Minimalist Parenting

Six “Compass Points” in the Right Direction

Contemporary parents are “wrestling with abundance.” Given too many options, they must become highly selective. Many could find some peace in “minimalist parenting,” which calls for becoming deliberate “curators” of their family’s schedules, belongings and special events. Minimalist parenting is a mind-set that includes six precepts:

1. “Make room for remarkable” – Keep what you love; drop the rest. Sort out your priorities and values.
2. “Know yourself” – Understand the origin of your values. Consider what you absorbed while growing up and whether you want to keep the values you learned.
3. “Know your family” – Recognize how you and the others in your household are alike or different. Remember that people (including you) constantly change.
4. “Trust your decisions” – Hearing your “inner bus driver,” that internal voice of wisdom that knows what’s right for you and your family, sometimes means quieting the daily distractions and slowing down.
5. “Course correction beats perfection” – Be prepared to make occasional...