Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
This week we hear from Wendy, who tells us about her minimalist journey as a new grandmother. Her story is a lovely reminder of how minimalism helps us make room for what matters most.
Wendy writes:
Looking back on my life, I always felt a twinge of freedom or lightness when I got rid of something that I didn’t need in my life. Now I am able to identify that as a desire to live with less.
My husband and I are in our 50’s, have four children in their 20’s, one son in law and a darling toddler grandson. Two years ago I packed one carry on suitcase and flew to spend time with our daughter and husband when their son was born. I realized I could have stayed the entire summer with the contents of that small bag. There was such simplicity in having just a few favorite outfits, jewelry pieces and shoes to choose from each day. If I’d had a footwear crisis I could have borrowed from my daughter as she does when she visits us! The time spent with our new family member was delightful in their cozy, small but efficient basement suite.
Upon arriving home I purged my wardrobe knowing for sure I wanted to live with less in that area of my life. Decluttering all corners of the house has come as well, although it’s just the tip of the iceberg. What I am finding, is that clutter and stuff is often many layers deep and unused and unnecessary items behind a cupboard door or stored efficiently are STILL clutter.
We are fortunate a Goodwill pick up is available in our neighborhood and our home is a frequent stop. I have adopted the mindset of what do I want to keep rather than what should I get rid of. What TRULY is adding value to my life?
Most likely these sayings are words taken from other folks, but I believe we cannot hear them enough.
Our grown children have boomeranged due to work, school, travel and other circumstances. Most recently our daughter, her husband and child lived with us for 8 weeks after they were evacuated from their Fort McMurray, Alberta home. They left their city with one suitcase, a photo album and a few special baby blankets.
For many days they believed their home and possibly their business were lost in the fire and the conversations around this event taught us many things. It was the relationships they mourned. Young families they lived life with were now dispersed around the country. This is what they missed. It was not about the stuff.
Any day now our lovely daughter is to give birth to their second child and my husband and I will make a trip to their home, miraculously spared in the huge Fort McMurray fire. We will greet a new grandchild. We are blessed.
As to the future, our journey towards minimalism will continue, but not without challenges. Our home is still a storage area for totes of possessions belonging to grown children who are not quite settled… My husband and I don’t always agree on what needs to be edited or eliminated… It’s also a home with many well-loved toys that delight children when they visit. Maybe my next story will be about Minimalism and Grand-parenting.
I can feel it already…
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or joining my email list.}
Hi Wendy
Your comment about clutter being several layers deep caught my attention. Many times I have kept things because they were tidily stored but really…I needed to go deeper with the decluttering and get rid of them. It’s a work in progress!
Really enjoyed your story and enjoy your time with your new grandchild.
Helen
Yes, finally, I can relate, this is my stage of life too and I enjoyed reading this very much. There seem to be few stories about minimalism with families that have children in their teens and twenties.
Time is more valuable than possessions.
Congratulations on your second Grandchild Wendy. I look forward to reading post on Minimalism and spoiling Grandchildren. I guess there is a happy medium. It would be difficult for me to find it. LOL
I think at this time in our lives you really realize how much time we all wasted having too much stuff to clean, fix and organize.
Have fun on your next trip to see your new grandchild!
I have never had much furniture. I spoke to a woman who was getting a 1 BR apartment with a queen sized bed and a big sectional sofa and moving cross country. When we’ve had a big crowd, I borrow chairs and serve buffet style. Some people need a lot of stuff.
I’m looking forward to Minimalism and GrandParenting too!! I’m glad your daughter’s home was spared and that you can visit her again. Congrats on your lovely family. The picture is beautiful!
Thank you for the blog. I am a grandparent of 10 and mother of 4 married children. Every Tuesday night the entire family comes to our home for dinner. We treasure this time together. My husband and I want to begin minimizing our stuff but we get but every time we begin to move forward with downsizing, we get stuck thinking we need to keep all of this space for 25-30 people for family night each week. Please write the grandparent blog. I need perspective. ?
I wish my childs grandparents (both sides) appreciated your perspective!
I get all my craft supplies either free or at Goodwill or Sal Army. Then if I don’t use them, I pass them to a group that makes cards for sick kids or a friend who volunteers at a nursing home. The only thing I have bought new are crayons and school glue in the last 6 years. When my kids were little, I used newspaper to make patterns for Halloween costumes or doll clothes.
I read again about the family night dinners. They could set up large folding tables and borrow folding chairs. Each child can bring some chairs. The kids could bring folding tables. We live in a small condo. We have had 25 or 30 people over. We use large rectangular folding tables my son stores and we have some kitchen chairs and guests bring folding chairs. Because we have one large rectangular living-dining room, we can do this. For larger gatherings,we use my son’s house or a cousin has the family over. When my son has huge parties, like over a hundred people, he does them in the summer and has his street blocked off.