My mother moved in with us 8 months ago. It is a permanent move. She has stuff. It's not a lot, but still stuff that wasn't in my home before. I have been a minimalist for most of my life. I have struggled with her stuff in my home, but after seeing this video I realize that this extra bit of stuff symbolizes my mother now living in a happy, healthy, loving home with us. She is safe and happier than she's been in a long time. Thank you, Erica, for helping me see this. ❤
You tell those beautiful babies we of the internet think they did a fantastic job creating an amazing Lego city ❤ you're doing a great job mom and setting a winning example of intentional living for them while not stifling creativity or expression...❤to you all
One of my fondest childhood memories is a table that we had in our playroom that was super big, and we were allowed to keep out what we built for a couple of weeks. It turned into a mixture of Legos, blocks and Barbies, and was so fun, I still remember, becoming fully immersed in it with my sister, and it being a highlight of my childhood. I’m 49 years old now and I still remember it. 🥰
I'm so surprised to see so many comments suggesting that your children need to learn how to clean up after themselves and/or be given boundaries to build with Lego elsewhere. I think the whole point of this video is that you did have all of those same discussions internally and decided what works for you and your family. In this instance YOU ARE OKAY with where they are working (in the heart of the home) and THEY WILL CLEAN UP later! It doesn't matter if other families would handle this differently because you are at peace and appreciative of your current life. Thanks for this message! I am learning to engage in productive inner dialogue too!
Erica, you're really outdoing yourself lately! Hearing you explain all the different systems and perspectives that you've discovered more in-depth gives me a lot of joy and something to think about. I especially loved the "messes have meaning" part and how you approached your kids messes in this video!
Wow, our messes have messages. I needed to hear that! It made me look at those projects waiting to be worked on or in progress much differently! Thank you!
Erica, your children are so sweet and it is really nice watching them being so free spirited and enjoying their imaginative play. I love that you and Andy (as the adults) make an equal amount of space in your home for them and you both respect their wants and needs. One thing though, may I suggest now that they are getting a little older that they spend some time focusing on picking things up off the floor if they drop them or they fall. This will help reinforce the idea that homes should be reasonably tidy. This could be part of a broader lesson on respecting the things the own and as a consequence looking after them properly.
This is exactly what I wanted to say. The idea of picking things up and taking care of them, is extremely important and teaches far more than just being tidy. It teaches respect and responsibility and also if toys are cared for they last longer and cost less and not having to buy more legos all the time saves money- the keystone of building wealth.
This is a very helpful idea for me to implement in my home. I appreciate it! I have four children, within a similar age group to Erica’s, and I have also been working on decluttering our home over the past several years. I feel our home is a lovely place to live now but it still gets very messy. We are working on having regular tidy up times together snd it’s helping! However I didn’t think about talking to my children about picking things up as soon as they are dropped. It sounds silly that this is a novel idea to me but being tidy doesn’t come naturally to me either! I am working on being a better example to them so I appreciate your help, thank you! ☺️
@@Jo-hello It isn’t silly at all not to have implemented automatic pick-up routines. I am sure you are a wonderful example to your children. Thank you for appreciating my idea.
Erica, Thank you for your videos. I've followed you throughout your massive decluttering journey. You've definitely have come a long way. Thank you for inspiring me & always being REAL. Blessings to you & your family.
Thank you! I try to make videos and write blogs that I needed back then... just real life stuff. Messes happen and minimalism does not cure the anxiety from it... just helps me deal with it better. :)
Erica, you have come such a long way. Yes, clutter does bother most of us, but your family having fun and helping where they can at the ages they are, helps us see that we can handle more than we thought. Keep moving forward and teaching the great lessons with you children in your happy, safe, fun home. It brings out their creativity !! Thanks for sharing !!
So timely! I’m watching your video from my couch & at my feet on the lounge room mat is a Lego scrap yard my son created yesterday - he was so amazed when he woke up this morning & it was still there. I received such a big hug & a thank you mama ❤️ Minimalism has created space in my life so I can leave a Lego creation out overnight & not be anxious. Best wishes!
This was awesome! I loved your thoughts on making room for kids to feel like they can live and be themselves there, and how changing how you see a "mess" and react to it. It was really beautiful and really important to me right now. Thank you so much!
