Stepping Lightly is not always about going down the easiest path you see ahead – it could mean making a choice that will have some steep hills and lots of mud to walk through for the sake of making your life better.
I have found that these past few weeks, I have really began to question the things around me and how I spend my time. Maybe there are small amounts of action going on visibly from the outside, but my mind is reeling with questions about which path to take on so many different issues.
First and foremost, I have began questioning the things that I buy. Usually it’s not until I get them at home and think, “Oh man.. I didn’t need this.” But that thought will be come an action next time. For example, I got a baby gift in the mail from an Aunt from Babies R Us. I opened it, and it was the baby monitor I had put on my list. After showing it to James, we both had a lightbulb go on saying, “Now was this necessary?! For $35 and all that plastic!” That might not have been the best thing on our registry – we will hear our baby cry, she will be safe where she is sleeping, and we both think it may have been excessive.
Beyond our purchases, we have began questioning how we spend our time. On and off this week, I will be using a chart from Living Simply With Children to fill in exactly how I have spent my day. It is amazing to me how much time I use the internet. I knew it was a lot, but I never realized it was that much.
First the thought, next the action. Some of these actions aren’t clear to me yet, so I am still standing at the fork in the road and believing that I will make the best choice to continue on my Stepping Lightly path.
In our last house, we found that that baby monitor actually was necessary, as our bedroom was clear across the house from Gen’s (once she had transitioned to her own room). Her room was completely soundproof (an addition by previous owners)!
It was also nice to hang out the window, so that we could do some weeding while she napped. However, in many homes, baby monitors do seem a bit unnecessary.
Check out freepeats and freecycle. You may not need to buy new pieces of plastic; you can just recycle someone else’s!
Oh, but that would involve the internet.
Blessings,
Michele
I do understand that baby monitors aren’t unnecessary in all circumstances, and I know even for my home it would be convenient to have if I have to go outside to weed, clean the car, get the dogs whatever because my receiver has a clip and I can wear it. We just know we could live without it.
I’ve never heard of freepeats. I’ll look into it. Thanks for sharing Michele!
You are so right, Jennifer!
(I wasn’t implying that I disagreed with you… sorry if I came across that way.) 
I think it is so fabulous how you guys are evaluating everything, as you prepare your home for little Miss Sprout. She will be so blessed!