In a previous life, I used to be a graphic designer. My greatest challenge was to avoid overcluttering the page. I wanted to give my clients all I got. I wanted to show off with every trick in the book.
It was difficult to restrain myself from going overboard. It was hard to know when to stop. It was even harder to know when to take something off the page.
I had to work very hard to appreciate the white space. The margins. Between the lines.
It’s also often a challenge to allow ourselves to give our children some white space. Time to be silly. Periods to do nothing. It doesn’t take long before the “doer” in us starts cross examining us whether little Johnny isn’t perhaps wasting his time.
So we naturally jump in and schedule every waking moment of little Johnny’s life. Piano lessons, tutors, choir practice, etc. We design his day to be “productive.” And we forget to leave some white space.
White space is important because it lets children relax. It gives them a chance to veg out. To unwind. Overcluttering their schedules will give you the illusion that you are doing so much for your kids, but all you’re really doing is making them busy. Busy and cluttered.
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