Put It on The Refrigerator

The importance of displaying things on the refrigerator.

When James & I were remodeling our home, we splurged on stainless steel appliances.  In our old place, we just had hand-me-down appliances.  I felt like we 'made it' by getting the stainless steel.  I absolutely love our colossal refrigerator!

I always kept the refrigerator clear.  After all, I wanted to show off the stainless steel...even if it was just to myself!  I was so upset the day I found scratches on the fridge!

When we started fostering our son, he would bring home papers from school.  Instead of putting them on the fridge, I found other creative ways to display them. I still needed that distinction of the fancy refrigerator.  The thoughts I hold on to are so silly sometimes.

After everything we've been through in the past year, my mindset has completely changed.  I almost always look at things with a 'Would this really matter in the end?' mentality.  It's a wild way to live because I've found out approximately 95% of things don't really matter in the big picture.

My son has really gotten into creativity this year.  Last year, he would do papers where he wrote a story & would draw a picture.  Most of the time, he didn't draw a picture at all.  The rare times he did draw a picture, it would be super simple.  His creativity absolutely exploded this year & I'm getting pictures all the time now.

I couldn't let these beautiful pictures be packed away, so on the refrigerator, they went.  I don't care so much about the status that my fridge gives me these days--I care more about my son's artwork.  A refrigerator is just an appliance.  I know these artwork years won't last forever, so I want to take advantage of them.

I think that it's super important to embrace my son's talents.  The dude got honor roll for the entire year so far!  He's becoming his own little person this year & I'm so proud of him.  I didn't want to be the mom who cared more about how her refrigerator looked than her son's artwork.

Also, the funny thing about all this?  I hate stainless steel appliances now anyway!  The appliances I have do not stay clean at all.  There are always fingerprints & smudges everywhere.  The next time I have to buy a refrigerator, I'm buying a white one.  Sure, I won't have the status, but I also won't be cleaning it every day!