I wrote a guest post for my friend, Cait Flanders this week. I don’t talk about our journey with adoption or why we were thrown head first into minimalism all too often around here.
I wrote this as a conversation with my dear friend, Cait. I thought about how I would explain our story into minimalism and what it looks like for a family of 7. I hope you enjoy it and get some encouragement out of it.
Jillian, that is an AMAZING post. You’re writing continues to blow me away. You are an incredible woman.
Hi Jillian!
I read your story! Thank your for sharing. I can relate to much of what you shared – while we’ve never adopted, having twins and a 20 month brought so much love and an abundance of stress into our lives and I couldn’t keep up. That’s when I found minimalism as well. I’ve gone through so many toy decluttering seasons in our home (and sneaking toys into the donation box as well). You inspired me to declutter again. Its so hard when families around you live differently and you feel like you might be being a mean mom or depriving your children. It’s so nice not to feel different, to feel like someone relates. I pulled out 3 sets of toys this morning and organized the rest up on a high shelf in our closet this morning!! The experiment begins!
Wow, that is a close grouping! =) Situations like that make minimalism a necessity, it’s just too crazy otherwise. Let me know how the toy shelf goes. My kids HATE picking up toys, just about as much as I hate the clutter. So it’s been a win all around.
Hi Jillian! Long time reader, first time poster. I found your site after I started haunting the fi/re blogs about a year ago, when I began looking for a way to simplify life and spend more time with family. This is the first post that truly resonated with me. My wife and I adopted a sibling set of 3 (ages 2, 5 and 9 now) a year and a half ago, and have been going through the same experiences you write so eloquently about. While most blogs like yours seem to originate from computer programmers or engineers who have simply had enough job stress, you come from a place and lifestyle I can truly relate with. Thanks for sharing your stories and advice!
Thanks so much for your comment Trevor and sharing a bit of your story! Wow, you guys are in the thick of it. =) Our adopted kids are 4,5,9 now plus a bio 2, and 10 year old. =) Adding that joy/stress/loud to life is good reason to look to simplify and create some margin. Knowing we wanted to adopt was a great reason for us to build more FI into our lives. I knew we would need the flexibility and margin. =) I wish I could give every adoptive parent of a sibling group a year of paid leave! Goodness knows they can use it. =)
Jillian – Thank you for sharing your vulnerability so candidly.
I love receiving your newsletter and notifications of new posts – and was surprised to actually visit your site recently and realized this post hadn’t been ‘advertised.’ I’m glad I didn’t miss it.
I’m so glad you liked it! I don’t always promote my guest posts, but I this one I really liked. =)
Yes to margin, yes to not doing homework, yes to fostering and adopting. I’ve enjoyed reading so many of your posts and have wondered about your adoption journey. We fostered for two years and were able to adopt a little girl. Thanks for sharing!
That is awesome you were foster parents! It’s such a long and emotionally challenging journey. I don’t write a lot about it because as I’m sure you know it’s just SO MUCH. But it often comes up on podcasts or in guest posts. =)
I’m not finding your original guest post. Would you be able to report it here on your blog? I would love to read it. We’re currently fostering and trying to go more minimal.