You know what? we have a lot of THINGS - but travel - adventure - is about so much more than accumulating more stuff. I asked my 5 year old what we should talk about as our final wrap up for this "Seek Adventure Together" series, and she said "I know! Let's talk about love, and friendship!"
So in this final wrap-up, we're going to address the issue of stuff bogging us down as well as Juliet's favorite subjects, love and friendship (also known as family connection).
In Season 6 on the podcast, we are diving into this one beautiful priority:
Seek Adventure Together.
Listen to this episode on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn, YouTube, iHeartRadio or your RSS Feed
Tiny Home, Big Adventure
Now, as always, before we dive in too far, here's what's going on in our world.
North Dakota - goodness the storms were bad, yet as usual... #BLESSED. As we watched tornados, damaging winds and hail move all around us, we stayed safe. Overall, we've anticipated smooth travels...and that's what we've gotten!
Birthdays - Yes, it's our birthday weekend. June 2nd was Ashley's, June 3rd was Nathans. And instead of a big birthday shin-dig, we're passing on the love to YOU!
It's our birthday!
In celebration, we have a special "Pay What You Wish" gift for you -
You pick your price!
Nathan, born June 3rd...and 364 days later, Ashley was born on June 2nd!​
This wraps up our sixth and final series in the podcast. Stay tuned for more Q&A in our podcasts as we switch to that format, jumping between the 6 themes we've focused on so far. If you have a question you want answered, ask us here!
Here are our questions for this week:
- I don't know what to bring - I have too much stuff!
- You don't need what you think you need...but you don't know you don't need it until you do.
- Those things that may have seemed super important - the backup "just in case" items tend to be not worth carrying around.
- Special mementos - practice letting go of little things. Those drawings your children do -you are not a bad parent - take a picture of them. Allow them a small space to switch out pictures on a wall to display for a time. Oftentimes just giving a little time to honor the hard work is all that is needed and the child is willing to throw it away themselves.
- How many utensils do you really need?
- Start with a tiny space - a baby step. Just one closet or drawer.
- Time will lessen the importance of some of your most precious things. Just storing them for a while may allow you to come back to it later without the same level of attachment.
- Think about where you're going - do you really need five dressy outfits if you're going to the beach? Is what you're bringing easily replaceable?
The lighter the load, the less you have to keep track of.
(And the more you can focus on having fun).
- How do you plan for everything?
- Depends on personality and what you like - are you a planner or like things spontaneous?
- What makes you comfortable and happy?
- We like having serendipity and looseness in our schedule - it pushes us in places we wouldn't normally go. - Nathan Logsdon
- Also add in some routine and stability, bookend your day.
- Know the personality styles of who is in your home
- Recognize where your skill set is. Take what is most personal to you that you are skilled at. (For Ashley and Nathan, it was assigning roles for driving navigating.
- Don't compete - complete. Look for ways to collaborate on what you can do.
- Always give feedback on the small things.
- Allow your kids to be part of the party - let them scout restaurants or things to do on Yelp.
Consistency on the small things allows for some of the crazy changes on the big things.
- What do you do for rainy days?
- Explore within where you are staying - your RV, your hotel, your AirBnB
- Have an ongoing project - a puzzle, a card for a family member, etc.
- Netflix and chill!
- Bring out the board games - go old school.
- Build an indoor fort
- Play hide and go seek or charades
- Imaginary play
- Play hairdresser or beauty parlor
- Or...don't let the rain hold you back. Go for a barefoot walk in the mud, slosh your feet in the puddles. Dreary days during the week are ideal for outdoor touristy places - go to the zoo on a rainy Monday morning. Love the rain!
Rainy days allow us to simply experience the day with a different perspective. Embrace it.
- How do you handle the sibling spats and the tension that goes on?
- We try to help them remember that we're all people. When we're treating others that way, we're treating ourselves that way.
- Our kids' fighting has been directly proportional to the number of things they claim ownership of.
