How to Keep Your Home Clean (even with kids around!) Part 1
Growing up my mom had a framed print that said, ‘Please excuse the mess – we live here’. She was raising three kids so plenty of living and mess making happened in her home.
Almost all of us, especially those of us with young children, struggle to keep our home clean. It takes time, effort and energy and those are all precious and scarce resources.
It does take work to keep a home bustling with activity in an orderly state but it doesn’t have to take a lot.
With a few simple strategies and healthy ways of thinking about our homes, we can keep them in an orderly state and keep our focus on our families, instead of scrub brushes and vacuums.
Set reasonable standards
Don’t you just hate those people who can keep their house perfectly clean and organized, looking like it belongs in a magazine all while their multiple young children paint at the table without making the smallest mess?
I don’t know anyone like that either.
A home is full of life, which means it will get messy. The best thing we can do is set reasonable standards for how clean your home should be.
That standard will be different for different people (it’s definitely different for my husband and I!) but the important thing is to decide what level of cleanliness works best for your family. It should be a level you can maintain without it adding extra stress, or worse, guilt.
Cut the clutter
The more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to manage and clean. This doesn’t mean your home has to be spartan and bare; it means carefully deciding what you allow into your home. I love this quote by William Morris:
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
I just got up to refill my tea and noticed that our phone bill came with about four extra pieces of paper. They immediately went into the recycling. By keeping clutter to a minimum we are free to focus on what really matters, rather than sifting through a bunch of junk to get to the good stuff.
The last thing any of us wants to do after a long, busy day chasing kids, managing a home, and juggling a million other responsibilities is put away all the things.
So, if you have to step over a pair of shoes, take them with you and put them in the closet. If the dishwasher is empty, put your dishes in it and not on the counter. Pick up the dirty clothes on the floor and put them in the hamper.
These things take seconds, literally seconds, to do and having them done adds up in exponential ways.
Putting things away as you go makes the task of cleaning less like a mountain and more like a mole hill. It suddenly becomes doable.
Set aside quick cleaning times throughout the day
Similar to putting things away as you go, setting aside times for a quick clean can make a big difference.
How many quick cleans you do and how long they are depends on your schedule and how much time you spend at home. But even ten minutes during the day will make the cleaning load at the end of the day lighter.
I’m at home with my two kids so I do one quick clean after each meal, usually 5-20 minutes each time. This keeps our home relatively tidy and our evenings are free to spend time together, which is what I really want to do.
Start and finish laundry in one day
Laundry is the bane of many moms’ existence. It’s never-ending and requires a lot of discipline to stay on top of it.
There’s lots of laundry systems out there so find one that works for you. But here’s the key to staying on top of laundry no matter your routine: don’t leave laundry unfinished. Whether you wash one load a day or save it all up and do multiple loads in a day, the key is to wash, dry and put away in the same day.
Unfolded laundry is very good at mocking us from its basket and the best way to quiet the beast is to not let it sit around.
Beth has some fabulous and unconventional tips for how to stop being overwhelmed by laundry. This post shows you how to detox your laundry routine from the toxic chemicals found in conventional products.
Come back Monday to read Part 2 and get more home cleaning tips and encouragement!
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
How To Increase and Decrease Breastmilk Production With Herbs It never fails… as soon as my babies hit the 12 month mark, I start longing for a newborn in the house again.
Oh the joys of a newborn baby!
So small and soft, with quiet grunts and cries, totally helpless and in need of their mamas. I love it!
Not that it doesn’t have its obstacles of course. Pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the first 2-3 weeks of breastfeeding are seriously intense, but after all of that, there’s this sweet, tiny gift that needs you for everything in order to survive.
The Newest Visser
One of my sisters-in-law recently had a baby. A boy. His name is Lincoln, and he’s so handsome. So far all of us Visser ladies have had boys first… must be something in the water here in northeast Tennessee.
