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 …

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 …

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, …

As my daughter’s 4th birthday approached, I struggled with what kind of party to plan and what sort of gift to give her.  We’ve done a lot of work over the past year to simplify, and I know I still have a long way to go.  With that in mind, I asked myself, “What does she really enjoy doing?  How does she spend most of her time?”  Well, the answer to that was easy – singing (usually VERY loudly!), and …

For many of you spring break has come and gone, and for others it is next week, April 18-22. Perhaps you have made plans for a trip or you have family coming to stay.
If the week is looming before you without plans I encourage you to reflect on making it a family renewal week!
Part of renewal could be turning off all electronics for the week and creating a simple daily rhythm that holds you, nourishes all of you, and slows …

My son Rowan and I love to share tea together in the mornings and afternoons. Our favorite afternoon tea is homemade chai.  I have a small container labeled “fairy dust” that has all the ingredients we need.  Rowan takes out each spice and counts it carefully while placing it into the mortar.  We then take turns grinding them up with the pestle while the milk is heating on the stove top.  We pour them into the milk and while they …

Now that we’re firmly entrenched in the Simplicity Parenting lifestyle, I’m always looking for ‘rituals’ to tweak or add to our family structure. As I was reading my copy of Seven Times the Sun (a great book about household rhythms), I was intrigued by the idea of a Healing Basket. What a simple way to add another grounding ritual into our lives. Besides, I’ve already spent a small fortune on Band-Aids in the past three years to cover non-existent scrapes …