New Bedtimes
Since Kevin started day shift this year, he's been going to bed early. He works 5:30-2, Monday-Friday. He wakes up between 4 and 4:30, so he goes to bed around 8 o'clock most nights. Normally I'd put the kids to bed around 9, then I'd stay awake and watch tv until 11ish.
I decided this past month that I'd try to get the kids to bed by 8, so I could go to bed then too. (I don't usually fall asleep until 9:30.) It was a big change for us, but I LOVE IT! I wake up on my own between 5-5:30. Waking up before the kids gives me some time to wake up slowly and unrushed. I sometimes workout while it's still dark, but this is mainly the time I do my bible reading. Before I started waking up early, I'd wake up in time to get the kids out of bed, rush to feed them breakfast, get them ready, and on the bus. I'd feel all day long like I needed to get my bible reading done, and it was just very hectic and not so enjoyable!
Another change is now the kids wake up on their own too. Hayden is usually the first awake and he's up by 6:30. Allie is always awake before 7. Our mornings have become so fun and peaceful! Some mornings they turn on the tv, snuggle together under a blanket while I make them breakfast. I send them to school with smiles and hugs and kisses, rather than us all feeling frustrated, rushed, and upset!
Hate Being By Myself
That hour or so I have to myself every morning is pure bliss. Kevin is always encouraging me to get some time to myself, and I have to admit, I find it totally awkward and I hate it. I hate shopping by myself, I hate going to appointments by myself, and I'd much rather have one or two kids in tow with me! I feel like when I'm not being "mom" or "wife," I just don't know what to do with myself! I just came to this realization this month when I've had to go several places alone. I know I'm not going to have little kids with me forever, so I'm going to have to eventually get over this. But, while the kids are still little and want to go places with me, I'm going to happily take them along :)
Minimalist
This month, I've come to love the idea of being a minimalist. In the last few weeks, I've worked really hard to get rid of "extra" in our house. I started in the kitchen, and cleaned out and reorganized every cabinet and drawer! I couldn't stop, and have since gone through almost every room/closet/piece of furniture in the house. The only place I have left is my closet - and that's going to be a big job! (I even went through shelves in the garage!)
The kids cleaned out the play room and we took out 4 bags of toys (1 for garage sale, 2 for goodwill, 1 for trash). I let them keep 7 toys in their drawers and 2 stuffed animals in their beds. If they want to replace one, then one needs to go. That may sound extreme, but they still have containers of dolls, barbies, dress up, legos, blocks, cars, and k'nex in the closet! They can't get the containers down unless the playroom floor is cleaned, and cleaning is now a breeze with the limited toys they have available to them. Hayden struggled the most with this purging. I ended up letting him have one small container of "stuff". He's always been attached to odd little things. But even he told me last week he was so glad we cleaned out the drawers because he's found toys that went missing that he really loved.
The kids weren't the only ones to clean. My hall closet was my craft closet and it got a total clean out. I took out about 5 trash bags of craft supplies and fabric and put them all in my garage sale. My hall closet use to be like that dreaded closet in the house but now it's holding just what I need. I don't have to body slam the door to shut it, and I even hung pictures in there! It's turned into a happy place.
With our kids birthday's getting ready to kick off, we've been asking for giftcards from the people that usually get our kids gifts! From here on out! We'd much rather take the kids for ice cream, or to the movies, or to FiredUp, or Gattitown, or the kids museum, or anywhere! We want experiences to be more valued than stuff. Our thinking is, the gift(s) we pick out for them will be more meaningful when they aren't overshadowed by tons and tons of toys, and the giftcards from others let us keep celebrating long after the birthday has past. Win/win in my book!
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One thing I love about the changes we've made this month is my kids have really enjoyed playing together. Kevin's noticed and pointed it out too... (like the day it rained and they all went out back and splashed in mud puddles. They came in with the biggest smiles on their faces!) I know they've always loved each other, but it just seems like they have been able to really enjoy Hayden & Allie home from school, enjoy their time outside, and enjoy playing with whatever toy is out. This may have something to do with the earlier bedtime too, or maybe that mom and dad are less stressed by stuff and they can feel that too? I can't pinpoint what's to credit for this month's extra happiness, but it was definitely a good month at our house!
Lots of good things going on! I've been working on purging, reorganizing and decluttering my house, too. It feels so good to not have things bursting at the seams. You'll have to give me a tour of your hall closet next time I'm there. I need to work on going to bed earlier. Thanks for not texting me when you wake up. haha We need to make some fun plans together once school gets out.
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