Exactly what I needed this morning! Feeling behind as spring approaches. Even as I’ve simplified, I still get overwhelmed. Thanks for reminding me to focus on how things function over how they look.
PROFOUND PERSPECTIVE and message. I look forward to your videos. There's always a practical and MEMORABLE takeaway. Love the way you extend GRACE towards your children and family as a whole.❤
That’s great!! Even though our home is way more simplified than it was 2 years ago, I still have a lot of anxiety attached to messes. I feel like a mess triggers my thinking that my house is going back to like it was before. I need to work through that and overcome that fear. ❤
Great video! The kids are very talented with Lego’s! Toys left on the floor has gone on since time began! The kids will learn and pick up stuff as they grow up. They are a bit young to understand that. A memory Andy made me recall. We had a sewing machine when I was growing up, no one knew how to use it. My dad sat down and taught himself how to use it. He hemmed choir robes, sewed on scout badges, etc. I made me think back to that.Such a good memory. It’s been over 50 some years ago. Thanks for the memory!
Erica, I'm so glad that your kids are able to pick up there messes. As a mom that I am I feel that it's hard to get kids to pick up there messes cause my daughter has a hard time picking up her messes cause of her ADHD also cause of her anxiety disorder too.
Thanks for this reminder… I needed it. As I continue to try systems in our home with tidy up times so that I can relax when the kids are playing knowing it will get cleaned up
Think back to three years ago when you first decluttered your home in PA; you had three children: six, five, and three. You have two fantastic cooks in your kitchen who want to cook besides you and Andy. I am sure as Jack grows older, he, too, will want to cook. (There are no italics or bold in the comments, and I dislike using capital letters.) Your children want to help you. (I emphasize the word "want" in these previous sentences.) Just the fact they are older and able to help more is also a testament to keeping your house where you want it. I am sure they vaguely remember a stressed mom from when they lived in PA. The current mom is happy (perhaps not 24/7; if you are, where do you get your "happy pills" because I want some. 🙂), less stressed, and they can find what they need when needed. Life evolves as your children age. You, Andy, and the kids change as you live your simpler lifestyle.
I think it’s great with such different ages. They still have some thing in common that they like to play with. That will build quite a few memories and their relationships with each other.❤
This was perfect timing for me and I really needed to hear messes have messages, thank you so much 👏 Have a great weekend. I know ye celebrate Mothers Day on a different date but I’m wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday. Have a great weekend. Mary, Joes wife 🙇♀️👏👍💪🙏💐
I like the way you talk about the messes and the systems you put in place to keep them in check, how you use the legos as a part of that explanation. It gives me so much insight into my own thought process about messes! Have a nice weekend! Cristien
Great video. You are so very down to earth. Practical, realistic advise. Well done. I have so enjoyed watching you evolve to where you are now. I recently revisited a video of a couple years ago, and find myself thinking, "that's my girl." You worked so hard. Just wonderful!
So Thankful that I found your channel...Super Therapeutic Family ❤️🙏❤️ Teachers and Parents everywhere needs to see your family simple tips and Process ❤️🙏❤️ Love to You and Your...May God always give you all strength to continue your teaching. Pace yourself as the Children grows ❤️🙏❤️
I’m a nana/ grandma and when I have my grandchildren I sometimes get anxious because my house gets messy. I do have them often but in fact, it does not take much time to tidy again. And I want them to want to come play and stay overnight. It is okay 😊
This is so true ! I’ve been feeling like that recently ! Doing a gigantic declutteringv/ cleaning ! Giving most to charity , sold some stuff on Facebook marketplace ! My anxiety has been really high ! My child is perfectly capable refuse to do anything ! Ugh ! 😂
Erica, your video popped up randomly in my feed. It was wonderful. You're such an encourager. Thank you for sharing so honestly and vulnerably. I've subscribed and looking forward to sharing your journey.
