Every newspaper headline for the last month has been predicting an economic recession, a market downturn, loss of jobs, downturn of the housing market, increased debt...
It's enough send any parent (or business owner!) into a tailspin.
I for one, try and focus on simplifying our kids life. I said this to my best friend who laughed and said, "Vicki, how much simpler can your life get?! You have no cell phone, no television, no Wii, no digital games...you can't go back to living the life of Little House on the Prairie!"
Of course, I know this. Yet, it feels that we live in constant need of more, new and improved. So maybe a recession could help us refocus on things of real value and cost nothing.
Like spending more time with our kids and having family dinners instead of going out to dinner, signing up for fewer after school activities, buying fewer and classic toys etc. For some reason this appeals to me.
What about you?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Is living a simpler life possible?
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6 comments:
I feel like I could have typed this entry myself! And I have to laugh because I just spent this morning trying to imagine how to pull off a "Little House" birthday party for my daughter next month--and how to make it fit in with my urge to simplify (i.e. do I really need to invite all the girls in the class, can't we just have 5 or 6 guests?).
My older daughter (she's 7) is learning about Jamie Lynn Spears from classmates, and I'm none too pleased. I've blocked the Disney Channel, and we're watching more PBS, though I'd rather we not watch as much.
I think it's a continuous process, trying to "simplify." This year, I'm trying to develop a habit of buying less and learning to be happy with what we have--because we really have enough. All we really need is each other!
This is a topic that has been on my mind lately. We don't have cell phones, credit cards or cable, but I still feel the need to simplify more and more. Commercialism just seeps in, even at the library where my kids gravitate toward magazines and movies more so than books. I like the phrase about simplifying our children's lives too.
Your photos are darling. I think a simple life would be great but it's hard to fit into the world. I must have a cell phone--actually my daughter must have one so I can get in touch with her. I used to think they were a tool of vain people, now it's a necessity.
But, family dinners, playing games together, no TV. All that sounds like Utopia and your kids will grow up close and happy. More power to you.
I agree. I am afraid that by the time my girls are in school they will be asking for iPod and laptops...scares me a bit.
I live for the simple life. Everything I do, I do it homemade or do it myself. I even homeschool the kids. LOL
I'm pretty close to "Little House On The Prairie" myself.
Excellent post to get people thinking about things differently.
What a beautiful play area for your daughter! Wow!
We're going to sound like a bunch of Cosby's soon, cause we've certainly designed our lives around family too! Having a 3 year old who needs a full hour of sleep for every hour awake has thrown these two hyper parents for a loop though. So we're getting alot more time to think through the night while paying the price for thrown sleeping beauty off her schedule. :)
There's a fearless parent in all of us. Seen yours lately?
Adelaide Zindler, FP (Fearless Parent)
http://www.FearlessParenting.com
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