Anyway, he’s almost a month old now, and when my sister-in-law gave birth to him, he swallowed a bit too much amniotic fluid and had to be taken away from mama and daddy to be kept in the newborn nursery all night so his O2 sat could be monitored. They kept him there until the pediatrician made his rounds in the morning then brought him back to his eagerly awaiting parents… 11 hours after his birth. I won’t even share my thoughts on that… it’s not my place.
Getting Started Breastfeeding
No matter, my sister-in-law had a difficult time getting started with breastfeeding… as most first time mothers do. I know I did! And seeing as how there was a delay in nursing him, the hospital staff had her pump in order to get her breast milk supply established.
Now, if you’ve had babies you know that the first milk your body produces is colostrum which is a super-nutritious, high calorie milk (more like cream), and you know there is very little of it. You probably also know that this is enough to keep baby satisfied when fed every 2 hours or so until the breast milk actually comes in because a brand new baby’s stomach is so small.
First time mamas can struggle with this. I know I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t believe that my baby was getting anything! I was so eager for my milk to come in so my kid could actually eat! I suppose my sister-in-law had similar feelings and she wanted to get some more help getting her milk to come in. Another sister-in-law suggested some mama’s milk tea, and called to ask if I’d bring her some.
Seeing as how I too am still nursing 9 month old Ezrah, I have my own mama’s milk tea that I blend and drink for myself. Unfortunately, I was out of fillable tea bags (BHS link), and I knew I needed something that was simple and easy for her to use… she’s not really into natural things so simple is good. I didn’t want to overwhelm her, right?
I decided to stop at the local Earthfare to get her some Earth Mama Angel Baby: Mama’s Milk tea, but they were out of that too. Thankfully they had Motherlove products in stock! I ended up getting her the More Milk Tincture (super easy to take), Nipple Balm, Diaper Rash & Thrush cream, and some EMAB Mama’s Bottom Spray… all great things to have for after delivery… especially if you’re not into making your own homemade products!
She used the More Milk tincture as directed and voila! Her milk came in. Now… most times you don’t need mama’s milk tea/tincture in order for your milk to come in. God designed your body to do that on its own; however, these herbal formulas can help to increase your milk supply and make it more nutritional which is what I want to talk about today.
Herbs That Increase Breastmilk Production
Herbs that increase breast milk production are called galactagogues, and they have been used for hundreds (if not thousands) of years by nursing mothers and midwives to increase breast milk production.
You can use these herbs as simples (single herb) or use them in combination with nutritive herbs which will not only increase milk supply but make mother’s milk more nutritional for baby as well.
These herbs commonly don’t have any side effects and if they do, they are mild. (See #4 in this post on herbal safety for more info about side effects from herbs.) The biggest concern is using too large of a dose which can lead to unwanted effects as is the case with anything. However, this is most common when women take these herbs in capsule form rather than as teas or tinctures since it’s more difficult to judge how much herb is actually being taken by capsules. Your best bet is to have a recommended dosage in mind when taking these herbs. Start slow with low doses and work your way up until you get the results you’re looking for and stay there. If you experience side effects, slowly decrease the dose and/or switch to a different herb.
Another common concern is wondering whether these herbs actually work or not. Seeing as how there aren’t many research studies done on these herbs (they’re mostly done on prescription galactagogues) there is minimal evidence that proves these herbs work. In studies that have been done, an increase in milk production has been seen, but there always seems to be something wrong with the study that negates its results. Go figure. So until more studies are done on these herbs, correctly I might add, we’ll just have to take our ancestors at their word and try it out to see if we get the same results.
Below are 10 herbs that help increase breast milk production. I should say that there are a lot of herbs recommended to aid in increasing breastmilk production. The ones included below are not the common nutritional herbs like alfalfa, red raspberry, and nettle which can also stimulate breastmilk production.
