The world drastically changing in 2020 caused many to live more intentionally. Whether it was reaching out to family and sending meals to those who were struggling or cherishing memories of time spent together, many implemented traditions of the past in order to calm the storm of rapid closures and change.
I've always loved the idea of slow, intentional living. One could even call it 'simple' living. Social media, I believe, has masked true connection and fellowship. We could feel like we've spent time with others, but in reality we've only messaged or commented on their posts.
The last few years my husband and I have been discussing how we want to raise our children and how we want to spend our time. Our conversations nearly always point back to a simple lifestyle that encourages fellowship, serving and screen free time spent with our children and family.
I've compiled a list of old fashioned ways that should be reconsidered, in my opinion. If you have any other ideas to add, I'd love to read them. Please share below!
Snail Mail.
I love receiving physical letters. Checking the mail and seeing a card or letter from a friend or loved one is so fun. For awhile, a friend and I would write letters and send along recipes to each other. It feels so much more meaningful and personal to receive a letter and keep in touch this way. Plus you can use pretty stationary!
Swapping Recipes.
I mentioned a recipe swap I used to do with a friend above, but I also love going to small groups or friends homes and taking away a good recipe to try on my own family. Sometimes sharing a recipe is as easy as texting a link to someone, though nothing beats a handwritten recipe on a notecard.
Sewing, Mending.
In the 'olden days', families made do with handmade clothing. If it was store bought they mended it or took it to a seamstress to make it last. I love reading books by Janette Oke, particularly the sewing and cooking scenes. Women had 'mending days' where they gathered up clothing that had lost buttons or had holes from wear and they mended them. It helps preserve your budget to use what you already have.
Handmade Gifts
This past Christmas we gave nearly all handmade/homemade gifts to family and friends. It was well received and it was fun and meaningful for our family to put the gifts together. I crocheted scarves, hats, made leather jewelry and baked a lot of goodies to share. Pretty packaging with twine and Dollar Tree boxes goes such a long way!
Blessing Someone with a Meal
Whether it is an elderly neighbor or a friend that has sickness running through their household, a homemade meal goes a long way. Cooking dinner each night takes time and energy and sometimes those around us don't have either available. A good recipe to share is my Taco Soup. I also recommend shredded barbecue chicken in a foil dish, buns on the side and a bag of chips. Homemade and simple to serve!
Sharing Baked Goods
I promise this list won't be all food related, but tell me something cozier than baked goods? During quarantine I learned a lot about baking and tried many new goodies out. Our little family of 3 doesn't need an entire batch of cookies, cupcakes or whoopie pies, so we were often able to gift others the overflow. I like to wrap the baked goods in cling wrap and tie a piece of string around it to give it more of a gifted look.
Hospitality and Inviting Others In
I understand not everyone will be comfortable with this idea in this current season, but for those who are it can be a great way to build connections and bonds. If you are a SAHM, inviting other moms in with their littles for play time and conversation can turn an isolating season into a very joyful one. I hope to write more on what I'm learning about hospitality soon, so stay tuned for that post.
No Screens
Creativity flows more freely in our daughter when we limit screen time or take it away completely. I am giving myself grace currently and am still figuring out a good balance of screen time and creative/learning time in our daily schedule and I will be the first to admit it can be very difficult to step away from it completely when you need a break in your day. However, being more intentional with story time, getting on her level to color or play with play dough or letting her dig in the dirt outside fills both of our cups and I know those are the memories we will cherish as she grows.
Cleaning Schedule
When I look back at decades past I notice a trend in household responsibilities being scheduled based on day. Floors/dusting, laundry day, rotating which room based on day for deep cleaning, etc. Taking one day to do one deeper cleaning job and a general tidy up in all other areas is less daunting. It brings peace to a household when the mama isn't rushing around and grumbling because she can't get it all done (working on this!)
Eating As a Family
We don't have a kitchen table in our little apartment. It's something we've looked into getting in the past, but we like to have more space for our daughter to play so we've not brought one in. So in this current season, my daughter asks my husband 'Wanna eat wiff me?" and clears his space across from her on her little Ikea Flisat table and it is the sweetest.
Reading Physical Books
My husband is an avid reader and I like to be when time allows. Leighton typically comes away from the library with 10-12 books for our week so we nearly always have physical books we look forward to reading as a family. Some of my favorite authors are Janette One, Melody Carlson and I've recently come to like Karen Kingsbury. If your child sees you reading a book chances are they will learn to love reading as well. An example I hope to keep in our household for years to come!
Pay Cash Only
I know we post about our debt free journey and this is a Dave Ramsey principle, but it also just makes sense to me. "If you can't pay cash for it you can't afford it" Dave Ramsey says. I understand there are some instances where this just can't happen, but overall it is possible to save and buy with cash. Think about the peace that comes along with not owing a payment to anyone and owning your belongings outright.
Cherish Your Spouse
Date nights aren't always possible when you have children or live away from family. We've been able to be creative through the years with our time, even on a budget and in a small apartment! I made a YouTube video many years ago that I will link HERE, but I hope to do a revised post with new ideas to pursue your spouse.
Implement Values in Children
Our words are so important. An area I am strong in in motherhood is speaking life. An area I struggle in is patience. I often have to say 'patience and grace' when I am touched out or need a break and I feel like my words are going to go to a place I will regret due to frustration and exhaustion. Something we tell our daughter is 'it's okay to be mad, but you cannot be mean.' Emotions are okay, our actions are our responsibility. I want to make sure I model this for her. We also love her children's church and she works on a verse monthly in her class. We try to remind her of the verse or song through the week. Telling your child how brave, smart, fun, etc. they are will stick with them. Please refrain from (even jokingly) referring to your child as a 'brat, monster, spoiled, terrible two, etc.' that will also stick with them--whether you're venting/joking or not. I'm a mama bear about this!
Reading a Physical Bible
I love that the Bible is so readily available on our phones through apps like YouVersion. What a blessing to so many! I find that I am more intentional and dedicated to my bible reading when I have a physical copy in my hands, however. I look forward to holding it in the morning along with my coffee. There is such a comfort in holding God's word and (if you choose to) writing notes or highlighting verses that are speaking to you. I'm currently working through the Bible in One Year bible and I highlight verses that really stand out to me in this season and choose to write them out on notecards. It will be interesting to look back on what God was speaking to me in this season.
Having a Mentor
Titus 2:3-5 says, "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to their husbands, so that no-one will malign the word of God."
I have been praying for a mentor for awhile now. I know God will highlight someone when He chooses and I pray they will accept to mentor me in this season of young motherhood. I believe it is important to learn from older women and seek out wise counsel. There is so much we can gain from those who have once been where we currently are.
I do think that some of these ideas can bring more peace to our lives and households (something I try to actively pursue!)
With heart from our home,
Jordan
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