It’s that time of year again! Time when many people declutter, dust, spruce up, and renew their physical spaces, known as spring cleaning. It’s also a good practice to take this time to spring clean your parenting.
Revaluating our goals and practices every year helps us parent consciously so we don’t fall into bad or unconscious habits that may drag us down. As you take the next few weeks to renew your physical spaces, also take this time to renew your mental spaces. We tend to think of parenting as the physical act of feeding, diapering, bathing, teaching, and disciplining children, but how we approach these tasks all begin in the mind.
Below is a guide to spring clean your parenting.
1. Declutter Your Days
Are your days filled with too much activity? If you’re feeling irritable and constantly run-down, take this opportunity to re-evaluate your schedules and habits.
Have you taken on too many commitments?
Do you spend too much time on social media or Candy Crush?
Declutter your time.
I find that when I limit the time I spend on the internet, I have more time for things that really fill me up, like reading and writing. When I’m filled up, I’m more patient with my children and able to give more to my loved ones.
2. Declutter Your Goals
Perhaps it’s also time you declutter your ideals and goals. There is parenting advice and information coming at us non-stop these days. What we were told was definitely “right” yesterday can be disproven by the latest study today. With the constant stream of information comes a giant load of “shoulds” and “should nots” that need to be weeded through.
I found myself overwhelmed when I scoured several parenting pages per day, all offering conflicting advice. I decided on two or three trusted resources and drastically thinned out my Facebook feed and unsubscribed from loads of emails. I felt much less overwhelmed. Above all, I learned to listen to my own intuition.
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Along those lines, I also made lots of goals for my family that sounded great but left me feeling drained. Particularly because I homeschool, I had tons of educational ideals and goals that I had to look at realistically. I found I was comparing my ordinary days to someone else’s highlight reel, and it left me feeling like I was never doing enough. If that sounds familiar, it’s probably time for you to declutter your ideals as well.
3. Dust Off Your Things...and put them to use!
Believe me, I know that the hum-drum of daily responsibilities can take a toll that leaves you feeling a bit dusty. Winter is the worst on my psyche, so a good spring dusting is just what I need. Dust off your giggle box and find some reasons to laugh with your children. Dust off your CD player and turn up the music and dance with them.
Dust off the fancy dishes and use them for an ordinary meal. Dust off your dancing shoes, a beloved novel, the old sewing machine, or whatever used to bring you joy that has been long forgotten. These are not days to be withstood but enjoyed!
4. Dust Off Your Relationships
Dust off your relationships, too. Call an old friend you haven’t been in contact with in a while. Rekindle a bit of romance with your partner. Take your child out for a special treat, just the two of you, and study him or her. Get to know your loved ones again, in a new light, and delight in them. When you are feeling close and connected with those you love, you’re a better parent.
5. Spruce Up
Maybe the problem isn’t that you have too many commitments but not enough exciting ones. Perhaps it’s time to step out of your comfort zone. I’ve been wanting to take a dance class and learn how to play the piano. What am I waiting for?
We parents often put our own wishes and desires on the back burner as we serve our children and others first, but if we don’t fill ourselves up, too, we have nothing to pour out to others. This is your life! Spruce it up.
6. Renew
Have you slipped back into old habits that you were determined to kick at the start of the new year? Maybe you’re yelling again or your commitment to positive parenting is waning. Maybe you’re feeling like you’ve failed again and all is lost.
It is not lost. Set backs are opportunities to prove your strength and resolve. Whatever needs renewing or reviving in your life, and you’ll know what it is, spring is a beautiful time to make it happen.
“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” – Harriet Ann Jacobs