“No matter how much stuff you have in the world, there will never be an amount that is enough to fulfil you or your child. The truth is, the one thing children can’t get enough of is your love.”

When you have the chance to see all of your stuff, everything you own in front of you stuffed into a large moving truck and you don’t really have the time to unpack it right away, you realize very quickly just how little of that stuff you really need to be happy.

Before we moved to our new home I was introduced to Lynne Newman’s book, Simplifying Kids Stuff: Letting go of the Clutter to Focus on what Really Matters, a gentle and guilt-free guide for decluttering your family home. After two reads, yup, I somehow found the time to read this twice ( Lynne wrote the book with busy parents in mind and it can be read in one or two sittings … or during the span of two naps) it’s had the strongest impact on me now that we are finally feeling a bit more settled in our new home.

“When and only when you feel the impulse to clear your space, do it. Until then, give yourself permission to just be. To wait. To pause.”

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m ready for a new start, or because I’ve had the chance to see how much stuff we have though the moving process, but either way I’m ready to clear some space in our new home to make way for the things that matter and Lynne’s book has given me the gentle push I needed. While I do wish that I was able to declutter and get rid of even more stuff before our move, all in one big cleaning purge, I’ve learned from Newman and my own experience, that this is not just a one-time thing, but an ongoing process and more of a state of mind or a life style choice that you need to be ready for.

“We are more than our things.”

 I know it’s trendy to simplify; Instagram and Pinterest are stock full of minimalistic spaces that look white bright and beautiful all the time, but there’s actually something more to this that exists beyond the aesthetic appeal of those decluttered and dreamy spaces.  It’s truly freeing to see a clear, open space! It’s freeing and you can breathe a bit more. As someone who’s lived in a borderline ‘tiny home’ I can tell you that it’s not about square footage, but more about acknowledging that we (our children included) don’t need that much stuff to be happy.

“Getting rid of toys can be an emotional thing – it’s hard to let go of our child’s past. But letting go is necessary for your child’s growth and more so, for your own sanity!”

 It took me longer than I’d hoped to share this book and the idea of decluttering with all of you as I was still very hesitant about the process, but like Newman points out, “When and only when you feel the impulse to clear your space, do it!” So Lynne, if you’re reading this,  I think you’ll be happy to hear that I’m ready and I can’t wait to share the experience with all of you.

“Whether you believe it or not, your space influences how you and your children feel.”

 Clutter can and will make you crazy! But even more so, clutter leaves little room for imaginative play and creativity for our children. I’ve tried putting away some of my little ones’ toys and just leaving out a few and that happens to be when I see their imaginations reach new levels. It’s truly a beautiful thing to watch a two-year-old pretend a train is a camera or a stick is a fishing rod.

 “Simplicity feels powerful. Purposeful.”

 If you are thinking about decluttering or simplifying your family/home life, I highly recommend giving this book a read. As a busy mom of two ( a two-and-a-half-year-old and an 11-month-old) I can honestly say that I don’t have a lot of time for reading, so when I do I make sure it’s something great!

 

PROMO

I’m so happy to be partnering with Lynne Newman to offer my readers 15% off the E-book! See details below.

Promo code:

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Book Link:

https://lynnenewman.com/simplicityebook/