Capsule in Action

So now that Theodore is here, and my belly has shrunk enough to fit into some of my transitional clothes, my capsule is in full swing. This is going to be a challenging few months. Because July I will mostly be lounging around the house. August will be a bit more going to work, and by September I'll be back at work probably 3/4 time. I have to have a good mix of several different things. Also, since I'm breastfeeding, I am liable to get breastmilk in anything/everything. So things may need to be washed more frequently.

I'm up to 40 items now. I added another pair of shorts and another pair of sandals. I'm going to try really hard not to add any more items. But looking at what I have, I am mildly concerned that I may not have enough stuff that can mix-and-match. Too many different patterns and things like that. BUT, we'll see how it goes. If I find that a piece will only work with 1-2 different things, then I may need to trade it out for something else more versatile, even if I really do love it. We'll see.

I'm mostly worried that I may not have enough lounging-around-the-house stuff. And not enough workout clothes for when I start working out again, probably next month sometime.

It is a process. And I think in the beginning I may have larger capsule wardrobes, and then as time goes on hopefully I will get better at it and it will continue to pare down. It is more about commiting to the idea behind the capsule, and working to get there. Does not necessarily mean I have to be perfect from day 1...

Must Read Book

I recently finished Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier and more Secure Kids by Kim John Payne. I loved it. I seriously cannot say enough good about this book. It hit home for me in so, so, so many ways. It was like he took everything that Charlie and I have always said to each other about how we want to raise kids, and he put it into a book. Must better written and more laid out than anything we could have come up with. We have lots of ideas, but not a lot of action plans on how to get there.

The crux of the book is that what our kids need is less. What we all need is less. We need to say "No" to the rush, rush, rush. We need to say "no" to companies telling us that we need this gadget or that gadget in order to be happy. He stresses that raising kids that have too much stuff (toys, activities, sports etc...) only shows kids how to be unsatisfied with what they have. Makes them ungrateful and entitled.

He talks about how when you have so many toys you can't even do anything with them - you don't even know what you have and what you don't, that is is stressful for kids. It's overstimulating. Kids don't need toys that make noise and light up. They need toys that foster their imagination and allow their brain to develop freely, as it was supposed to develop. They don't need TV. No matter how "educational". They don't need iPads.

They do need to be bored sometimes. They do need structure. They do need downtime. They do need parents who are available and involved (but not overly involved).

He talks about helicopter parenting and how we got there. He stresses that the world is not any less safe today than it was 50 years ago, but that our perception of that has been changed by the media.

He encourages us all to cut back on TV. To increase our time building relationships with our family members and our children.

It is just so good. Everyone who has kids should really read it. It plays in so nicely to the Marie Kondo simplifying that Charlie and I started last year (and that I hope to be able to continue in the future). It re-energized me to get back to that. To clean stuff out. To only keep what you need and what brings you joy.

Just loved it :)