- Less is more when it comes to toys.
- We have more things that can be shared by all - more universal, like building a fort, or MagnaTiles. Twin fitted sheets
- Recognize what your family's personality styles are. Take 5 minutes at a rest area to let your high-energy D/I children run around! Allow for downtime for your child that needs a break.
- Create space for them to feel their feelings and be who they are - yet also learn to recognize the power of their impact on others.
- Audio books are great
No thing is more important than the relationship.
From our friends @LetsTravelFamily...
Sunday, June 3rd is Nathan's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!), and I wanted to share this bit of information about him to help inspire you to look outside the box.
letstravelfamily Do you know any 'Stay-At-Home-Dads'? 
Would YOU ever want to be that full-time parent at 'home' with your kids while your spouse works? Our good friend Nathan has taken on this amazing role with his 3 daughters and it has been inspiring to witness! Ashley @fieldtripgypsies works remotely online in their RV, while Nathan does the 'other' tasks that keep their family household going and supports their children's learning. He not only plays MONSTER on the playground with the kids like a big kid, he also cooks their meals, grocery shops, supports their learning, takes the kids on field trips and more. Tasks that most stay-at-home-moms do. Yet, he's the DAD and that works great for their family!
Life does not have to fit neatly into a shape that you expect it to....but can change into what is best for your family. Your lifestyle. Your season in life.
What are your thoughts on being a stay-at-home-parent? Would you ever want to or would your spouse? Has gender held you back from looking at your available options to live the lifestyle you want to live?
It is more than your job that defines you.
- How do you handle intimacy on the road?
- Make it a priority.
- Have a routine - that this is expected so it isn't just a guessing game.
- It can change the way you approach it - so make your partner your priority.
- Every day we wake up and choose to be with each other.
- Get sneaky - go back to your young wild years.
- Be open - it's an important facet of your relationship - identify it as something of value.
- Don't shut the intimacy off on a vacation - you have a responsibility to your relationship to keep the intimacy alive.
- Have a love affair with your spouse. Make it fun. Get creative.
- It's very hard to remain emotionally distant when you physically connect on a daily basis.
- Touch is very important to an intimate relationship.
- Richard Rohr - stillness video
- You are who you are who you are who you are.
- Your marriage is what it is what it is what it is. A vacation won't change that. What are you speaking into it
- Intentional touch leads to true healing.
Share the small things in life - both good and bad - so they don't become the big things you can't tackle together.
The first 6 seasons are theme-focused - the rest are Q&A based on these topics:
- Understanding Personality Styles in your Home (Be the Good, See the Good - Season 1)
- Marriage/Intimacy (Laughter, Humble Pie & Lots of Sex - Season 2)
- Minimalism (Clearing the Clutter from Your Home, Your Head & Your Heart - Season 3)
- Parenting (10 Essential Lessons for Life - Season 4)
- Alternative Education/Life-Long Learning (Functional Education - Season 5)
- Family Travel (Seek Adventure Together - Season 6)
Mama Says Namaste takes families from chaos and reaction mode to living a life of intention, not waiting for one day, learning how the uniqueness in each of us strengthens all of us, and working now to create that family you love to come home to.
Your Weekly Challenge:
Pay attention to your family's strengths -what's beautiful - what do you love about them?
How do they bring light into your home?
Look at the beautiful strengths each of you bring in your home.
If you're struggling with where you are or how you are adding to your family, or feeling like you are lost in reaction mode, this is the week to "pay what you want".
Questions or comments?
Personality styles, marriage/intimacy, parenting, education, minimalism or travel - what is pressing on your mind?
Or, hop on over to the Mama Says Namaste or Unschooling Families FB groups and ask your question there!
Please subscribe, rate and review. Let us know what questions you have.
Be intentional.
Make it a point to connect and show appreciation for the people in your life.
The uniqueness in each of us strengthens all of us. Namaste