A Serene Mama (In the Making): Preparing for the Little One Part I
Since I’ve gotten pregnant, I’m often asked how I’m going to tackle motherhood... or more specifically, the inevitable accumulation of stuff. It’s a good question. I’ve been asking myself the same, to be quite honest. I am a first time mother, but I’m also a minimalist! How the two will merge will be an ever-evolving process, and so I’m starting A Serene Mama, a new series on the blog (in addition to my other series: A Life Decluttered, The Interview, Tip, Top Ten, Serene Travels & A Serene Plate).
This new series is in no way an advice column, guys! How can I emphasize that enough?! I cannot emphasize that enough. I am pro-mommy, meaning I am a champion for every woman out there making the best choices for herself and her little one. There are so many choices! There are so many people who swear by a certain method or brand or approach to parenting! And it’s all good. So please, if you continue to read this series, know that whatever gems I pass along sprout from my own personal experience that is unique to me, my baby and my man.
That said, there is undoubtedly a lot of stuff needed for the little bun in the oven, even if you're going the minimalist route. And while I plan to move into this new phase of my life keeping it as simple as possible, I’m not going to stress out by the accumulation. The WHOLE POINT of an organized approach to the art of simple, stylish living is to de-stress, not to add stress. But I do plan to use what tools I’ve accumulated thus far in my life, and apply them to motherhood. I'm ready to make a lot of mistakes. But I'll do my best to keep it simple, starting with my top three tenants:
Conscious consuming.
Observing and learning from the simple, stylish mothers who have gone before me, such as interviewee, Allie H.
Continuing to live by one of my top favorite quotes, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” ~William Morris
A few years ago, I moved in with my man… and donated half of his house to charity. We didn’t need all that stuff. When we got married we asked for donations to charities in lieu of gifts. It wasn’t a time in our life where we needed to acquire much. (Full disclosure, my aunt and cousins threw me one gorgeous, intimate wedding shower. I got linens and everyday dishes… and I felt like I’d won the lottery.)
As we enter this new phase, we have empty shelves ready to be filled. We don’t have to declutter now, because we declutter as we move through life. As a result, we’ve had some extra room waiting for this little one for quite some time. Our space is ready to grow with our family. In the coming months I’ll be sharing what I learn about preparing for a little one - from tips I find useful for a serene pregnancy to tackling maternity wear, from creating a minimalist baby registry to designing a simple, stylish nursery.
I hope you read along, and I’d love to hear your experiences too.
