Simplicity

When we moved from Phoenix, AZ to Portland, OR my husband and I gave ourselves a challenge. Let's see how little we really needed. We packed what we could into the back of our CRV. Every nook and cranny was filled to the brim. Each child brought a small rubbermaid storage tote filled with their favorite items. We pretended we were very spoiled pioneers following our own Oregon Trail. We had all the modern amenities, but we didn't have much space and we had to be selective about what we took and what we would leave behind. We did not bring a TV, but we do watch a movie on our computer each weekend. We assumed we would use the library for our little readers.

O, almost 3yo- filled his box with train tracks, trains, building blocks, alphabet blocks, and tools.

F 5 3/4yo-chose to bring his car collection- mostly corvettes, his paper airplane book, and a few stuffed animals.

Z 7 3/4yo- Brought a few books, her scriptures, her small American Girl dolls, her Groovy Girls, her beading supplies, stuffed animals, and a sewing kit.

The children have shared so nicely with each other, played with all their toys, and cleaned them up on a regular basis. I think sometimes when I buy a toy for my children , I imagine it will make my child smarter or buy me some free time. What this experiment has shown me is we don't need much to provide a rich learning environment for our children and our attention is much more important than the latest video game or newest solar system kit ( or fill in the toy name blank). My children have struggled learning to leave me alone, when I need a break or to get something finished quickly. Here, without the extra stimulation of our home in Phoenix, they are learning to play with each other and to respect my boundaries and house rules.

We regularly send the kids to the park behind our apartment- I can see it directly below my 2nd floor balcony. They love the freedom, the independence, and most importantly the responsibility to look after each other. Each child has gained confidence and learned compassion and empathy for each other. Does this mean they never fight- no, they are learning how to get out of the fights better and how to be loyal friends. It was tough for me to let go and ato trust them, but they have exceeded my expectations and are a source of great pleasure.

If you look closely you can see the little park in the bottom left hand corner of the picture.

B and I packed the bare minimum of clothing with very different stratagies. I assumed we'd take lots of pictures and selected more presentable outfits. B, ever the pragmatist, brought mostly what he would leave behind. Almost worn out? Pack it! Hate that shirt? Bring it- I'll leave it in OR. We brought our cast iron skillet and no other kitchen supplies. I brought my sewing machines and he brought very few personal belongings. I shipped two boxes of school books to my friend. Our car looked like it would explode if we put one more thing in there! (We are getting a rack and cargo box for the trip back to Phoenix). We assumed we could furnish our apartment mostly with 2nd hand items! The thrift stores out here are awesome! We had a friend lend us a couch and we bought a laptop and printer out here. Since we will take the electronics home with us, I'm not including it in our overall spending. We furnished our apartment- for about $1000. That paid for pans, dishes, storage containers, cooking utensils, stereo, table and chairs, coffee table, stereo table, dresser, 3 kid mattresses (new), 1 king size mattress set, vacuum cleaner, some clothes for the family, and 2 air conditioners. None of the items are made out of particle board (yuck!). I am amazed at how well we did and the kids learned some valuable lessons on budgeting and what you can buy used and what should be purchased new.

Living Room


Kitchen & Dining area

Kids room

My room

I have come to appreciate and enjoy simplicity. I think I am going to purge even more stuff from our home in AZ when we return in October/November. I love our experiment and so far it has had so many benefits for our family.

Life is good

Today I walked to the eye doctor with my three kids in tow. I can't believe how much I love living near Portland, Oregon. The kids behaved well for the hour and a half we were at the doctor's office and afterward we went out to lunch and walked home. I didn't have to yell at the kids or beg them to stop harrassing each other. I love how accessible the shops and doctors' offices are and how I can leave my car parked for a few days and not drive anywhere if I don't want to. If I do want to go somewhere, I only have to drive 15 min-30 minutes to see some spectacular scenerey, nature preserve, or go into Portland. The best part though is it is only 70 degrees today- in the middle of June. For those of you not from Phoenix, you will probably not understand my love affair with a cool summer. I feel a vibrance, an energy, and a love of life I've not felt in a long time. I love how cool it is here.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Z & O enjoy the library
D, F, O, & Z enjoy the beautiful flowers at the Rhodedendron Garden in Portland, OR

When we moved from Phoenix to Portland, I felt so uptight and stressed out. I was totally burnt out. Between homeschooling, the move, my volunteer work, and purging the house of excess stuff- I had taken on more than I could handle alone. I guess I'm still learning how to ask for help. As we drove through California, visiting with old friends, I began to relax and find myself again. You know the person you want to be, the one that you lose the minute you start irrationally yelling at you kids- when their bickering is about to send you over the cliff of insanity. Oh wait, we don't yell at our children.....(most of the time). So I've rediscovered that person and I love how as we drove north and far away from the heat I just unwound. I'd almost say I'm pretty mellow these days. The most amazing part about finding my mellow side again is that my kids are unwinding and less defensive with each other. I really should have paid attention to my little mood barometers.