CHANGING CULTURE
Growing up, my family had a grandfather clock in the entryway. This free-standing clock was a treasured item in the home, and as kids, only my mom was to wind the clock and reset the pendulums to keep the time accurate. It made it feel set apart, off limits. We weren’t to bump into the clock or launch any toys in its direction. It was special!
The clock would chime every 15 minutes, all day and night, and chime on the hour with a count of bells accordingly. That sound will be forever engrained in my mind as a key element to my childhood. And if we wanted to know the time, we listened, or looked at the oven clock in the kitchen.
As smart phones became more prevalent, I found myself not needing a physical clock. As I curated my own little family’s home, I didn’t prioritize a traditional clock. We had one in our master bathroom for ease of getting ready in the mornings, and we had the occasional digital clock in some areas, but I didn’t have any time keepers in the living room or dining room. When I needed to know the time, I quickly tapped my phone to see where we were at. It’s easy, you know? Quick tap, phone lights up, you see your lovely screen background or the latest notification and get sucked into the time waste that phones can be.
As my kiddos are getting older, I started to realize that they were acting out more as I checked my phone for the time. I often got distracted while checking the time and then their voices and actions got louder and louder until my attention was gained again.
Of course, there are moments where I need to address my phone and respond to a message, etc. - and I still get distracted by it for other things than time - but I realized I had lost the beauty of an analog clock in my home.
Now, I have an analog clock in my dining room, a lovely green to match my accent wall, and gold letters for some glam. In my living room, I have a wooden frame clock, white background with black numbers to be simple but compliment my decor. They look beautiful, and I can quickly glance to check in on the time without getting distracted.
Clocks are another way that your physical space, and interior design and decorating, can change behavior and the culture of your home. You create a reading nook with a chair and lamp, so you have a constant invitation and reminder to read. You remove a shelf that was your “drop space” for clutter, so you have to put things away. You add clocks to your home so you can be a better mama and not get lost on your phone or need to go on a scavenger hunt to find out what time it is - because what mama of littles has time for that??
What small changes in your home could make a big difference? Let’s continue changing the culture in our homes for the better, one small step at a time!
If you want help creating a home that is Intentional, Beautiful, and Yours - in the midst of daily living and your life season - check out my Signature Workshop. It’s designed to help you create a home that highlights your heart for your family, and I would love if you checked it out.
