the best parenting technique ever?

Okay, you ready to write this down?
Take each and every toy, book, and item that could be fun away.
For months.
Genius right?
I know, I didn’t think so either as I watched my husband slowly and methodically remove every single item out of Taylors room and into our shed 3 weeks ago.
And every so often Jimmy would calmly continue to say, 
“Now Taylor, this is an amazing lesson to learn at 6.  You get to learn to be content and happy even when you have no toys or things.  It will be so good for you.  Most adults don’t even get to learn this!”
Now I was on board with the taking away of things…but for months?
{granted school was starting two days later so…I was a little more okay with it for that reason.  love you school!  xoxo}
Let me address the concern you must be having before you jump ship and go all CPS on me.
Things were getting bad,
It was a long rough summer, and by the end I was starting to look like a crazy lady with wild hair and wild eyes.
And I cried often.
I had just reached my limit with disrespect, ungratefulness, and the up and down moodiness that was coming out of my sweet little 6 year old.  
I missed my boy and I didn’t know what else to do to get him back.
We’d take him to the Science Center, and after a fun afternoon he would complain that he didn’t get to build blocks long enough.
{and pout and cry and writhe around like a fish out of water.}

We’d take him out to dinner and he’d complain that the chocolate milk wasn’t chocolaty enough.
{and pout and cry and writhe around like a fish out of water.}

We’d go to the beach, and he’d be unhappy that there weren’t enough crabs or shells to find.
{and pout and cry and writhe around like a fish out of water.}
You see the pattern?
It. was. exhausting.
But now?
With no toys???
MOST of the time, I have my happy boy back.
He now plays with his sister sweetly (because that’s the only way he gets to play with her stuff!).
He writes us love letters and folds them into paper airplanes for a special delivery.
He makes LOTS of paper airplanes.
He makes dinosaur shaped paper snowflakes.
dinoflakes
He thinks the metal toilet paper holder is a transformer and thinks it’s all kinds of awesome.
He reads.
He smiles and laughs.
And he is relaxed and content.
Picture 4
And yet, not a single toy resides in his room….
which I’m starting to think has left more room in his heart for love, joy, and laughter.
He’ll get them back.
One day.
But, he doesn’t know when and we like it that way.
He’s on his way to being content without stuff, and it seems he’s actually happier that way.
We all are.
Maybe my husband knows a thing or two after all.
{last night we gave him back all his books, and he was SKIPPING around the house giddy with excitement for BOOKS!  It was a joyous moment all around.}
© 2011 “Le Musings of Moi”
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Comments

  1. It may sound a tad extreme to those who don’t understand, but I am up to my eyeballs with the the disrespect coming out of my 4 year old.. Maybe I should take a chapter out of Jimmy’s book of parenting?

  2. All I can say is I love this.. I think I might have to take a chapter too..Thanks Summer you really are an amazing person!!

  3. what a great lesson!

  4. He is SO adorable and you guys are amazing parents!

  5. thanks you guys for all your support…sometimes in parenting you can’t help but wonder if you’re doing it ALL WRONG…

    Love having my girls right there beside me. xoxo

  6. WOAH!!! This is incredible! I love it 🙂 I need a lesson in this;)

  7. Whatever works my friend! So glad you found something that did 🙂

  8. I think it was a brave experiment to try, and I’m delighted for you that it’s working out so well! The joy over books made me smile for sure! I think your husband is right that learning to appreciate what we have is a huge gift, and the sooner it’s learned the better. I’m still working on it, for example…

  9. awesome. my 2 year old may be a little young for it, but I am saving this post so I can remember it down the road…

  10. awesome. my 2 year old may be a little young for it, but I am saving this post so I can remember it down the road…

  11. I am just starting to learn this lesson as an ADULT so kudos to you for trying it out early on.

  12. My almost 6-year-old son is going through something similar. I’m not pulling my hair out… yet. This is a great idea. I’m glad it’s going well.