Hi dear Erica it's always a Joy to listen to what you have learned and are willing to share and show us The fact that you give the children space to be themselves and grow in such a beautiful loving and safe environment is so precious to see I am not much of a computer person but try to catch your lovely videos every week It's such a blessing and very helpful Big hug and a "woof" to Ranger from Beano our red setter 😊X
You are amazing. I have watched your journey and I admire all the physical and mental effort you've put into making your home a space that reflects the life you want to build for your family. So impressive and inspiring! Thank you for sharing all the ups and downs you've experienced along the way. Much love and prayers for your continued success! 🙏❤
I’ve been on my minalism journey for 4 years ! I have severe ADD I realized in 2020 that clutter gave me anxiety and stress ! Then one adult son and his girl moved in with us in dec /,2019 and lived with us until Sept/ 21 .My adult kids have ADHD both him and his girlfriend were slobs ! I can’t stand how my other adult kid that will always live with us Makes a mess of her room ! My eldest 33 is the cleanest kid I have ! I Thank you for this video , I just realized the clutter that will be going to charity is driving me crazy !! Sometimes we don’t even realize it !!
Sue Wolfe- I also have 3 children (sons) who are now grown with children of their own. Legos were a huge thing in our home, as well. I always enjoyed the amazing things they and my grandchildren have come up with to build. I did limit their play to an area that was in our family room. Not our dining room table, we had to eat there. I don't think you're discouraging creativity by creating boundaries for it. As parents, the ones in charge, we have to set them for our children so that they learn to live within them and how to set them for others.
It looks like you were washing the red grapes, laying them on a paper towel to dry, then putting them in a screw top jar to go in the fridge. Do they last longer that way? I find when I buy them, even though a lot of them are eaten, some become rotten and are wasted. How do you make them last? I hate waste. Nice video. Thank you!❤️🐈
Yes, I wash them in a vinegar-water solution and let them soak. Then I rinse, dry, and pop into mason jars with lids. Fruit doesn't stick around my house so I'm not sure how long they would keep. Works for the 4-5 days we have them in house.
You have control a long way. A game I played with my kids was let's see who can pick up the most in 10 minutes. It could get quite exciting as a competition.
You're doing a great job. Sooner rather than later you will miss these days.....plus you have a kitchen table and I'm sure you have tv trays and a TV room. It will be just fine. Their little minds and hearts are busy TOGETHER, imagine that! That will happen less and less often, as they age. I suggest you take some pictures and video of the progress and in 20 years show them how they USED TO get along.
Great video, Erica. Do you notice a difference with your husband and children with how things are now as opposed to before when your place was full of stuff?
I'm stuck in the messy middle of being triggered by the minimal toy clutter that happens with my creative kids and their Lego and such. It's truly not a huge mess. But I'm struggling to be ok with "the least bit" of clutter. 🙉🙊💓
If I lived alone, my house would be very different (and have WAY less stuff in it), but I don't live alone. We keep on top of daily cleaning/tidying routines. A clean and functional house is easier to keep clean. Our home isn't minimalist, it isn't even all that attractive, but it works and the space does what it needs to do for us. Good video - real life. I get so tired of the Me and My 43 Possessions, and this lonely little potted plant for "decor." (I end up feeling sorry for the plant.)
Hi Erica. Thanks for your videos. You are at the point where I am at. Where I am not to shame myself for the things that I have in my house. But celebrate that which I really love. I want to think that you had large tables in your basement. Would it help you with your stress if the stressful items that you had could be kept in the basement. Just a thought.
Our home in the sustain phase of decluttering. Our kids are away in college. They are currently home for spring break. Is the house out of sorts. YES. The kids leave a few hours a day to catch up with friends. It takes me less than and hour to bring it back and do my daily. Are their rooms a disaster? Yes. But, I know the they will make the bed and repack the clothes they brought at weeks end. Do I have a pile of replenishment Costco and grocery items sitting in my family room. Yes. We are available to them without household duties. It’s been a nice change.
When my dining room table and kitchen counters are loaded with stuff, it causes me great anxiety. It doesn't bother my husband because he never puts anything away.
Andy is setting up a table for larger puzzles in the basement. Great minds think alike! I don't really want to hang out down there with them while they play legos for now, though.
I have to apply it to my husband's side of the bed... his nightstand and clothes on the floor by the bed. That's his process... and it's not clutter to him. Oh man... do I want to just SCOOP IT UP!
