If you’ve had a baby in the last 4 years, you’ve probably accumulated enough stuff to fill a warehouse. From the high chair, crib, stroller, and endless amounts of toys, you almost need an extra place to house all of their things.
Before having my daughter, I’d gone through an epic decluttering and minimizing of my belongings. The cleansing feeling was intense & felt so liberating for me. I had learned to live with less, and enjoyed having my space filled with only things I loved and valued.
Fast forward to a couple years later and having a baby…. Oh how things have changed!
Since the baby shower my family held for my husband and I, I noticed just how many gifts we received. I was so grateful for all of the love shown to us. And I was also very aware that having a baby meant needing to get accustomed to having more “things” around. I just didn’t think of just how much stuff that truly meant.
Accumulating all that stuff drove me into organization mode. I searched endlessly on Pinterest for the best organization for a new parent. I did find it helpful, and found a system that worked for me. As my daughter would outgrow or stain clothes to the point of no return, I would get rid of those items. I was very selective of what I bought her (which wasn’t much). And she still had a large selection of clothes and toys, thanks to gifts from her grandmothers and other loved ones 🙂
During this time I wanted to give my child something that would have a long lasting impact on her: my full attention. As a new mom, I had so many chores to adapt to. And I knew the more “stuff” I had to take care of, the more my attention would be taken away from my daughter. That was a sacrifice I was not willing to make.
This may sound a bit extreme to some. But for myself, I know that having too much “stuff” causes my mind to be filled with just as much “stuff” in it. I am a firm believer of spending less on having and more on doing. I know things won’t make me happy, and the same applies for my daughter: things (aka: toys) won’t make her happy.
I wanted to evolve into a space of creating more and consuming less. This meant, less stuff, less TV, less junk food. And by consuming less of things that have may have a negative consequences, I gave room to the things that bring fulfillment, growth, and love.
Having an organized, clutter free mind will show up in your life. Chances are if your mind is a bit of a mess, you can expect your life to reflect that as well.
