Less is More

Cross-posted at: http://cascadiabirth.com/2010/08/30/less-is-more/

This is a lesson I continue to learn, in various ways. Sometimes it might mean going through my closet or bookshelf and letting go of things I no longer use. Sometimes it means looking at my various commitments and deciding to cut back a bit, creating more time for myself and my family. I think it's a common goal for many, especially parents who are already overwhelmed with so many expectations.

Over the next few blog posts I'd like to explore this idea of less being more, and how it might help your family regain a little balance. My first offering is actually a blog post by a fellow Montessori teacher, Marcy Hogan, down in California, who wrote a wonderful post about cutting back on the number of toys she has available for her young son. Marcy writes:

I know I've noticed a difference in the quality of play in my toddler when I keep the number of available toys low versus the days when I try to buy myself "extra time" by bringing out more toys. If he only has a few toys out, he'll choose one or two and play with them for much longer periods of time. When I bring out a boxful of toys, he'll get excited about all those toys to play with… but then quickly tires of them and looks for something else to do.

photo by Marcy Hogan

I notice the same thing for myself. My husband sighs knowingly when I come home from the library with a stack of twenty books. Although I'm a voracious reader, it's inevitable that I will start reading three at a time…and maybe, if I'm lucky, finish one. Paring down on the options makes decision-making much easier, allowing for a deeper level of engagement. It's a process for sure (as anyone who comes over right now to see my night stand will tell you), but definitely something to work towards.

Check out Marcy's article, then come back and tell me what you think. Share your ideas for simple toys, or strategies for cutting back when the toy box starts overflowing. If you're in Portland, you might consider participating in this toy and clothing swap at the Green Sprouts Family Fest on September 26th.

Lena Wood, labor & postpartum doula

Cascadia Birth Services, LLC
lena@cascadiabirth.com

www.cascadiabirth.com

503.307.8614

Kid's Clothing & Toy Swap

KID'S & MATERNITY CLOTHING plus TOY SWAP

Portland Central Library Children's Library Story Theater

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14^th, 2009

Gather up unwanted, outgrown, clean clothing, accessories, and toys in good repair and bring them to the swap!

WHAT: This free clothing and toy swap will be held at the Portland Central Library's Keep Portland Weird event - for more details visit the library website:

http://www.multcolib.org/events/kpw.html

This will be a drop-in swap, no need to RSVP just join in by bringing toys and clothing for the category and sizes that interest you **be sure to note the specific time slots for each swap below.** After you swap, stop by some of the other family-fun events that Keep Portland Weird.

WHEN: Saturday November 14^th, 2009

1:00pm – 1:45pm Maternity and children's clothing (Maternity, Baby 0-24mo, Toddler 2-4 yrs, baby and toddler accessories, including car seats, strollers and highchairs)

2:00pm – 2:45pm Kid's clothing (Early Years 5-7yrs, Pre-Teen 8-12, and Teen 13-16+, accessories)

3:00pm – 3:45pm Small and medium sized toys swap

WHERE: Central Library, Children's Library Story Theater, 801 SW 10^th (@ SW Yamhill.) You can take the Max to the Library/SW 9^th Street or Galleria SW 10^th Street stop. Enter through the front/main entrance and make a right towards the back into the Children's Library and the story theater is to the right of the Children's Library entrance. NOTE: This swap location is child proofed but space will be very limited. Please leave strollers at home, carry babies in a sling, and bring someone to supervise little ones in the Children's Library while you swap.

HOW THIS SWAP WILL WORK: Clothes will be separated into general size groups and marked with signs. Before you arrive, separate clothing you will bring by size to maximize your swap time. Plan to arrive about 10 minutes before your swap and hang on to your clothes and toys until its time to swap. When the swap is about to start add your items to matching size piles (toys will be placed in general categories.) When the swap host starts the swap look to find the items in the sizes and styles you need and put them in your bag.

WHAT TO BRING: Clean clothes and toys in good repair and usable condition. There are no minimum requirements for how many items you have to bring or how many you can take but please be courteous and generous. In addition to clothing and toys you can also bring lightly used accessories like shoes, boots, hats, scarves, or sunglasses. Items that do not get swapped will be donated to low income and high needs families in our community.

In addition to clothing and toys you can also bring lightly used and clean accessories:

• lightly used, clean socks, shoes, boots
• hats, scarves, mittens
• sunglasses
• books, tapes, CD's, videos, DVDs

CONTACT: pdxkidswap@gmail.com
If you have any questions about the swap or are not on our email list and would like to receive email notification of future clothing swaps send us an email with the size and gender of clothing you will bring and the size and gender of clothing you need (we will not spam or sell your name to anyone.) The only "membership" rule is that you be respectful and have fun! Please bring only things listed on what to bring list.

NEXT SWAP: Our next swap will not be until late winter/early spring. If you are planning a kid clothing or toy swap or if you know of one let us know and we'll pass it on to the e-list.

MORE SWAPS: Love to swap? There are other swaps near you. Go to pdxswap.com to find out more about monthly clothing swaps and stuff swaps – all free. If you are interested in having your own clothing swap through PDXswap and would like to know how, please speak to the swap host for more information.

PASS IT ON: If you know someone who would be interested in attending a clothing swap please feel free to pass this email along.

DONATE: If you would like to donate children's clothing to the swap send an email to pdxkidswap@gmail.com and we'll arrange for a pick-up.
Please feel free to pass this information along to anyone who would like to donate children's clothing.

House Plant Exchange Party

Fall always makes me crave more green inside my house. Turning on the heat makes my house feel dusty and stuffy; plants breathe clean air, so I get an urge to do some indoor gardening. It is costly to buy several new plants, but plants are easy to share, so let's share.

Let's celebrate autumn and share our plant families. Bring a few healthy houseplant clippings started in small pots and bring home some new wee plants.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

12pm-1:30pm

Everyone is welcome!

Nurture at the King Farmers Market

Nurture will have a family tent at the King Farmers Market on Sundays from 10am-2pm at NE Wygant and 7th Ave. for breastfeeding, diaper changing, and more. Stop by, support your local farmers, and visit us whether or not you need to change a diaper or nurse. We will have some basic supplies available, a table for changing diapers, a chair for nursing, a children's clothing exchange box, and various other goodies on different weeks throughout the remainder of the farmers market season (September 27th). We look forward to seeing you there!