I thought about it when I was finalizing the editing that I did not name him. He protects all of us in our house! I can't sleep well when he's not around. :)
@@EricaLucasLoves I knew it was an accidental oversight. I'm glad he was able to stop going away given you find it difficult to sleep when he's away. : )
IErica, I love your videos but this video is very hard to watch with one subject being talked about and other, only tangentally-related things happening in the video footage. In the end I settled on listening through once, and watching on mute a second time.
dear erica, it may be that your kids should learn not to throw everything on the floor, but to learn how to deal with things differently. appreciative of what you have and not being able to use so many things. to be more focused on what they're playing with. love to see your videos, but this is what i m thinking of all the time
She did say that the kids will pick up the Legos - just because she didn't specifically discuss the kids' role in checking the floor doesn't mean it doesn't happen. My kiddo is good about picking up, but things still get missed, and there are times when I do the picking up. I am the one that is bothered by it after all and it's happier when it's tidy.
My mother moved in with us 8 months ago. It is a permanent move. She has stuff. It's not a lot, but still stuff that wasn't in my home before. I have been a minimalist for most of my life. I have struggled with her stuff in my home, but after seeing this video I realize that this extra bit of stuff symbolizes my mother now living in a happy, healthy, loving home with us. She is safe and happier than she's been in a long time. Thank you, Erica, for helping me see this. ❤
You tell those beautiful babies we of the internet think they did a fantastic job creating an amazing Lego city ❤ you're doing a great job mom and setting a winning example of intentional living for them while not stifling creativity or expression...❤to you all
One of my fondest childhood memories is a table that we had in our playroom that was super big, and we were allowed to keep out what we built for a couple of weeks. It turned into a mixture of Legos, blocks and Barbies, and was so fun, I still remember, becoming fully immersed in it with my sister, and it being a highlight of my childhood. I’m 49 years old now and I still remember it. 🥰
I'm so surprised to see so many comments suggesting that your children need to learn how to clean up after themselves and/or be given boundaries to build with Lego elsewhere. I think the whole point of this video is that you did have all of those same discussions internally and decided what works for you and your family. In this instance YOU ARE OKAY with where they are working (in the heart of the home) and THEY WILL CLEAN UP later! It doesn't matter if other families would handle this differently because you are at peace and appreciative of your current life. Thanks for this message! I am learning to engage in productive inner dialogue too!
Erica, you're really outdoing yourself lately! Hearing you explain all the different systems and perspectives that you've discovered more in-depth gives me a lot of joy and something to think about. I especially loved the "messes have meaning" part and how you approached your kids messes in this video!
Me too! I appreciated it. It really helps reframe the desire to order things to have joy about the creativity and safety of the children / home.
Thank you! I've been taking my time filming and editing and trying to enjoy it more deeply. I hope that shows in the latest videos!
Wow, our messes have messages. I needed to hear that! It made me look at those projects waiting to be worked on or in progress much differently! Thank you!
Erica, your children are so sweet and it is really nice watching them being so free spirited and enjoying their imaginative play. I love that you and Andy (as the adults) make an equal amount of space in your home for them and you both respect their wants and needs. One thing though, may I suggest now that they are getting a little older that they spend some time focusing on picking things up off the floor if they drop them or they fall. This will help reinforce the idea that homes should be reasonably tidy. This could be part of a broader lesson on respecting the things the own and as a consequence looking after them properly.
Amen! I second all of this. ♥️👍
This is exactly what I wanted to say. The idea of picking things up and taking care of them, is extremely important and teaches far more than just being tidy. It teaches respect and responsibility and also if toys are cared for they last longer and cost less and not having to buy more legos all the time saves money- the keystone of building wealth.
This is a very helpful idea for me to implement in my home. I appreciate it! I have four children, within a similar age group to Erica’s, and I have also been working on decluttering our home over the past several years. I feel our home is a lovely place to live now but it still gets very messy. We are working on having regular tidy up times together snd it’s helping! However I didn’t think about talking to my children about picking things up as soon as they are dropped. It sounds silly that this is a novel idea to me but being tidy doesn’t come naturally to me either! I am working on being a better example to them so I appreciate your help, thank you! ☺️
@@Jo-hello It isn’t silly at all not to have implemented automatic pick-up routines. I am sure you are a wonderful example to your children. Thank you for appreciating my idea.
Erica, Thank you for your videos. I've followed you throughout your massive decluttering journey. You've definitely have come a long way. Thank you for inspiring me & always being REAL. Blessings to you & your family.
Ditto!! Well said. Gold star Erica.
@@glendaw5221 thanks!
Thank you! I try to make videos and write blogs that I needed back then... just real life stuff. Messes happen and minimalism does not cure the anxiety from it... just helps me deal with it better. :)
Such a gentle take on living with family and their activities. Beautiful video 🌻🍄
Absolutely!
