Changes

Welcome to the February edition of the Simply Living Blog Carnival - New Beginnings cohosted by Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children, Laura at Authentic Parenting, Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy, and Joella at Fine and Fair. This month's topic, our writers consider where they are with their New Year's Resolutions or new ventures of 2013. Please check out the links to posts by our other participants at the end of this post.

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In my post as part of the last carnival I talked about how important rhythm is to my family.  It is what gives our week shape.  The rhythm that we have is one that has developed over the last eighteen months and has pretty much stayed the same over that time, that is until recently.  For the last few months it has been changing.  Most of our rhythm revolves around meeting up with families on a regular basis.  This has become really important to my children, it's predictably anchors their week they know which day follows which.  The recent changes have left them unsettled and disappointed.  I had hoped that things may return to as they were over time but I have now realised that that is not going to happen,  I need to make some changes.

I have been mulling this over, over the last few weeks trying to decide the best way forward.  I don't want to sever ties with friends but I need to accept that the current situation is not working for my family.  I have had a long conversation with one friend regarding one of the days and now feel really positive about how that could work in the future.  But what I need to do now is plan and think ahead.

Each weekend, or earlier if need be, I will think about the week ahead, where plans are not tied down, I will confirm them. If it is not possible to do this I will plan alternatives which might be meeting with other friends or a day out as a family.  I hope that by preparing in this way we will not have as much uncertainty over what we are doing each week and hope this will give my children back the stability of their rhythm.  A simple plan to continue simply living.

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Thank you for visiting the Simply Living Blog Carnival cohosted by Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children, Laura at Authentic Parenting, Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy, and Joella at Fine and Fair. Read about how others are incorporating simple living into their lives via new beginnings. We hope you will join us next month, as the Simply Living Blog Carnival focuses on Clearing the Clutter!

 

• Using Special Time to Simply Connect - Amber at Heart Wanderings begins to focus on simply connecting with each of her children for a few minutes of Special Time each day. A deeper connection and sense of joy, softening of emotional outbursts, and less sibling rivalry have resulted from this practice.
• Redefining Simplicity - Living within our needs - Survivor from Surviving Mexico talks about how moving from a first-world country to a third world country has changed her family's perception of simplicity. Adapting to this new life has not been easy, but can be done with an attitude of gratitude.
• Changes - Sustainable mom writes about how she is bringing back a beat to a rhythm that has been falling apart.
• Listening to my Kids - Christy at Eco Journey In The Burbs is seeking peace and freedom after over-scheduling her daughters.
• Thankful to Begin Again - Mercedes @ Project Procastinot learns a lesson from her twins.
• Changes for a New Year - Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children is concentrating on making small changes this year in an effort to make better habits.
• Parenting Two: A Fresh Start - Joella at Fine and Fair embraces the transition as her family grows as a new beginning by being gentle with herself and realistic with her expectations.
• Finding Balance - At Authentic Parenting, Laura looks at where she's gotten fighting depression and spiraling to a more harmonious life.