Motherhood is not an easy task but seeing your kids grow is so beautiful and satisfying that it surpasses all the difficult parenting moments. Home is the first school or class for our kids. They learn a lot from their siblings and us parents. Being a good role model alongside living a simpler life is so vital in this era. A growing family comes along with some challenges but I know we are all up to the task. 

How do you cope with a growing family?

I choose to live a simpler life. That is being minimalistic. It doesn’t only help you save money but comes along with several other benefits. Living a simpler life doesn’t only help you to fight distractions but also provides a devoted and quality time you spend with your family.

At times living a simpler life may arise due to financial setbacks. Don’t let any of such setbacks hold you down. You may be interested in the story of this tough lady I wrote about who shared with me her struggles after the love of her life abandoned her with their child. You might learn something from her.

Living a simpler life may mean getting an allotment and growing your own fruits and vegetables. It may also mean spending less at shops or restaurants or even making clothes for your children. Do you plan to live a simpler life with your family? Below are some tips and strategies that can help mothers live a simpler and happier life with their families. 

1. Spend time in nature

You need to calm your mind and let your thinking be clear. With a clear mind, you’ll feel more creative and can accomplish a lot with very little effort. There is no place where you can keep your mind calm and quiet like connecting with nature. The beauty and peace will help enhance your physical and mental health.

Go for long walks with your kids through the park or pay a visit to the sea shores, forests or mountains. Kids love outdoors and it is also good for them to burn off excess energy. 

2. Who said boredom is bad?

Minimalist mothers can use boredom to achieve a lot from their children. Always give them the opportunity to get bored. Nowadays, it’s easy to get entertained passively throughout the day. However, if you make your children to rely on their own resources, they turn to become very creative. Their imaginative power increases and they start to benefit from unstructured play.

3. Don’t compare with others.

Don’t look at the ‘comfort’ of others and feel bad you are not like them. Stop watching celebrity couples who employ full time nannies. You’ve got what they lack! The quality time you spend to nurture your kids is so priceless! Be contented with what you have and make maximum use of it. Remember to enjoy every moment with your kids because they grow too quick. 

4. Meet other parents

Making friends with parents around you is something that minimalist mothers do. They can discuss anything and also exchange ideas, advice and information. They can even exchange outgrown toys and clothings.

5. Meditate with your children

It’s time for you to teach your kids how to reflect and relax. All is not only eat, play and work. To manage stress, we need to set aside time for deep reflection in other to relax our minds. Meditation at such moments is good. You can also try taking in deep breaths – it helps manage stress.

Meditation will help prepare our kids to manage stressful situations later on in life. 

6. Eat and work as a family

Eating and working together as a family makes for a closer relationship. Eating homemade meals together at least once a week works well.

Teach your children to take responsibility in other to prepare them for adulthood. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Assign tasks to each family member taking into consideration their ages.

Take your children to the grocery store. This will be good for them as they can start practicing how to read labels and calculate figures. This will help you use your time efficiently with them. 

7. Limit toys and reduce clutter

In my previous post, I wrote about What Parents With Kids Under 10 Need To Do With Toys. Toys keep multiplying all the time. You need to control the total volume of toys. This can be done by rotating toys or giving them specific toys to play with each week. If the toys are coming frequently, make sure you do regular toy donations to charities to avoid having a toy bank at home.

You may have other items apart from toys in the house that you rarely use. Discarding some of them will help you clean your home faster. With lesser clutter, your home will become more comfortable and attractive.

Your journey to becoming a minimalist mother may not be easy but the payoff is great. Your children will be learning to live a meaningful and more mindful life. Owning less stuff is not a punishment. It makes you have the freedom of enjoying what you already have.

Finally a summary to-do-list on how to cope with a growing family.

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