Erica, you have come such a long way. Yes, clutter does bother most of us, but your family having fun and helping where they can at the ages they are, helps us see that we can handle more than we thought. Keep moving forward and teaching the great lessons with you children in your happy, safe, fun home. It brings out their creativity !! Thanks for sharing !!
So timely! I’m watching your video from my couch & at my feet on the lounge room mat is a Lego scrap yard my son created yesterday - he was so amazed when he woke up this morning & it was still there. I received such a big hug & a thank you mama ❤️ Minimalism has created space in my life so I can leave a Lego creation out overnight & not be anxious. Best wishes!
That's awesome! I love that he woke up to his creations instead of thinking of it as you waking up to a mess. It helps!
This was awesome! I loved your thoughts on making room for kids to feel like they can live and be themselves there, and how changing how you see a "mess" and react to it. It was really beautiful and really important to me right now. Thank you so much!
Glad you spent time with met today!
Exactly what I needed this morning! Feeling behind as spring approaches. Even as I’ve simplified, I still get overwhelmed. Thanks for reminding me to focus on how things function over how they look.
🙌🏽 Indeed❕
Wonderful! I'm so glad you shared a part of your day with me. I'm sitting next to that Lego City writing to you right now! :)
@@EricaLucasLoves yay!
PROFOUND PERSPECTIVE and message. I look forward to your videos. There's always a practical and MEMORABLE takeaway. Love the way you extend GRACE towards your children and family as a whole.❤
That’s great!! Even though our home is way more simplified than it was 2 years ago, I still have a lot of anxiety attached to messes. I feel like a mess triggers my thinking that my house is going back to like it was before. I need to work through that and overcome that fear. ❤
Great video! The kids are very talented with Lego’s! Toys left on the floor has gone on since time began! The kids will learn and pick up stuff as they grow up. They are a bit young to understand that. A memory Andy made me recall. We had a sewing machine when I was growing up, no one knew how to use it. My dad sat down and taught himself how to use it. He hemmed choir robes, sewed on scout badges, etc. I made me think back to that.Such a good memory. It’s been over 50 some years ago. Thanks for the memory!
Erica, I'm so glad that your kids are able to pick up there messes. As a mom that I am I feel that it's hard to get kids to pick up there messes cause my daughter has a hard time picking up her messes cause of her ADHD also cause of her anxiety disorder too.
Oh Vanessa... it's hard. Real hard some days. My older two kids have ADHD and getting them to focus on something is difficult at times.
I love the grape snack cups. Such an inviting way to have a yummy snack.
Thanks for this reminder… I needed it. As I continue to try systems in our home with tidy up times so that I can relax when the kids are playing knowing it will get cleaned up
Think back to three years ago when you first decluttered your home in PA; you had three children: six, five, and three. You have two fantastic cooks in your kitchen who want to cook besides you and Andy. I am sure as Jack grows older, he, too, will want to cook. (There are no italics or bold in the comments, and I dislike using capital letters.) Your children want to help you. (I emphasize the word "want" in these previous sentences.) Just the fact they are older and able to help more is also a testament to keeping your house where you want it.
I am sure they vaguely remember a stressed mom from when they lived in PA. The current mom is happy (perhaps not 24/7; if you are, where do you get your "happy pills" because I want some. 🙂), less stressed, and they can find what they need when needed. Life evolves as your children age. You, Andy, and the kids change as you live your simpler lifestyle.
Another great video! Thanks for showing real life and making the rest of us feel less alone in our struggles. ❤❤❤
Great outlook!! What you are sharing is so very important for adults and the children they love and care for!
I think it’s great with such different ages. They still have some thing in common that they like to play with. That will build quite a few memories and their relationships with each other.❤
This was perfect timing for me and I really needed to hear messes have messages, thank you so much 👏 Have a great weekend. I know ye celebrate Mothers Day on a different date but I’m wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday. Have a great weekend. Mary, Joes wife 🙇♀️👏👍💪🙏💐
Thanks Mary!
I like the way you talk about the messes and the systems you put in place to keep them in check, how you use the legos as a part of that explanation. It gives me so much insight into my own thought process about messes! Have a nice weekend! Cristien
Great video. You are so very down to earth. Practical, realistic advise. Well done. I have so enjoyed watching you evolve to where you are now. I recently revisited a video of a couple years ago, and find myself thinking, "that's my girl." You worked so hard. Just wonderful!
