When I read a article about feng shui, the Chinese practice of reconfiguring an environment to harmonize your life, I had to laugh. In my house, my two boys have long reconfigured my environment their own way, especially when they were toddlers.
| Feng Shui for Grown-Ups | Feng Shui for Toddlers |
| Bring the natural world indoors by playing a CD of a rolling surf. | Bring the natural world indoors by opening the sliding glass door and leaving a trail of animal crackers that leads into the kitchen. |
| Turn off the ceiling lights and use just diffused lights from lamps. | Turn off the bathroom light while Daddy is taking a shower. |
| Paint a room light blue. | Scribble the living room walls in light blue. |
| Achieve a “yin” state – a subdued, relaxed feeling – by placing a peaceful painting on the wall near your bed. | Achieve a “yang” state – or chaos – by jumping on the bed. |
| Sleep on a pastel-colored pillowcase. | Sleep on Mommy’s pastel-colored pillowcase, and push her closer and closer to the edge of the bed throughout the night. |
| Add a fountain to your home for a peaceful background noise. | Add Mommy’s cell phone to the fountain for a faint ringing noise that Mommy can’t seem to locate. |
| Put a muted fabric over a glass table. | Pour Kool Aid over a glass table. |
| Create tranquility by putting potted plants in curved patterns along the floor. | Create hostility by placing your Cheerios in curved patterns along the floor. |
| Drape a blue blanket over a chair. | Drape your blue blankie over the cat. |
| Toss a muted-colored blanket over a brightly colored bedspread. | Toss your Rockin’ Elmo, 17 Legos, your half-full sippy cup and some baby wipes onto a brightly colored bedspread. |
How about you? How do your kids practice Feng Shui?
BWAAAA HAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAAHAHAAHHAAA! Good one.
I maintain a blissful, zen-like feeling in my home office by posting a ‘must be above this line’ sign on the door. They maintain a blissful zen-like feeling by popping into my home office and saying ‘I’m iiiiiiin!” and giggling. Naughty little monkeys.
Love your post. I’m a Feng Shui Practitioner and appreciated your funny, but true, comparison of Feng Shui for Grown-Ups v. Toddlers. I’ve been practicing for 15 years and have found that when working in households with kids, it pays to forget the rules and accept the reality that kids need to be kids.
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