There was an article in the Huffington Post recently about a mother who put her 7 year old on a diet, and has now written a book about it.  Three questions arose in me when I read this. Firstly – what was the child eating that she became overweight in the first place? Secondly, what were the activity levels of the child?  Why she couldn’t run off any excess weight? And thirdly, what were the stress levels in the family that …

It seems we are always searching for the “magic pill”to
miraculously move our family into peaceful nirvana.
But the fact is, parenting and daily rhythm is a process;
a work in progress. You will never be “done” or “perfect”
O.K. Now the good news:
There are a few tips to help move you from exasperated to
centered. They are not magic, but they are not hard either.
Simple tools- if you use them.Choose one to start with,
then add more when you
see some success.
*Get up before your kids. …

That upcoming Birthday party is still weeks away…but you can already hear the march, march, marching of an ominous army of beeping, flashing, plastic toys – headed directly towards your house.  You’ve worked hard to simplify your child’s environment, and don’t want to lose your recent success…But you also know that everyone who offers your child gifts does it out of love.  How can you win the support of friends and family around your chosen path of simplicity – in …

One day when I was younger, my parents had to reschedule our piano lessons. My mother asked for a certain day (not sure which anymore – doesn’t quite matter), and the reply was, “Oh, no. Sorry. That’s our shopping day.”
In our great family tradition of then repeating what we deem “quotables” at random times for the next twenty years, we would say, “Oh, no. That’s our shopping day,” – often in a lilting British accent, although that may have just …

Have you found creating a healthy routine to be an uphill battle? Or do you find yourself completely repelled by the idea of routine? Many families struggle with this concept at first, or feel it won’t fit their personalities to add some predictability to life. Kim John Payne wrote more on this topic recently and offers a new perspective for families who know the value of rhythm but simply struggle to implement it. I wanted to share his …

This time of year, all of us are looking for a little inspiration for ways to connect as a family.  We want to deepen family relationships and offer that wonder-filled experience that our children will always carry with them.  Perhaps you are looking for some fresh ideas?  Simplicity Parenting readers share here some of their own favorite family traditions!
Betsy (Texas), shares, “This school year has brought about a change in routine for us, since all three kids are now in …

Are you feeling the temptation yet? This time of year it really does seem that the best way we can honor our children is to shower them with toys! The push to do this may come from commercials or family or from our own desire as a parent to show our kids some love.
This week the Mother Company featured Simplicity Parenting in a wonderful article;  “What Too Many Toys Can Do.” I think you’ll enjoy it, and hope it will …

This is the time of year, isn’t it, when all of our intentions to stay slow and mindful are put to the test?  I admit to playing my Christmas music from time to time for a couple of weeks now…okay, 3 weeks, but how can I not fill the house with wintry and festive fiddle music?  I do get, though, that for many people hearing carols the day after Halloween is just too much and despite my love of Celtic …

“Meaning hides in repetition:  We do this every day or every week because it matters.  We are connected by this thing we do together.  We matter to one another.  In the tapestry of childhood, what stands out is not the splashy, blow-out trip to Disneyland but the common threads that run throughout and repeat:  the family dinners, nature walks, reading together at bedtime, Saturday morning pancakes.” – Kim John Payne
The message in this chapter is that we can help our …

There is nothing quite like creating special and magical moments of love and warmth for a little one.  The fall is my favorite season for that, I think.  Before Coco was born, when the leaves began to turn, I already felt the “nesting” that comes with preparing for a change in season and rhythm.  Now that I have Coco I feel that immensely more so.  As the days grow mistier and the smell of earth and woodsmoke fills the air, …