You just made me cry with "that's my girl" - I work really hard at sharing videos that help people. Thank you!
Their mess is not your mess…love this! 💜
You have such a lovely demeanor. Thank you for sharing your advice in such a kind and calm manner. 😊
So Thankful that I found your channel...Super Therapeutic Family ❤️🙏❤️ Teachers and Parents everywhere needs to see your family simple tips and Process ❤️🙏❤️ Love to You and Your...May God always give you all strength to continue your teaching. Pace yourself as the Children grows ❤️🙏❤️
Thanks!
I’m a nana/ grandma and when I have my grandchildren I sometimes get anxious because my house gets messy. I do have them often but in fact, it does not take much time to tidy again. And I want them to want to come play and stay overnight. It is okay 😊
Such a beautiful message! Great video ❤
This is so true ! I’ve been feeling like that recently ! Doing a gigantic declutteringv/ cleaning ! Giving most to charity , sold some stuff on Facebook marketplace ! My anxiety has been really high ! My child is perfectly capable refuse to do anything ! Ugh ! 😂
You have come so far Erica! So proud of you!
Erica, your video popped up randomly in my feed. It was wonderful. You're such an encourager. Thank you for sharing so honestly and vulnerably. I've subscribed and looking forward to sharing your journey.
When I get decluttered enough so there's a place for everything, a mess isn't so intimidating. Thank you for this video.
Hi dear Erica it's always a Joy to listen to what you have learned and are willing to share and show us The fact that you give the children space to be themselves and grow in such a beautiful loving and safe environment is so precious to see
I am not much of a computer person but try to catch your lovely videos every week It's such a blessing and very helpful
Big hug and a "woof" to Ranger from Beano our red setter 😊X
This was a great video! Thank you for sharing your life and home. A message I really took to heart.
You are amazing. I have watched your journey and I admire all the physical and mental effort you've put into making your home a space that reflects the life you want to build for your family. So impressive and inspiring! Thank you for sharing all the ups and downs you've experienced along the way. Much love and prayers for your continued success! 🙏❤
I’ve been on my minalism journey for 4 years ! I have severe ADD I realized in 2020 that clutter gave me anxiety and stress ! Then one adult son and his girl moved in with us in dec /,2019 and lived with us until Sept/ 21 .My adult kids have ADHD both him and his girlfriend were slobs ! I can’t stand how my other adult kid that will always live with us Makes a mess of her room ! My eldest 33 is the cleanest kid I have ! I Thank you for this video , I just realized the clutter that will be going to charity is driving me crazy !! Sometimes we don’t even realize it !!
Glad you were here today!
Sue Wolfe- I also have 3 children (sons) who are now grown with children of their own. Legos were a huge thing in our home, as well. I always enjoyed the amazing things they and my grandchildren have come up with to build. I did limit their play to an area that was in our family room. Not our dining room table, we had to eat there. I don't think you're discouraging creativity by creating boundaries for it. As parents, the ones in charge, we have to set them for our children so that they learn to live within them and how to set them for others.
Thanks Sue!
It looks like you were washing the red grapes, laying them on a paper towel to dry, then putting them in a screw top jar to go in the fridge. Do they last longer that way? I find when I buy them, even though a lot of them are eaten, some become rotten and are wasted. How do you make them last? I hate waste. Nice video. Thank you!❤️🐈
Yes, I wash them in a vinegar-water solution and let them soak. Then I rinse, dry, and pop into mason jars with lids. Fruit doesn't stick around my house so I'm not sure how long they would keep. Works for the 4-5 days we have them in house.
Love this❤️
I love your countertops
You have control a long way.
A game I played with my kids was let's see who can pick up the most in 10 minutes. It could get quite exciting as a competition.
I understand . I started reorganizing my mess and my anxiety is not as intense
You are so wise!👏👏👏👏👏👏
You're doing a great job. Sooner rather than later you will miss these days.....plus you have a kitchen table and I'm sure you have tv trays and a TV room. It will be just fine. Their little minds and hearts are busy TOGETHER, imagine that! That will happen less and less often, as they age. I suggest you take some pictures and video of the progress and in 20 years show them how they USED TO get along.
Great video, Erica.
