I know it has been a while, but shortly after coming back from our last major trip, we received notice that it was time to move. I had planned on moving in January; a time when I am flush with funds and the winter cold makes travel seem less inviting. The economy and my landlord had much different plans for my family.
The last few months have been rough, and I am still not sure where everything is, but learning and growing are still happening every day. As an example, my son surprised me numerous times during this stressful period. One of the biggest surprises was how easily he was able to downsize. You heard that right, downsize, because being a toddler means that everything is precious, especially toys.
With moving day on the horizon, and the knowledge that we needed to downsize our lives severely, trips to the Goodwill Donation Center were a daily event. I was shocked one day, when my son grabbed a box and started putting toys in it. He would say “I don’t really like this toy anymore” or “this doesn’t fit me.” Before long, he had a box filled with toys, clothes and costumes that he wanted to give to another kid to use. Wow!
Since I knew I needed to downsize, I had been using the two box method: one for keeps and one for charity. Having watched me for several weeks, my son was able to internalize this lesson and implement it. He showed me that learning by example can be powerful. It was also a much needed reminder that my little one watches my every move and I am still his primary teacher for life’s lessons.