I used to love the wee houses; when I first saw them I fell smitten with them. I was young. I was impressionable. I didn't know that there was anything else out there... until I found the tumbleweeds. I really like the idea of minimalist type living. Only having what you need, only using what you need. Some people think it's a bit crazy, and compared to how I live now it is crazy, but at the same time it's beautiful. I would love to build this house (yes, myself) and pare down all that I own to fit in that space.
The part that actually is crazy isn't fitting my life in there, it's fitting in my daughter. Kids come with an insurmountable amount of stuff. Toys, clothes, diapers, sippys, binkies, blankets, shoes, books... oh my the books, hair clips, toothbrushes, little pink pottys, the list goes on. It might be crazy but it's all I dream of. When I was younger, and maybe some still to this day, even when my parents didn't have any money I still had pretty much what I wanted. I wasn't spoiled exactly, I was just well loved with gifts. And now because of the multitude of gifts as a child, when the gifts stop coming, or just not as many, I tend to feel a little disappointed. And I can't help it. I try to talk my self out of it; it's silly, stupid, rude, and still.... Anyways, point being is that I don't want that for Matilda. I like the idea of 1-2 nice gifts for birthdays and holidays, and a few little things in between. A small smattering of well loved and well played with toys. Just enough, high quality, clothes that we can go a week-weekandahalf without washing laundry. This is not happening.
We live with Nana. Nana is a gift giver, as was my Grandma, as am I. It's in our blood damnit. Little tiny gift gnomes floating along with the red blood cells, riding them like ponies until they see marketing at it's best... they're suckers for impulse items by the check out... them bam! Next thing you know you're the proud new owner of a skirt, a toy mouse, and kleenex with skulls on them. So Matilda has toys, plenty of toys. The clothes? Enough 12mo. sized clothes to outfit an ankle biting army. And now her 1st birthday is rolling around and I'm putting on the brakes before she's old enough to catch on. Her birthday invites will say something along the lines of "If you insist on purchasing a birthday gift Matilda would ask that you donate to 'insert charity here' on her behalf or view her wishlist at 'insert URL here'." and the wishlist will have just a few things on it like nice wooden blocks and puzzles, or books.
Is that rude of me? Do I care? Ok I care a little, but I don't want a bunch of crap. I don't want a bunch of plastic crap especially.
