A Life Decluttered: A Period of Adjustment

When my baby girl (finally) arrived on December 6th (take THAT, November 23rd due date, said she), my life changed. I’d heard that phrase spoken many a time by new parents, and I can’t really improve upon it. So let’s not even try.

Asked by my nearest and dearest how I was doing, my answers revolved around my daughter’s sleep patterns. My brother-in-law visited and I referred to myself solely in the third person, and referenced my man as “daddy”. What was wrong with me?! It was humbling! Funny but whoa. Eating and sleeping. All consuming elements for a while there.

As the days turned into weeks then months, I slowly, slowly slowly started having room in my brain for other topics. But it took a while. And let’s be real: talking about sleep is still my go to.

I’d think of you all. And I’d think of this blog… How much I love it. How much enjoyment it gives me. How much I’ve learned from my readers and from myself by virtue of putting my simple living belief systems out into the world.

But I didn’t know what to write. And I feared the well had dried up.

Then one day, a flood of ideas pored forth and I realized something: I had just experienced a very natural, very normal period of adjustment. I’ve had them before, although this is the first since starting the blog. Periods of adjustment are a huge part of my life. Perhaps they are a part of yours to. They tend to last much longer than I ever expect (every.single.time.). During the adjustment, I often find myself turning inward, quieting down, trying to grasp how life has changed and how I fit into the new version.

So my silence here on the blog hasn’t been without reflection. In fact, my thoughts continue to revolve around creating a serene space for myself and for my family. I may not be writing about simple living, but I’ve certainly accrued a list of topics that I’m itching to share with you. I needed that period of adjustment to gather my thoughts as much as I needed it to settle into motherhood. (Do you ever really settle, though? I’m guessing not. I’m guessing the changes will keep me on my toes for eternity. And that’s a good thing… or so I’m telling myself. Wink, wink.) I needed time to realize how life as I knew it no longer served me. Then I needed time to create new systems that – hopefully – will add serenity to our home life moving forward. And as my babe grew, the list of topics lengthened.

It is my intention to return to blogging in a month or so, when my baby girl is about six months old. Where oh where did those six months go, I ask you? But I can answer that question, who am I kidding. It’s been spent healing my own bod and fattening hers up; reading her Anne of Green Gables (Too soon? Nopers.) and cuddling; spending hours with her napping on my chest, then spending double the hours teaching her to nap… NOT on my chest; observing the many discoveries she makes and glorying in the milestones (Guys, when she rolled from belly to back, I almost scared her with my cheers. Really.). And, as soon as I started feeling like myself and moving to my computer to write a blog to you, my blog-lovers, my body would say, “Hold on, you’re still on maternity leave. Here’s another round of mastitis to keep you laying low.” (True story.)

I’m emerging from this time even MORE convinced that simplicity is the key to a serene space. Even more convinced that clutter is a stressor; that stuff does not bring happiness or peace. And as my life gets fuller, my decluttering extends beyond just stuff. I’ll be talking cleaning products (or lack thereof) and electronics, activities and beauty products. Guys I may even blog about sleep (bringing it full circle here). Less is more when it comes to an organized approach to the art of simple, stylish living. Even with a baby! Even living in a four bedroom home! Especially with a baby! ESPECIALLY in a four bedroom home.

So bear with me. I look forward to returning on the regular soon. But first I must finish this last round of antibiotics, complete a rewrite of a script, and then, I will be back here sharing my discoveries, on this, my serene space.