A Season of Continual Transition

 

A few days ago I was talking to my friend Nikki R about how life with little ones leaves you in a stage of continual transition. Transition can be difficult when you have lots of babies, and things never really feel settled. You spend months planning and preparing for the baby's arrival. Then baby arrives and it's finally time to put your plans into play. Some plans work perfectly and others flop. That awesome swing you had to have doesn't seem so awesome after you bump into it a few times and your baby cries every time you put her in it. Clothes suddenly become too small, baby furniture becomes to big, and toys begin to overtake your home, car, and purse and you realize it's time to declutter. You sort and store outgrown items for selling, donating, and saving for the next possible baby. It goes on and on forever. The more children you have, the more sorting, storing, selling, and donating you do. And like you have time for that when you're busy taking care of said children!

 

Once our school room, now a play/school room

Life can be a bit of a challenge for Mama's stuck in transition for many years. Houses seem to shrink as children (and their belongings) grow. Keeping on top of the chaos is the key to success. I personally do not like transition. I like normal. I like easy.

 

Right now we have a 13 year old with her own room, a 6 and 1 year old sharing a room, and a 6 month old in our room. I am constantly brainstorming about who to move where and when to do it. This is the time I normally move the baby out of my room and into their own room. The trouble is, we're out of rooms :)

 

2nd bedroom shared by our six year old and one year old

 

Our bedroom with baby crib

 

We made a large trip this weekend of things we're consigning and donating and I must say, I feel way better with it all gone. I've moved things around (again) and it feels a little bit more open and inviting now. I don't think we realize how our stuff can weigh us down and cause so many messes and complications.

 

I think homeschool families are much more likely to hang on to things we don't need. After all, we're trying to fit an entire classroom full of supplies we may need one day into our dens and kitchens! We have little ones, big ones, tiny ones, and we have everything each child needs to learn and grow. That can be a lot of stuff!!

 

I'm working on being content in this season of continual transition and working on letting go of the extra stuff that overwhelms me and my kids so we can enjoy a relaxing home while we're here together.