When we moved in to our new home last year, we hid the tv in the storage room in our basement. There is a photo of our family above the mantle where the tv would have gone. People always ask, how do you watch tv? For the kids, they have a portable dvd player, they get two 40 minute sessions a day, one around noon and one around 4:30. For family movie nights once a week we bring out a projector. It’s a ritual and a habit that makes sure tv is not the center of our lives.
Beautiful. I love this so much❤️When our kids were little, the main seating area which should have had formal couches and the like was filled with their toys and a beat up couch they could slide off and jump from (safely) like a jungle gym. People thought it was weird but it was so nice to just have a space where our kids were comfortably hanging out in. I love that you did the picture of your family on the mantle. We didn’t do that until far later. I think it’s such an important icon of how your family lives. So wise
As a mom living in a 1 bedroom apartment with two kids, I cannot agree with this more. As a coach who works with family's to create functional rhythms and routines in their homes, this is everything. Kids don't just learn in books. They learn in life. They learn in what they see and how they interact with it. They learn every moment of the day.
How wonderful! I love all these ideas! I remember those younger years - our house was filled with things they could jump on and slide down. It was just a big place to play. Thank you for sharing this post with me!
I love this! It is inspiring and also reflects back to me that I’ve already done a lovely job of exactly what you’re encouraging here. With room for refinement of course, but it’s great to have the chance to appreciate myself a little! It’s so easy to fall into perfectionism/hyper-optimisation when it comes to my influence on my family. It’s refreshing too to see these sentiments expressed from within your elegant yet modest home. It is lovely, and not so wealthy and curated that it feels unrealistic. I’m just charmed and heartened by this share. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for the kind words. They mean a lot to me❤️ I feel the same way often too. That there is always more to do! easy to lose sight of all that we’ve accomplished and are doing successfully. I’m sure you are providing an incredible home for your children. They are lucky to have you ❤️
Here's a tip for just in time clearing of the table. Go to Costco and look in their free giveaway cardboard box section. They should have boxes of about the size 15 in by 22 in by 3 in high. Use those boxes to contain supplies and materials for projects on the dining room table. Then when it's time to set the table for dinner, simply take the box(es) off the table and temporarily store it somewhere.
We have been talking about ways to reorganize our home to be better conducive to homeschooling our children. This came at the exact right time!
When we moved in to our new home last year, we hid the tv in the storage room in our basement. There is a photo of our family above the mantle where the tv would have gone. People always ask, how do you watch tv? For the kids, they have a portable dvd player, they get two 40 minute sessions a day, one around noon and one around 4:30. For family movie nights once a week we bring out a projector. It’s a ritual and a habit that makes sure tv is not the center of our lives.
Beautiful. I love this so much❤️When our kids were little, the main seating area which should have had formal couches and the like was filled with their toys and a beat up couch they could slide off and jump from (safely) like a jungle gym. People thought it was weird but it was so nice to just have a space where our kids were comfortably hanging out in. I love that you did the picture of your family on the mantle. We didn’t do that until far later. I think it’s such an important icon of how your family lives. So wise
Beautiful article with lovely examples. This is Theology of Home as outlined, explained, and shown (in their beautiful books) by Noelle Mering and Carrie Gress: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/theology-of-home-set/
And on Substack too: https://theologyofhome.substack.com/
That’s wonderful. I’ll check them out.
As a mom living in a 1 bedroom apartment with two kids, I cannot agree with this more. As a coach who works with family's to create functional rhythms and routines in their homes, this is everything. Kids don't just learn in books. They learn in life. They learn in what they see and how they interact with it. They learn every moment of the day.
This article is an A for me.
Thank you so much for the feedback. Makes my day❤️
I like to let people know when they post something useful that is also new to me.
I love this! We've designed our home to make us move - there are many similar elements to yours, and a few differences! https://guenbradbury.substack.com/p/come-look-around-our-high-movement?r=4bpym1
How wonderful! I love all these ideas! I remember those younger years - our house was filled with things they could jump on and slide down. It was just a big place to play. Thank you for sharing this post with me!
I love this! It is inspiring and also reflects back to me that I’ve already done a lovely job of exactly what you’re encouraging here. With room for refinement of course, but it’s great to have the chance to appreciate myself a little! It’s so easy to fall into perfectionism/hyper-optimisation when it comes to my influence on my family. It’s refreshing too to see these sentiments expressed from within your elegant yet modest home. It is lovely, and not so wealthy and curated that it feels unrealistic. I’m just charmed and heartened by this share. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for the kind words. They mean a lot to me❤️ I feel the same way often too. That there is always more to do! easy to lose sight of all that we’ve accomplished and are doing successfully. I’m sure you are providing an incredible home for your children. They are lucky to have you ❤️
Here's a tip for just in time clearing of the table. Go to Costco and look in their free giveaway cardboard box section. They should have boxes of about the size 15 in by 22 in by 3 in high. Use those boxes to contain supplies and materials for projects on the dining room table. Then when it's time to set the table for dinner, simply take the box(es) off the table and temporarily store it somewhere.