Herbs That Decrease Breastmilk Production
On the other side of the coin are herbs called antilactagogues, and these herbs are known to decrease milk production. The two most well-known herbs to use when a mama wants to decrease her milk supply to the point of drying it up completely are sage and parsley; however, herbs in the mint family or those high in volatile oil content have been know to decrease milk production in some mamas. I’m not sure that these minty herbs like peppermint, rosemary, and thyme will dry breastmilk up completely, but it is a good thing to keep this in mind.
Like I said earlier, I’m still nursing Ezrah, who is 9 months old now, and I make my own mama’s milk blend using common herbs that I keep on hand. I formulated this blend when I was nursing my third child after trying some other milk blends in tea form and not caring for the taste all that much.
You see, I really don’t like the taste of fennel. There’s something about it that I just can’t handle. It has a bit of a licorice flavor, and although I don’t mind the flavor of licorice root or anise seed (licorice/vanilla-like), I just can’t stand the taste of fennel. I don’t know what it is about it! Anyway, the majority of mama’s milk blends are high in fennel because it’s an excellent galactagogue, but seeing as how I don’t like the taste, I knew I needed to find a way to use it while masking its flavor more.
I decided to make my own blend, and today I’d like to share that recipe with you.
This recipe does contain fennel (seeing as how it’s great at boosting milk production), but I’ve added some warming spices to the mix to mask its flavor a bit and because they act as catalysts to the other herbs, helping the body use their properties better. I almost always make this as a tincture, but it tastes great as a tea too! You can also substitute in the other herbs listed above if you’d like. Enjoy!
To use for tea, boil 8 oz. of pure water and pour over 1 TBSP. of mama’s milk herb blend. Let steep 15 minutes. Strain herbs and sweeten as desired. Drink 2-3 cups a day.
To use as tincture (1:4 ratio / 40% alcohol), start with 20 drops 4 times a day. If production hasn’t increased after 3-4 days, increase dose in 10 drop increments every 2 days. Dosages exceeding 60 drops isn’t recommended.
Now it’s your turn! Have you used herbs to increase or decrease your breastmilk supply? How’d it go? What did you take, how much, how often, and how’d it work for you? Tell me in the comments below. I love hearing your stories!
REFERENCES:
Original article and pictures take www.growingupherbal.com site
How To Improve Your C-Section Infant’s Microbiome How To Improve Your C-Section Infant's Microbiome
Find out how to improve your c-section infant’s microbiome with a new technique. Now we have a way to correct this important health issue right at birth.
We know that babies born by C-section have less diversity in their microbiome as a result of lack of exposure to the mother’s vaginal flora.
What started as an educated assumption, has now been verified by research. A new study out of New York University, headed by Dominguez-Bello MG, et al, in collaboration with several other U.S.-based groups including Dr. Rob Knight, published in Nature medicine, has shown a benefit to newborns born by C-section, who are swabbed with their mother’s birth fluid.
Mother’s Birth Fluid Contains Beneficial bacteria
Babies born by vaginal birth pick up the mother’s microbiota and this begins the seeding of their own microbiome. C-section babies do not go through the birth canal and so are not exposed to these microbes.
We know that many immune diseases are now associated with imbalances in the gut bacteria and this can start at birth. Conditions such as asthma, allergies, autoimmunity, obesity and autism can start with disruption of the microbiome.
Up to 1/3 of babies born today are born via C-section (much of the time this is not necessary). Sadly, these babies are being set up for immune disorders and chronic conditions, as C-section delivery has been associated with increased risk for immune and metabolic disorders.
In this study, researchers swabbed the mouth of infants with a gauze previously placed in the women’s vaginas. They found that the babies born vaginally and those babies who received the swabbing had increased levels of beneficial bacteria, including lactobacillus and bacteroides in the gut, oral and skin bacterial communities.
The C-section babies that were treated with the swabbing were compared to other C-section babies who were not treated and these unexposed babies’ bacteria were found to be “underrepresented.”
