This family traded mattresses for monkey bars

[waterchurch]

www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/a36553/bowman-family-trades-mattresses-for-monkey-bars/

This Family Traded Mattresses for Monkey Bars

They have no TV, no chairs — and no hang-ups about their unconventional home.

By keeping her kids' clothes and toys to a minimum and putting both beds (her kids share one) in the same room, Katy was able to free up space for an indoor jungle gym. There's even a fold-up teepee in the corner.

Katy Bowman doesn't believe in plopping down on a couch — or anywhere. "Most people drive to the gym to exercise," says Katy, a biomechanist and the author of Don't Just Sit There, a work-life wellness guide. "I prefer to put movement into my life all day."

So what does a life of constant motion look like? For starters, husband Michael cut the legs off the kitchen table, so the family sits cross-legged on the floor or on wood stumps to eat. The dishes are in low cabinets, forcing the couple to squat to grab a plate. And everyone sleeps in one room — on futon pads, because the pads are closer to the ground than mattresses, forcing their bodies to "cross-train" as they climb in and out daily.

Why live like this? It started when Katy was a personal trainer in college. "Many of my clients had knee, back, and hip pain, and I wondered why. So when I went to grad school to become a biomechanist, I started researching why people had these problems and how they could be prevented rather than corrected. That's when I realized that you can't offset a diet of candy bars with kale salad, and you can't counter being sedentary all day with exercise."

Physical alignment is also extremely important to Katy. Case in point: Their foyer floor is covered in river rocks — because, she says, "good alignment starts with your feet, which need texture to move their many joints." All four family members go barefoot as much as possible, even outdoors, and when they do wear shoes, their footwear is minimal.

For the same reason, Katy builds extra activity into her life outside the home, too. She walks to the supermarket and totes groceries in a basket (no cart), and as an "in-arms parent," she didn't put her kids in a stroller or even a carrier. Says Katy, "I'm stronger today than I ever was as a so-called 'exerciser.'"

In their backyard, a ladder is attached to a tree with stretchy straps to make it harder to climb across. There's also a balance beam, rope swing, and slack line. "When I want to chat with Michael about something or have a family meeting, we'll do it while moving out here," says Katy. And instead of browsing Facebook when she has downtime, she'll swing from the monkey bars.

Katy Bowman
Katy sits, kneels, and stands while she works in the office or doing tasks like laundry in the living room.
Kyle Johnson
But she does make some concessions to comfort — mostly for their guests' sake. "After being furniture-free for a few years, we've figured out the components that make our setup not so isolating. We put in a wooden bench and window seats because sitting on the ground is just so foreign for most people," says Katy. There's also a (low) coffee table so guests have a place to set down the drink in their hand.

Of the family's side-by-side futons, Katy says, "We used to have the pads on the floor, but it was hard to keep them well-ventilated, so Michael and I built these platforms and sealed them with a mix of olive oil and beeswax."

Katy Bowman Michael Curran and son Finn
'Chairs tend to be very cast-like because you sit in them the same way again and again,' says Katy. 'Removing them gives you a lot more variability.'
Kyle Johnson
Two to three times a week, Katy and her neighbors take turns cooking for each other, getting together to eat their communal meal. That way, all the kids entertain each other, and Katy and her husband don't have to hire a sitter. "It's a philosophy I have called 'stacking your life.' I've found that by overlapping my obligations — spending time with family, cooking dinner, and seeing my friends, for example — I'm much more relaxed and positive," she explains. "Sitting still and doing only one thing at a time just doesn't work for me!"

This story originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of Good Housekeeping.

[waterchurch]

This sounds exhausting. But good for them if it makes you happy.
I wonder what the kids think when they visit other people.
"You get to sit and sleep on soft things? Wow!"

[karinothing]

I would love communal neighborhood meals! When we lived in an apt our next door neighbor had a kid the same age. We hung out every single day after work while one of us cooked, we didn't always eat together, but probably did once every other week (and for sure whenever one of the spouse was out of town or getting home late). That being said, I need a real bed and couch

[Willis Jackson]

Isn't this basically a traditional Japanese house? Why is she acting like she invented this?

[ssmjlm]

I'll be sure to go home and tell DH who has 2 plates in his neck, we need to sleep on futon mattresses on the floor.

WTF?

[formerlyak]

My arthritis in all joints below my waist from overuse as a dancer for 30 years of my life would tell her to go f herself and her "physical activity all day every day is what you need" attitude. I had physical activity 4-5 hours a day 5-6 days a week. Now, I like my bed and couch. And some days, getting up off the floor is so painful on my joints I want to cry.

Also, her kids sharing a bed may work now, but what in the world does she think they will do when they hit 9 or so years old. They won't want to share a bed then.

I am punchy today ...

