I'm not sure if this is in the right forum, but I'm looking for advice and wisdom from others who have btdt.
I've become increasingly dissatisfied with our families lifestyle and I'm wanting to head more in the direction of voluntary simplicity. My dh says he's on board, but I'm not sure if he's willing to simplify to the extent that I am. But mostly, it's my kids I'm concerned about. They are 6, 10 and 11 y/o and have only known excess. Think semi annual trips to Disney World with tons of spending money, think video games out the wazoo and other media bombardment, think little exercise and even less time outside in nature and diets of fast food and packaged, processed garbage. think 3200 square feet or plastic junk!
I don't even know where or how to begin and while I want to take the bull by the horns, the idea of getting us where I want us to be is completely overwhelming. And I'm worried that my kids are too old to accept being unplugged and that they just won't ever be able to entertain themselves in nature and they'll just be angry with me and chronically bored. Is it even reasonable to expect such worldy kids to be able to adjust or is it too much to expect? The little one will do fine and the middle child hasn't really ever been into stuff anyway, but the oldest has been saturated in this lifestyle since birth and seems to be almost addicted to it all.
Is it really possible to make such drastic changes and to expect an 11 year old to adjust? And where the heck do I even begin?
I've become increasingly dissatisfied with our families lifestyle and I'm wanting to head more in the direction of voluntary simplicity. My dh says he's on board, but I'm not sure if he's willing to simplify to the extent that I am. But mostly, it's my kids I'm concerned about. They are 6, 10 and 11 y/o and have only known excess. Think semi annual trips to Disney World with tons of spending money, think video games out the wazoo and other media bombardment, think little exercise and even less time outside in nature and diets of fast food and packaged, processed garbage. think 3200 square feet or plastic junk!
I don't even know where or how to begin and while I want to take the bull by the horns, the idea of getting us where I want us to be is completely overwhelming. And I'm worried that my kids are too old to accept being unplugged and that they just won't ever be able to entertain themselves in nature and they'll just be angry with me and chronically bored. Is it even reasonable to expect such worldy kids to be able to adjust or is it too much to expect? The little one will do fine and the middle child hasn't really ever been into stuff anyway, but the oldest has been saturated in this lifestyle since birth and seems to be almost addicted to it all.
Is it really possible to make such drastic changes and to expect an 11 year old to adjust? And where the heck do I even begin?