In my family we believe it is very important to not be busy. We enjoy our down time and spending time together, just being together while not necessarily doing anything. Some of my best memories of us are when we are at home, talking and laughing.
When we got pregnant, it was important to both of us that he learned how to entertain himself, how to enjoy the moment and how to realize what is important in life. Hint: I don’t believe it is anything that can be bought.
Minimalism has helped me identify those things that don’t need to be gotten to. So I can pursue parenting without feeling like I’m carrying a truck full of cement bricks around.
It’s not just teacher moms who need a deep, relaxing break from life’s hectic pace. Our children do as well.
Minimalist parenting is all about focusing on making rich memories as a family, rather than surrounding yourselves and your kids with material things.
Here are benefits of being a minimalist parent:
Less Multitasking - Multitasking is the nature of being a teacher mom. And when it comes to multi-tasking, more is not better!
Better Mental Health - There is nothing like not sleeping well for months to make you feel unwell. Maybe it’s just me, but very few things in life have tested my mental health like being a teacher mom.
Better Finances - Every parent wants to provide financially for their children. We may want to buy them all the things we didn’t have ourselves growing up but more is not always better. Doing nothing is a wonderful form of self-care for teacher moms because it’s free and doesn’t require hiring a babysitter. Many teacher moms don’t have the financial resources to take a weekly date night, a dinner and a movie, with the hourly rate for the neighborhood babysitter added in, quickly gets expensive.
Fewer Distractions - I don’t know about you, but I can be easily distracted. Distractions have even led to awarding myself the bad mom of the year award.
Model What Matters - That old expression, do as I say not as I do, never goes very far. Children model our behavior.
More Time For What Matters - You will get tired of hearing yourself say, “I didn’t get to it yet.” And when you’re sick and tired of all the things you didn’t get to, and all the stuff, I hope you will consider, maybe some of them don’t to be gotten to.
Teaches the Art of Stillness - If you’re thinking that telling your kids to just do nothing might initially be challenging, you’re certainly not alone. Most kids are used to being busy, so when they aren’t being taught, coached, or entertained by a screen, they may find themselves bored. And that is okay.
Leads to Quality Playtime - Once your children have become comfortable with deeply relaxing and doing nothing distraction-free, they’ll glean all the same benefits from it that you do. Their creativity will be sparked, and they will move on from their breaks to deep creative, mental, or physical play.
Less Toys - When you first have a baby, well-meaning relatives or friends may shower you with stuffed toys or a wide assortment of items that end up gathering dust on your shelf. All kids are different, so it’s best to wait until your child starts playing with toys to see what he likes. Then start getting rid of toys that your children don’t use or play with.
How to Find Time to Do Nothing
If you haven’t gone to the bathroom with the door closed in five years or your Google calendar is jammed with complicated carpools for three different soccer schedules, consider these ideas. Because you definitely deserve this do-nothing time in your life.
Here are 2 ways you can find time to do nothing:
Use the Fringe Hours - The primary place to start finding your do-nothing time is in those fringe hours. The fringe hours, the ones that we are usually too tired to take advantage of, really can become a wealth of usable time with just a few simple lifestyle changes.
Let Housework Wait - Set a mantra that the laundry can wait. Teacher moms often use downtime at home, the hours that children are napping or nicely occupied with Lego construction, to work.
I’ve found living a more minimalist lifestyle is a path to cultivate more space for my values, passion, and purpose in life. In turn, I am teaching him about what I value and what I hope he will one day value which will ultimately help him determine his purpose in life.
Make some of that catch up time for you. Even a short five minutes of deep breaths and a blank mind will pay you back with relaxation and happiness that will benefit you and your family.
As your children grow up and become well-rounded adults, the time and experiences they have with you is what will resonate and stay with them – not the expensive toy they received one Christmas.