Our toddler abruptly decided one day that she’s done with her crib, and thankfully it’s been a smooth (if sudden) transition both routine-wise and furniture-wise.

In my mind, there is an ideal time of year to have a birthday, and I’m afraid I flubbed it with both of my kids. Flippancy follows, you have been forewarned!

Even though I’m no longer in a corporate role, I still keep a busy daily schedule, one that’s now tailored to my family’s needs. A full-time parent’s job can be exhausting and all-consuming, but for the time being, I’m letting it consume me and feeling grateful to have the option.

As unminimalist as duplicates are, sometimes I have to let my kids have one of each toy in the interest of simplifying my life, which is a different but also valid minimalist goal.

My kids (as toddlers) sure make full use of just a few sounds to mean many different words — they are the ultimate minimalists in this regard!

We are as careful and particular about toys as we are about any other item that takes up space in our small home. We only keep the kids’ favorites, which I’m happy to share, because it can be really hard to predict what kids will like!

We’ve had to drastically change the way we travel with babies/toddlers/young children in tow. Gone are the globetrotting vacations of our childfree years; now we take “micro trips” that are short in both time and distance while adhering to our “micro humans’” schedules and routines (and demands). Traveling is one facet of my life I don’t seek to minimize, but the kids have involuntarily forced minimalism on me in this regard too!

Breastfeeding comes at a cost, whether that is physical, mental, emotional, or financial. We should stop calling it “free.”