This study is a pilot study and the researchers end with the statement that more studies are needed to confirm the findings. They further conclude that,
Although the long-term health consequences of restoring the microbiota of C-section-delivered infants remain unclear, our results demonstrate that vaginal microbes can be partially restored at birth in C-section-delivered babies.
This idea was originally introduced by Dr. Rob Knight, one of the top researchers in the microbiome today. He actually had an emergency C-section baby in 2012. Knowing what he knows about the critical importance of the microbiome starting from birth – he and his wife took it upon themselves to swab their baby with the mother’s vaginal fluids.
He then wanted to investigate with the scientific community if this, in fact, improved the microbiome of C-section babies.
Infants Receive Beneficial Bacteria via Vaginal Birth
Vaginal births expose babies with a coating of vaginal and fecal bacteria. While it may take some getting used to – this coating protects them from harmful bacteria that cause illness.
Birth is the starting point of colonization of the baby’s microbiome from the mother. Breastfeeding is another way babies get mother’s microbes.
Interestingly, the baby’s guts are colonized by bacteria that help the baby to digest milk and educate its developing immune system as to what is self and what is foreign. This allows for a normally developing immune system.
In contrast, babies born by C-section pick up the skin bacteria (different from vagina and gut) from anyone around them including medical staff and hospital bacteria such as Clostridium difficile (C.diff) and Pseudomonas (not good).
It appears that C-section babies are more prone to infections in the first weeks of life. Additionally C-section babies are at increased risk of developing allergies and autoimmune diseases, and becoming overweight.
We need to prevent this insufficient start in life for these babies.
Just think, after a few more confirmation studies, we could see vaginal swabbing initiated as a standard procedure in hospitals to ensure the critical inheritance of beneficial microbes that come with natural birth.
Or, until then, you could do this on your own when the doctors leave the room.
What would you do if you have to have a C-section birth? Leave a comment and let me know!
If you are as fascinated by the new research on the microbiome and how that affects your health and the health of your family, you may be interested in a diet that supports your microbiome!
Start now.
Start by receiving my Getting Started series to start you real food journey! Get them here!
How To Hold a Clothing Swap Clothing budgets are being stretched very thin these days for many.
Getting quality clothing at an affordable price is sometimes a challenge. Besides the yard sales, thrift stores, and hand me downs, holding a clothing swap is a great way to clothe your family for little to nothing.
To start your own clothing swap, all you need are clothes and friends. Got them? Let’s do this, then!
Step 1
Gather your friends together and decide on a few rules. Will it just be your group, or will it be open to the public? How many items will you bring in for each item traded? Will you do a straight 1:1 trade or do you want 3 items brought in for each item taken? Will 1 pair of jeans be good for 2 shirts, or do you want 3 pairs of shorts for a coat? Will you use coupons, tickets, or the honor system to keep track? Who will set up and who will clean up? What will constitute a stain, or excessive wear and tear on clothing? Who is the final judge? What will you do with any leftovers?
Step 2
Find and decide on a location and a day to hold your swap. Churches, personal homes, or even a park pavillion in good weather are great choices. (check with your parks and rec dept on rules using the pavillions, first). You want to hold your swap at a time convenient for most of those involved, obviously. You’ll need space for tables or a clothesline to hang up clothes as well as room for people to “shop”.
Step 3
Gather the clothing. Separate it out into sizes, seasons, and types. Sweaters and coats in one area, shorts and tank tops in another. Check for stains, wear and tear according to rules you set up earlier. Ensure that each participant gets their tickets or coupons to shop, if that is part of your rules. Fold or hang clothing neatly. Have fun with your friends while doing this…maybe add some coffee and a treat or two while setting up!
Step 4
SHOP! Decide who goes first, and who will run the ticket collection area first. If you have this open to the public, and others will be bringing clothing at different times, have someone available to check them in as well. Make sure that newcomers understand your group rules, and agree to abide by them. Make sure that you have some bags or boxes available for others to take items home in as well. Have fun getting some new-to-you clothing for you and your family for free! That outgrown coat of your daughters will be put to great use on another girl, while she is enjoying a “new” pair of jeans.
