Thursday, July 29, 2010

Simple Lives Thursday - Family Work



On our journey toward a more deliberate life, one of our goals is to include our children in our work. To be home more, to be with them more, and to give them the opportunity to share in our work. Our handcraft business has grown in leaps and bounds over the past couple of months and we are excited that we are at a place where we can pay our teenage boys an hourly rate. Even Sarah, at six years old, asks to help. This picture is her helping Mike make the lacing set pieces by putting one piece at a time in the clamp for her father and then putting them in the bucket once the hole is drilled out of the middle.

No workshop for us yet, it may have to wait until next year. But it is amazing what can be done just making do with what we have.

The message is that if you wait to go for your dream until everything is in place, you may never get to that perfect place "first". For example, if we had not begun our business in earnest until we had all the best equipment and a workshop then we would still be so far from our dream or deep in debt (which we deliberately avoided while building our business - we never borrowed money, nor did we have start-up money). Taking small steps and working hard while keeping our thoughts on our goals has worked for our family.


Warm wishes, Tonya

24 comments:

  1. what fantastic and meaningful lessons your children will learn along the way! bravo to you and yours!

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  2. You and your family's approach to life is so inspiring. It really reminds me that "connection" is most important. I love that your business is going so well. It is amazing how making those mindful changes and focusing on handmade makes all the difference. It is something to for me to think about. Thank you for sharing your life with us!

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  3. I am so glad you started putting things on Esty:) I also have a few items on there and it is fun adding to the shop every few days or weeks. You are right if you want to start something start now don't wait....

    Renee

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  4. I'm delighted to have found your blog! Already in the first few posts I see so many things that are part of our daily rhythms now, and things I want to do (like shorts from a pillowcase I have sitting for just such a thing-- thanks for doing the legwork first!) Have a lovely day.

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  5. Agreed! Definitely a leap of faith :)

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  6. Thank you for visiting my blog. I have been to your blog many times and love what you do! I truly enjoy reading it.

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  7. This is my hope for my future, so thank you for writing this post and sharing your story on Simple Lives Thursday.

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  8. What a fabulous thing to share with your children. I too, love your handicrafts in your Etsy store, I'm so glad this has been a successful venture for you.

    :)
    Kim
    www.pathtolivingsimply.blogspot.com

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  9. So wonderful - and I love your thoughts about not waiting for perfection. I was just reading in All Year Round about Lamas, and the celebration of what can be created with grain that's not quite ready - or what we can create in our lives, even without bring quite ripe! Love to you and yours.

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  10. Tonya, you and your family are so inspiring to me!

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  11. Thank you for the kind comment...I have been a long time viewer. You and your family have inspired me to have our Etsy shop along with trying to not add debt.

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  12. Tonya you bless my life regularly though your posts. I have an award for you:
    http://little-blossoms-childminding.blogspot.com/2010/07/blogger-awards.html

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  13. We too have a home business and we are trying to find ways to involve my oldest son who's 4. I think it is important to instill the value of hard work and help them understand that a family takes a lot of team work to be successful. We recently adopted a woldorf imspired rhythm and I have dedicated thursday to focusing on our home as well.

    Blessings,
    Kat

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  14. Beautiful post. I, too, am so inspired by the mindful and beautiful life that you lead. children learn by watching their parents and you set such a wonderful example. Enjoy your weekend.

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  15. So true! Allowing our children to live and work beside us is such a joy.
    And they learn so much when they do practical hands on tasks.

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  16. Dear Tonya,
    How wonderful that you can all work together in your family business. This is so amazing for your children. My girls also help me with ours and even Caiden finger knits the rainbow strings that tie our parcels before they are posted off. This post has been very inspirational:) You are right, we cannot always wait for the right time and everything to be perfect, we just need to jump in and follow our journeys:)
    PS I am so looking forward to seeing what you dye up:)
    Have a great weekend
    Linda

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  17. Wonderful inspiration, and so glad to hear your business is doing so well!!

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  18. Reading your blog has spurred our decisions and discussions to be come more independent. We both are weary of our jobs and are ready to make a new life. We can see it is possible with small children, so why can't we without any!?? Thanks for the encouragement!

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  19. Thank you for visiting my blog! I so agree with you that it's important to include children in our work. I've always tried to do that with my daughter. I also agree about not putting off your dreams until everything is just perfect! Now, I'm going to have a look around your blog and read a few more posts!

    Manuela

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  20. Congratulations to your family for reaching this stage of your journey. I love the nature of this post - waiting for perfection/ideals/time etc is pointless because they are never attained - step by step little by little and you can work towards it. Good luck. x

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  21. I am also trying to include my nieces and nephews in the things that I do. Trying to spend more time with them walking by the sea, growing plants and just spending time together enjoying each others company rather than sitting in front of the tv and pc.

    Keep up this deliberate lifestyle. This is one that many families find it hard to do, yet, this is the best way to keep a family close and loving.

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