[cinco]

I think we are a pretty active family, but I sure love my ass on the couch time.

[ssmjlm]

Also I can't get on board with the family bedroom. I'm not talking co-sleeping when they're little, but hey, when do the parents have sex then if they're sharing a room with the kids.

[Deleted]

I love my bed. And my table. My son may sleep on the floor forever though.

[mekia]

No.

[anna7602]

I like motion, too! But outside my home, please, not in lieu of having a bed to rest my weary head.

[anna7602]

Also, I guess standing desks are yesterday's news? Here I was thinking I was all cutting-edge for considering getting one at home.

[Susie]

Oh FFS. Yes, you are doomed to a life of joint pain if your foyer has a flat floor.

[Deleted]

I am sick today and walking to the car was exhausting
I assume her family never gets sick?

[winecheery]

Whoooo boy. LOL

[undecidedowl]

I think that house looks pretty fun to live in. I would be okay with most of it but I don't see a point in not letting your body rest properly in a real bed. And yea, the single room works when kids are little but they will outgrow that, too.

[Brie]

Nope octopus dot gif.

[blueberry10]

"She walks to the supermarket and totes groceries in a basket (no cart), and as an "in-arms parent," she didn't put her kids in a stroller or even a carrier."

I'm trying to come up with a snarky response to "in-arms" parenting but my brain is failing me. All I can think is that it sounds like such a pain in the ass.

[biogirl21]

Good for her? I could not live like that.

[sent]

Mar 17, 2016 15:43:24 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

Isn't this basically a traditional Japanese house? Why is she acting like she invented this?

I was going to say it sounds like my relatives' living rooms back in the day in the old country when we used to go visit them.  Like how my grandparents and parents grew up, without electricity or running water.  Only they didn't have time to blog about it back then.  It was just life.

[cleosprite]

I hate the "why do people drive to the gym to exercise?" thing and I had trouble getting past it. Uh, I drive to the gym to exercise because I don't want to get killed by a car walking on a busy road with no sidewalk. Also, I have no desire to put all the equipment a gym has in my house.

Then I got to the part about how she never put her kids in a stroller or carrier. DD at 10 months HATED being held, but I sure as hell was not letting her crawl everywhere I needed to go. So...lucky her that she didn't mind have kids be "in-arm" all the time?

[imojoebunny]

I read this a while ago, probably in good housekeeping, since I get it in the mail. Whatevers, I feel bad for her kids. Different can be good, but this is not.

[arebee]

I don't understand the theory behind "cross-training" as they get in and out of bed daily. How much benefit can there be when you only do it once a day? Maybe twice if you decide to take a nap.

[anna7602]

Mar 17, 2016 16:02:12 GMT -5 Susie said:

Oh FFS. Yes, you are doomed to a life of joint pain if your foyer has a flat floor.

There's a stroller in my foyer, and a carrier hanging on a hook. This woman would hate me.

[scribellesam]

She sounds exhausting. A life without a big squashy couch to plant my ass on after a long day is not one I'm interested in living.

[waterchurch]

Mar 17, 2016 16:48:50 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

I read this a while ago, probably in good housekeeping, since I get it in the mail. Whatevers, I feel bad for her kids. Different can be good, but this is not.

I'm behind on my magazine reading, I admit. But I saw this and had to share.

[jeaniebueller]

Her kids are going to hate her when they realize other families have normal furniture.

[imojoebunny]

Mar 17, 2016 17:28:13 GMT -5 waterchurch said:

Mar 17, 2016 16:48:50 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

I read this a while ago, probably in good housekeeping, since I get it in the mail. Whatevers, I feel bad for her kids. Different can be good, but this is not.

I'm behind on my magazine reading, I admit. But I saw this and had to share.

It is worth a share. I grew up in a "special" household, though we had furniture, we had a lot of things that were different by design.  Some things were good, but some things were absolutely not. The unintended result of my parents choices is that I am very good at thinking for myself.  I choose to be more main stream on some things, so my kids friends will want to come over.    

[Willis Jackson]

Mar 17, 2016 18:24:14 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Mar 17, 2016 17:28:13 GMT -5 waterchurch said:

I'm behind on my magazine reading, I admit. But I saw this and had to share.

It is worth a share. I grew up in a "special" household, though we had furniture, we had a lot of things that were different by design.  Some things were good, but some things were absolutely not. The unintended result of my parents choices is that I am very good at thinking for myself.  I choose to be more main stream on some things, so my kids friends will want to come over.    

Tell me more. I'm fascinated by this stuff.

I grew up in a junk food free household and I spent 95% of my allowance on Hostess cupcakes and fudge bars from the ice cream man.

[waterchurch]

I grew up without a microwave and dishwasher. The novelty has yet to wear off.