Do you notice a difference with your husband and children with how things are now as opposed to before when your place was full of stuff?
I’ve been looking for a way to store lego kits! I like what you guys did!
Indeed, reframing is everything. 🙂
I'm stuck in the messy middle of being triggered by the minimal toy clutter that happens with my creative kids and their Lego and such. It's truly not a huge mess. But I'm struggling to be ok with "the least bit" of clutter. 🙉🙊💓
If I lived alone, my house would be very different (and have WAY less stuff in it), but I don't live alone. We keep on top of daily cleaning/tidying routines. A clean and functional house is easier to keep clean. Our home isn't minimalist, it isn't even all that attractive, but it works and the space does what it needs to do for us.
Good video - real life. I get so tired of the Me and My 43 Possessions, and this lonely little potted plant for "decor." (I end up feeling sorry for the plant.)
Hi Erica. Thanks for your videos. You are at the point where I am at. Where I am not to shame myself for the things that I have in my house. But celebrate that which I really love. I want to think that you had large tables in your basement. Would it help you with your stress if the stressful items that you had could be kept in the basement. Just a thought.
Awesome video! I
Our home in the sustain phase of decluttering. Our kids are away in college. They are currently home for spring break. Is the house out of sorts. YES. The kids leave a few hours a day to catch up with friends. It takes me less than and hour to bring it back and do my daily. Are their rooms a disaster? Yes. But, I know the they will make the bed and repack the clothes they brought at weeks end. Do I have a pile of replenishment Costco and grocery items sitting in my family room. Yes. We are available to them without household duties. It’s been a nice change.
Each season brings new messes. Love that you are enjoying the kids being home!
When my dining room table and kitchen counters are loaded with stuff, it causes me great anxiety. It doesn't bother my husband because he never puts anything away.
I’m building Lego as iI’m watching this video 😊 my husband got me the Rivendell ser for valentines day
NICE!!!!
Maybe you could set up a table in the basement for your children's building.
Andy is setting up a table for larger puzzles in the basement. Great minds think alike! I don't really want to hang out down there with them while they play legos for now, though.
This reframing video is great, Erica. I’m thinking how I can apply that with a husband’s clutter 😱😂
I have to apply it to my husband's side of the bed... his nightstand and clothes on the floor by the bed. That's his process... and it's not clutter to him. Oh man... do I want to just SCOOP IT UP!
The Lego anxiety is REAL! Your reframing is inspiring!❤ Also, where is your beautiful apron from? 😅
I bought it from a local shop in Annapolis called Welcome Home. Here's a link to their store: welcomehomemarkets.com/
@@EricaLucasLoves Thank you! I'll check it out. 💛 There's something about a good apron that makes all the chores easier and more fun 😄
Erica , your children are very sweet ! My daughter is sweet but extremely lazy 😢
Erica! Your children are also protected by their father, your husband - you know, that Navy guy that lives with you! :)
I thought about it when I was finalizing the editing that I did not name him. He protects all of us in our house! I can't sleep well when he's not around. :)
@@EricaLucasLoves I knew it was an accidental oversight. I'm glad he was able to stop going away given you find it difficult to sleep when he's away. : )
My kid is playing legos as is watch this 😂
I LOVE THIS!
Why don't you have two tables.? I think it would be worth it for the children and your sanity.
We have a breakfast table in the kitchen.
IErica, I love your videos but this video is very hard to watch with one subject being talked about and other, only tangentally-related things happening in the video footage. In the end I settled on listening through once, and watching on mute a second time.
OK thanks for this feedback! I've been trying to show more of daily life while chatting about stuff. I will keep this in mind as I make more videos!
Each mess has a mess-age
dear erica, it may be that your kids should learn not to throw everything on the floor, but to learn how to deal with things differently. appreciative of what you have and not being able to use so many things. to be more focused on what they're playing with. love to see your videos, but this is what i m thinking of all the time
Consider that things FALL on the floor.
They are very young. It will come.
If you’d been following their journey, you’d know this is already happening.
She did say that the kids will pick up the Legos - just because she didn't specifically discuss the kids' role in checking the floor doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
My kiddo is good about picking up, but things still get missed, and there are times when I do the picking up. I am the one that is bothered by it after all and it's happier when it's tidy.
We do a tidy reset each day... stuff gets picked up then. I just swept because the job needed doing. :)