ASHLEY’S CORNER Leaning Toward a Simpler Style of Parenting
We came home from a family vacation a while ago to an unusual twist in our schedule: a few days off with no school, no sports, and no activities planned. Out of habit, my thoughts shifted into Cruise Ship Director mode: The kids are going to be bored! We should be planning trips to the zoo or the trampoline park! But our kids had a surprise for me: We just stayed home, and they entertained themselves! They played outside. They made up games. They fought Nerf battles. They built a model train town in the basement, including a fort and a zoo for their stuffed animals. They spent hours in imaginary play with simple toys. They even decided as a group to clean their rooms!
As Toph describes in his Cover article this month, we have been really
busy all spring, and many of our past summers have been heavily scheduled too, with multiple kids in multiple camps. That led to choppy days, broken up by multiple camp drop-offs and pick-ups. The kids complained that they had too little time for playing with friends or spontaneous trips to our community pool.
This year, I sat out the usual race to sign the kids up for multiple camps as soon as registration opened. Instead, I am leaning into a more minimalist schedule with a more relaxed daily rhythm. I’m sure there will be challenges. I’ll have to silence my inner Cruise Ship Director and just let the kids play. I may live to regret it when they come to me complaining, “What are we doing today? I’m bored!” But for now, a simpler approach to summer feels like just what my six-kid circus needs. Hopefully, my plan will provide what they want, too: More time with friends, more time at the community pool, and more time to go wherever their imaginations take them.
Their happiness underscored the theme of a book I’m reading, “Simplicity Parenting” by Kim John Payne. The author says today’s kids have too many
complicated toys, too many activities, too many choices, and too little unscheduled time. He recommends replacing back- to-back activities with a more laid-back daily rhythm, so kids can connect naturally with others.
That makes sense to me. My kids are entertained by their imaginations. They can have fun playing with
rocks and sticks. That’s the kind of thing “simplicity parenting” is supposed to encourage.
Take a Break
BLT CHOPPED SALAD
Ingredients
Salad • 8 slices thick-cut bacon (about 9 oz) • 1/2 cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil) • Hot water • 8 cups chopped kale, stems removed • 1/4 tsp kosher salt • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • 1 1/2 cup sweet corn
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese • 1/4 cup finely chopped green or red onion Dressing • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 3/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Directions
1. Bake bacon at 400 F until crisp, then pat dry, cool, and chop. 2. Submerge sun-dried tomatoes in very hot water for a few minutes, then drain and pat dry. 3. Place kale in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt, and massage until darker and tender (about 2 minutes). 4. Add sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, corn, bacon, feta, and onion. 5. Combine all dressing ingredients, mix well, then drizzle over salad and toss. 6. Chill 15 minutes if desired, or serve right away.
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