A listener asked my thoughts on minimalism as a large family mom. This is my candid answer as well as a fresh perspective on “stuff.”
This week’s sponsor:
Night Zookeeper
Get a 7 Day FREE TRIAL and
50% off your Annual Subscription!
Never miss a podcast!
Subscribe via iTunes HERE
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY!
LISTEN ON AMAZON MUSIC!
AND NOW ON YOUTUBE!
Resources mentioned:
- FREE Decluttering Template
- Creating a Peaceful Home (book)
- Weekly Home Blessing (post)
- Half My Stuff Saturday (blog series from 2010)
- Tidy Up Time (post)
- Nature Table (post)
- Simply Convivial (Mystie Winckler’s membership site)
Send your questions to amy@raisingarrows.net and it may end up featured here on the Raising Arrows® Podcast!
Tara Vos says
We talk to our kids about having a “space budget” and we should not “over spend” or be miserly.
I had to silence a lot of the “minimalist voices” that were creeping in, because I was just falling into the temptation to be discontent with what God has given me. I was very convicted that Paul said he had learned to be content with both a lot and a little. God has blessed us with a big family and with that comes a lot of stuff! I must be content with it all!
Amy says
Yes, contentment is key!
April says
Thank you SO much Amy for taking the time to share more of you thoughts!! Always so helpful!
Diana says
This was so good. I loved hearing your thoughts. I’m a total minimalist at heart, and I think I always will be. I’ve read practically every book out there on the subject, and have taken hundreds of boxes of Goodwill. But the points that you mention really come into play. Firstly, it’s much, MUCH easier to be a minimalist when you are single, a couple, or a couple with young kids. When you have older kids? Not so much. And when you have a large family? Nope, the “clean out your kids’ stuff” doesn’t really work, because most items are going to be saved to be passed along to the next child. Also, most women seem to find themselves where I am – trying to be a minimalist over a husband and children who are all screaming “No!!!!” It can just lead to a lot of conflict and discontentment. It seems to be a balancing act – not giving in to the stuff, but also being willing to give up on the dream of minimalist bliss.