Step 5
Clean up. This is the the most “unfun” part. But, since you decided in advance who would set up and clean up, this won’t be difficult. You’ve already decided what to do with leftovers, so if they are to be donated, make sure that someone is responsible for that, and that tables are put away and the home, church space or park are just as clean as when you arrived…of course you knew that already! Talk about the swap with other participants while you clean up, and figure out what worked and what didn’t work so well. Was it enough time for shopping? Did you have enough participants? Do you need to advertise more next time? This will help you get ready for your next one!
Have you ever had a clothing swap? What was your experience with it? Be sure to pin this for later!
Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site
How to Help Your Fussy Toddler Who Won't Eat Vegetables
Feeding Your Toddler Cheat Sheet and Food Diary
Feed your Toddler a Healthy Diet with Confidence.
Join more than 1520 parents who are confident feeding their toddlers a healthy diet because they are in Dr Orlena's community. Be the first to hear about new classes, courses and products.
Feeding toddlers can be really frustrating for parents, especially if you want your kids to eat a healthy diet. Today both of my toddlers seem to have forgotten that they love vegetables. They have turned into toddlers who won't eat. They have turned into toddlers who won't eat vegetables and will lie on the floor shouting and screaming about how "they don't really fancy vegetables today". Ha! This is not so unusual, but it does make me want to run to the hills and hide in a dark, sound proof cave.
Tonight it is vegetable curry that the toddlers have forgotten that they like.
Normal Toddler Behaviour
Life with toddlers can be tough in so many ways, especially when they won’t eat. It is difficult for them as well as parents. They are transitioning from ‘baby’ to ‘big boy or girl’ and they have SO much to learn, especially rules, communication and language skills. It’s difficult for everyone and on top of that, their eating habits change and suddenly you have a toddler who won’t eat.
They change from ‘baby who eats everything’ to toddler who shouts “NO!” and shoves their plates away. Cups, plates, forks, spoons go flying whilst parents silently (or not so silently) scream in exasperation.
This is normal toddler behaviour. It is frustrating but normal.
Toddlers can be irritating, but you can still feed them healthy food. You can still start to teach them healthy eating habits.
Help Your Toddler Eat a Healthy
Be Patient. I know it’s difficult to stay calm in the face of a screaming toddler but remember you are not alone. All toddlers scream and shout. That is normal.
Keep presenting new and healthy food. It takes time for children to accept a new food. The first time they see it, they probably won’t like it. You just need to keep presenting it. (The norm is 10-15 times but some children take longer.)
Toddlers tastes can change. My oldest used to love bananas. He’s nearly 7 now and won’t touch them. He can smell them in anything. He truly doesn’t like them now.
Let them feed themselves. I know it’s frustrating and messy but exploring food is a great way for them to learn about the food and to learn how to feed themselves. If they ask for a bit of help that’s fine too.
Don’t pressure them. Toddlers, like most people, don’t like to be told what to do. It will only serve to make them more stubborn. (There is lots of evidence that pressurising children to eat has adverse affects.)
Don’t bribe them. You can have pudding when you’ve eaten your peas? Let’s face it, it’s just pressurising them in disguise.
Learn to trust them. You choose what to offer them. They choose what to eat. When you trust them it’s much easier.
Toddlers appetites can be erratic. 4 weetabix for breakfast one day, 1 strawberry the next. Or only veggies one day and carbs and protein the next. As long as you offer them healthy food it doesn’t matter.
Offer variety. Research shows that the more variety you offer, the more variety they’ll eat.
Prepare them. Get them used to the idea of strange foods before they are presented with them. Seeing them in books, playing with toy vegetables or the actual food (not at the dinner table) are all great ways to introduce them to foods so that when they see them on the plate they won’t be so strange.
