Vimala from The Tao of Motherhood writes,

“Keep your life simple, and serenity will follow.  Like a small country with little need for supersonic travel, a simple life has little need for tension and stress.  Give your children yourself, and the need for things is minimal.  Mothering requires a lot of action and doing, but there are times when no specific activity demands your attention. They are the quiet moments that may be few and far between, yet they are cherished.”

Pay attention to what happens in your mind and body in these moments. Are you able to just be?  Or are you searching for something to occupy your attention- music, a phone call, a new purchase, food, or a book?  See if you can resist the impulse toward busyness or distraction and simply rest in that moment.

Initially, these moments of stillness may feel uncomfortable, but see if you can allow them to be, so that you can enjoy the simplicity of being. Let these quiet moments be a source of renewal and creativity.

Make time in your day where you are able to just be.  Sit by yourself and focus on your breathing, and only your breathing.  Follow your breath as it moves into your body, and allow any thoughts that may be lingering in your mind to be released with each exhale you make.

Our children benefit most from our true presence.

While we may think buying our children everything they desire will lead them to happiness, it often only enhances their sense of entitlement and leads to bigger fits when they don’t get what they want.  When there is always something new for them waiting around the corner, it is more challenging for them to appreciate what they have.  It’s human nature to want and it is vital to learn how to channel that desire into something positive.

We can want happiness, peace, love, or excitement in place of the desire to always want more stuff.    

So, how can we break the cycle and teach our children to be appreciative of their life and to live simply? Practicing gratitude is a wonderful way to be content with what one has and when our children see we are grateful and content, they often learn to be the same. 

A simple way to incorporate a gratitude practice into your family’s life is to ask your children at the end of the day what the best part of their day was.  When doing this exercise, I will often go first and share a few things that were special in my day; the hugs my children gave me, the smile the cashier at the market gave when I asked how she was doing, the time spent playing with my children, and all the food I made to nourish my children. 

When they hear those examples, they often share their own lists filled with non-material items and it truly does fill my heart with love, and the knowing that they are learning to value the beauty of “life” more than material objects.