Family

How to Work from Home Effectively with Kids

March 21, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has turned our world upsidedown. As families quarantine and practice social distancing, they also struggle with how to manage endless downtime. I love slowing down and embrace the margin in our schedules. We're free to do things like play a board game, try a new recipe or plant an herb garden. #coronatime But I recognize that working parents are trying to figure out how to work from home and simultaneously entertain and educate children. Workspaces and Homeschool Spaces A few years ago, I homeschooled my son. Most of the time, we traveled but here's the room I used for several weeks. I simply adjusted the height of my existing desk. We didn't buy a new desk. My son worked here for 1-2 hours a day and preferred to be near me. Repurpose or Reuse - Do Not Buy Perhaps your kitchen or dining room table is the answer to this temporary situation. Don't rush out and buy something that will become clutter. Flat surfaces are notorious for …

When An Ordinary Monday is Anything But

October 9, 2019 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

It was an ordinary Monday. Our family plans included work, errands and a math quiz. My son headed off to the bus stop. His swim bag packed for practice after school. Dad went into work early. And I left with a car full of donations and my grocery list. An ordinary Monday. Or so we thought. So when the school's number popped up on my phone, my heart skipped a beat. It was my son calling from the nurse's office. I could hear in his voice he didn't feel well. His stomach hurt. I asked all the usual mom questions and drove to pick him up. Why I'll Never Win Mother of the Year He hunched his back and held his stomach as we walked to the car. The nurse mentioned he was like that all morning, unable to get comfortable. It turns out I didn't answer the first time he called. Nor did two other emergency contacts. He waited and the pain got worse. "How was your quiz?" I asked. "Are you stressed about it?" "Nervous about the musical tryouts?" It had to be stress right? In …

Kid’s Artwork – Who Are We Really Saving It For?

June 15, 2018 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Kid's Artwork is abundant in our house even with just one child. Households with multiple kids struggle to tackle paper clutter because of the volume. I believe every parent finds their kid's artwork difficult because of the memories. Artwork more appropriately falls under sentimental clutter versus paper clutter. And sentimental stuff requires its own process. Currently, I am working on a small scrapbook for my son's elementary years. I collected photos and artwork from kindergarten through elementary school. With each passing grade, there is less and less. I asked for his help with a few large books of his first writing samples. We read them together and laughed at the funny sentences. He noted 6 or 7 pieces that he truly remembered. I snapped photos of those. Without prompting, he said, "I think I'm ready to pass these on. I don't need them." I believe there are three reasons that allowed him to this so easily. Time - Several years had passed since he wrote these …

It’s Okay To Just Be Still

May 25, 2018 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

It was Day 3 of our two-week adventure to Hawaii. As a family, we love active vacations making the islands an ideal location. That said, sometimes my son hits a wall and just cannot keep up. Our morning activity included snorkeling at Hanauma Bay where the sharp coral scratched his leg and nearly scared him off forever. I realized that we had crashed into that proverbial wall as I led him back to the beach and tossed the gear aside. I wish I could tell you that I'm really good at recognizing these moments. That I am calm and compassionate. Or that I plan for them and always schedule rest days and early bedtimes. I do not and I am human. :) Thank goodness for grace! Like many moms, I make mistakes and sometimes don't even realize it until we're reduced to tears. My son was excited, overstimulated and jet lagged. We filled every hour of those first three days. After the crash, he and I sat on the beach, snuggled and slowed down. The beauty of the bay encircled us with …

Decluttering Challenge – Day 31 – Sentimental

February 2, 2018 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

We did it! Day 31 of the Simply Enough New Year's Decluttering Challenge is Sentimental Stuff. If you've completed even a portion of the challenges, then a lot of stuff has left your house! Congrats! And you're building new habits for managing clutter in your home. We tackled the kitchen, bathroom, kids art, storage, clothes, shoes, photos and so much more. Many of you have told me that you plan to revisit the challenges. They will be available on the website for several months. I'd love to hear about your progress. Send me an update or a picture. I saved this particular challenge for last because it's one of the hardest areas to downsize and declutter. If you're still working through other spaces, keep going and come back to Sentimental Stuff later. I field questions all the time about sentimental items. "What should I do with Grandma's China?" Memories of loved ones are not tied to the items they left behind. However, we still have trouble letting go. To …

My Values

August 29, 2017 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

I mention my five Core Values often, but they’ll probably make more sense if I elaborate a bit. My journey to simplify isn’t just a desire to declutter and have less stuff but rather a goal to live with more intentionality and purpose focused on these values. …

[Read more...] about My Values

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