There is currently nothing atop my refrigerator.
I haven't been able to say that for oh, at least seven years. Before that I lived in an old Second World War-era house where the fridge was recessed under some cute but useless cupboards. That's where I kept things that I gave away when we moved.
Since having children I've used this space to store, hide and effectively "remove from little fingers" anything and everything that wasn't working for us: Paper dolls for which the girls weren't old enough, modeling wax that was fun until it got shmooshed into the shag rug, magnets my then-toddler thought would be fun to eat - which resulted in a trip to the ER and subsequent X-rays after the nursing hotline advised that "one was fine, more than one could kill her."
This past week I was brave enough to have Adriana Smith from Shining Goddess Clearing in my home. While that in and of itself isn't completely terrifying, the notion that she was there to help me clean, clear clutter and organize without pre-emptively trying to do it all on my own, was.
I know I'm not the only person overwhelmed by his/her house. I noticed on Smith's Facebook page that she had cancellations and subsequent openings in her schedule more than once that week. I was determined not to bail just because I was afraid she might learn the truth about me: As much as I tout simplicity, I have yet to master it.
In a few short hours, we tackled a good chunk of my kitchen. We pulled apart cupboards and cleaned top-down, putting back only what was really needed and wanted. I donated a few things to Pearl's, made a bit of money selling items online, and shared with friends.
Simplifying is a process and it's one that is making an impact in other areas of my life beyond the physical. Lightening one's load is akin to freeing the mind of clutter as well. The amount of energy that goes into managing one's belongings can be burdensome when you have more that you need, and especially so when everything doesn't have its place.
When the kids returned home at the end of the day, they were suitably impressed and even a little dismayed that I hadn't spent all that energy in their bedrooms - which I will take as encouragement.
In Simplicity Parenting, the first realm we tackle is our environment. Keeping things pared down to the basics without many multiples (which lead to too many choices both for adults and children alike), organized, and clutter-free helps ensure that kids aren't stressed or overwhelmed. As any adult knows, when one is stressed or overwhelmed, it can lead to many undesirable actions and behaviours.
The same can be said for kids, perhaps 10-fold. Most parents are keen to know the magic answer to kids' behaviour problems. While there is no trick, one of the first things you can do is tackle your environment. Give it a try. Much like my kids, I think you'll be suitably impressed.
Kirsten Andrews offers courses, workshops and private consultations on Simplicity Parenting in the Corridor. New classes begin this fall, with early-bird rates being offered. For info visit www.SeaToSkySimplicityParenting.com, like it on Facebook or email [email protected].
