One afternoon, I entered the bathroom only to find the toilet lid closed—something my youngest had taken to doing in an effort to “protect the cats from falling in.” Upon lifting the lid, I was taken aback by a burst of color that I thought might be a spider threatening to leap at me. Instead, it was a sizable green sticker from Killington Mountain, transforming my toilet into a sight reminiscent of a college dorm or a quirky mall restroom.
My eldest daughter soon waltzed in, a proud smile on her face. “Do you love it?” she asked.
In our household, we strive to cultivate what I like to call a “’70s-light” upbringing for our children. My daughters enjoy creating art on the garage floor with chalk and draping ribbons across the stair railing. They have a fort in the backyard that serves as their personal kingdom, filled with trinkets that might otherwise be considered junk, carefully arranged on windowsills and dangling from the ceiling. We embrace a playful spirit, using leftover ribbons from gifts and the peculiar molds that come with Amazon deliveries to fuel our creativity.
While we do aim for some semblance of order to avoid total chaos, my husband and I have established specific areas in the house that we try to keep free from the clutter of our daughters’ activities. We have designated bins for shoes and designated spots for backpacks and homework. Chores, such as matching socks and washing dishes, occasionally get completed. Like many families, we are a work in progress.
Though this approach may not resonate with every family, the ’70s-light parenting style has been a perfect fit for us. We might be a bit messier and may bend rules that some might find too lax. However, this lifestyle empowers my daughters to explore, experiment, and express their creativity, while allowing my husband and me to relax and step away from the constant enforcement of rules that often feel unnecessary. After more than a decade of parenting, we’ve learned that sometimes, it’s best to simply go with the flow.
Here are a few things we choose not to fret over, which might ruffle the feathers of other parents:
- Glitter
This took some getting used to. Initially, my husband resisted it, but glitter is the ultimate craft ingredient, and it’s like magic for resolving sibling disputes. The mere suggestion of a glitter project is always met with enthusiastic cheers. - Unmade Beds
Life is too fleeting to spend a few minutes daily making beds. Plus, an unmade bed for several days becomes even more impressive when finally made. - Towels on the Floor
This is an issue only with one of our three girls, so when I find stray towels, I take it as a cue to give our dog and cats a bath! - Writing on Mirrors
Since no one else uses our upstairs bathroom, I don’t mind if it looks like a backseat window after a long road trip with a dog. I actually look forward to seeing “I love you” messages left on the mirror after every shower. - LEGOs Everywhere
If LEGO towns are set up on every corner of the stairs, it means my girls have been busy playing and creating. The fact that they’re at least trying to keep them contained shows their consideration for our safety.
As for the giant sticker that initially startled me, I can’t wait for the day I share the story of how our toilet became home to “The Beast.” Yep, we left it there!
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In summary, embracing a ’70s-light parenting style has allowed my family to thrive in a creative and less structured environment, fostering freedom and joy in our daily lives.
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