Help them. Sometimes, toddlers want to do things ALL BY THEMSELVES. Sometimes they want a cuddle and a bit of help. It's fine to help them if they are asking for help. Of course they need to learn a knife and fork but it's a balancing act. You don't need to help them all the time.
Toddlers Can Learn Healthy Eating Habits
It may be challenging feeding your toddler a healthy diet but you can start to lay the foundations of healthy eating habits at this really young age. Research shows that eating habits can start as young as 3.
Keep presenting them with healthy food and they will learn to love it. Of course they won’t like everything and they’ll still love treats but that’s fine. Treats are allowed. Just remember to keep them as treats and not as snack.
Toddler Remembers That Vegetables Aren't So BAD
I hold Sebastian's hand to comfort him. We start with a little bit of rice that he loves. Suddenly he finds a bit of carrot too. Oh yum. Before I know it, he's grabbed his fork out of my hand and is busy wolfing down his vegetable curry. "My like curry!" He says.
I smile. I know how frustrating toddlers are. If only I could explain that to him when he was screaming. I know he's can't listen to reason when his flight or fight response is triggered. He's too busy being chased by a big bear.
I clear the table away. All empty bowls, not a scrap left anywhere. (Galen picked out his eggplant but Celeste ate them for him.) Children, especially toddlers will always try our patience. But it is precisely patience and persistence that are the keys to teaching our children healthy eating habits.
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Feeding Your Toddler Cheat Sheet and Food Diary
Feed your Toddler a Healthy Diet with Confidence.
Join more than 1520 parents who are confident feeding their toddlers a healthy diet because they are in Dr Orlena's community. Be the first to hear about new classes, courses and products.
Original article and pictures take snotty-noses.com site
This post is part of the Breast-Kept Secrets: Breastfeeding Advice from One Mom to Another series. Go back and read all posts here.
This post was originally published August 28, 2011.
The first breastfeeding challenge I ever faced was opposition. Some of my family didn’t understand why I wanted to breastfeed. Most everyone else in the family had formula fed their babies for years.
Why would I choose a different path?
Even at my first baby shower, a well-meaning family member told me: “You can never breastfeed. Your breasts are too small.”
Another aunt chimed in: “What are you going to do? You know nothing about babies.”
Here are 5 things I’ve learned about how to handle opposition to breastfeeding:
1. Know WHY you want to breastfeed and be determined that no one will sway you with discouragement.
Remember your goals.If you are determined to stay the course despite opposition, you will be more likely to succeed.
2. Surround yourself with breastfeeding friends.
You will need the support. This could be in-person or online friends–wherever you can find each other!
3. Arm yourself with knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding
…but be careful how you share them. When a family member questioned our reasoning for breastfeeding, my husband sent them an e-mail with a link to KellyMom.com. Well, this family member forwarded the e-mail to another family member who was currently formula feeding. The formula-feeding mom was sorely offended.
Be careful how and with whom you share. Relationships are more important than proving a point!
3. Respect their choices as well.
You may know breast is best for your family, but don’t preach at others who are formula feeding. I am a huge breastfeeding advocate, but we need not judge when others don’t take our same path.
How to Get Your Family on Board with Simple Living
Maybe simple living is YOUR dream…but your family’s not quite on board, yet? This post is for you! With a bit of forethought and a solid commitment to how you handle yourself, you can help change the way your entire family views possessions.
Please welcome my friend Bobbi to the blog today! I love Bobbi’s instructional, motivational writing. Read her blog and you’ll find yourself thinking deeply about sustainable fashion, homesteading, seasonal rhythms, and all sorts of other stewardship topics. I hope you’ll be inspired by her guest post today on getting your family on board with a simplified lifestyle!
A simpler life is often a happier one, especially with a family. Getting kids and a significant other into the same mindset, however, can be a bit of a challenge! That doesn’t make it an impossible task, however. With a bit of forethought and a solid commitment to how you handle yourself, you can help change the way your entire family views possessions.
