe are a society overrun with stuff. Both my husband and I come from families that keep alot of stuff. We are trying to simplify and keep our stuff under control. I find it easier with less stuff. For the Legos I heard a great Idea. I have not tried it because we are not quite to that stage yet, but I am sure it is coming soon.
ReplyDeleteLay a sheet out on the floor, Make a rule that the leggos stay on this sheet. When the kids are done playing pull up the corners of the sheet and toss the whole thing into a bin dedicated to legos. Snap on the lid and away you go. Sound easy enough. The hardest part will be enforcing the rule of stay on the sheet. At our house my oldest is bossy. If I got it in his head he would be sure to enforce the rules. He would make sure that everyone who comes to play legos would know the rules before they begin.
I have seen something online called Lay-n-go that is a similar idea. If I could so I would try to make one!
DeleteI am also a first born rule follower! I can relate to his desire to enforce the rules! We have a daughter that we think would make a great police officer!
So true - trying to juggle more than we've been given the ability to never works! Whenever I try to do too much, it always leads to more stress and I usually end up not accomplishing anything as well as I had intended to.
ReplyDeleteGreat article, Thanks for sharing such wonderful content.
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