Start With Yourself
Leading by example is the most powerful tool any parent has in their arsenal, for literally everything. Leading a simplified lifestyle is no different, so start by making your own life simpler.
The first thing you can teach your family is that it’s okay to simply be.Make a time to set down your electronics, turn everything off and just engage with them. With teenagers, that might mean they don’t respond at all, but the gesture is still important. Start to get rid of your own belongings first, and learn how to walk through a store without buying a single thing.
Make It Fun
Kids don’t want to do anything unless they think it’s fun. It doesn’t have to actually be fun for you, so long as the kids think it is. Silly songs and explanations go a long way with kids. Songs might not make quite as big an impact with your partner, but it certainly can’t help!
It’s also important to realize that not every part of transitioning to a simpler lifestyle will be fun, and that’s okay! Let kids (and adults) feel their own way through without diminishing their feelings, but create fun and joy in the job wherever you can.
Embrace the Small Things
Small changes can make a big difference. You don’t have to start by getting rid of every superfluous piece of clothing or electronic device in your home. Start with little things, since that will help to make the transition easier for everyone.
Make dinner, or half an hour after dinner, a “family only” time. That means no electronics, no sorting or organizing mail and no adult-only discussions. Make this a simple time when the entire family puts aside whatever is bothering them and makes an effort to engage one another with joy. This is actually practiced in other areas of the world, particularly in Denmark, where it’s called “hygge.” Hygge is designed as a cozy family time, and we could all use a bit more of it!
Say “Yes” to What’s Important
Simplified living doesn’t mean you have to live a totally austere lifestyle. A solid understanding of what’s important to each person can help you create a life where the only things you have are ones that bring joy. Choosing things carefully, with love and care, can make the difference between having “stuff” and having items you truly love.
After all, every home will need some basics. Take the time to choose items carefully, and pick ones that will last. After all, 91% of customers claim that durability and quality are vital in choosing furniture. Don’t depend on mass-produced items to fit perfectly into your home.
Show Generosity
Creating a sharing mindset can drastically alter the way a family operates and views belongings. Again, starting with yourself is important. Be generous with your things, but also with your time. When you’re with your family, be with them fully, and engage them consistently. Share food, joy and love more than you share things, because that’s what really helps build long-lasting relationships.
Studies have shown that the best way to feel richer is to give away what you have. Engage the rest of the family with donations. Instead of dropping things off at an unmanned donation center, take the family down to a homeless shelter and let them see how much their old things can change the life of someone with less. Let your kids see what generosity does when you can touch it, and they’ll grow up realizing how lucky they are.
They can also get the benefit of a much wider world, realizing that people and experiences exist that are far outside of their own.
Buy Experiences, Not Things
There are more things in the world than you could ever possibly buy, and you’ll adapt quickly to the ones you do. Possessions tend to fade into the background, and become just more visual white noise.
Experiences, on the other hand, remain as memories. You don’t see or think of them daily, so when you do notice the pictures or see an advertisement for somewhere you went, you get the flashbacks of a memory, and with it, the joy. For this reason, experiences make you happier than things, and will continue to do so in the long term.
Make Them Part of It
Children are especially prone to feeling like they have no control over things, and this would only be amplified if they come back from an outing to find their possessions gone. Include them in everything. This might be hard, especially if they’re toddlers, but you can still work with them instead of against them. Bring your family into it, and let them choose how they participate. It’s fine to make participation mandatory, but giving them choices is still important.
Making a lifestyle change — any lifestyle change — is often fraught with challenges. However, if you’re convinced that it’s worth it, your family will soon join in. Parents are the primary shapers of how children think, and they’re the main source of comfort and influence for each other. Work together, and you can accomplish anything!
Bobbi Peterson loves writing and regularly posts on her blog Living Life Green. She’s also a freelance writer, green living advocate and environmentalist. You can find more from Bobbi on Twitter.
Original article and pictures take richlyrooted.com site
