I have twin boys (age 6) and a 3 year old daughter. Plus, I work out of the home about 20 hours per week. I recently took one of my sons to a birthday party and one of the other moms (presuming that my life was similar to her own) said to me "I don't know how you do it, running all around with them. I don't have any time for myself." I smiled and said nothing. My secret is that I readily say NO.

I say NO
-to volunteering obligations that are not fulfilling
-to getting together with people I don't much care for
-to kids parties that are not "wholesome" (i.e. held at video arcade, party centers, etc)
-to enrolling the children in too many kids activities
-to fancy games and too many toys
-to taking expensive vacations (Disney, etc.)
-to eating out (most of the time)
-to going to first-run movies
-Etc, etc, etc.

To a great extent, we do control how busy our lives are. I do not define my self worth by how busy I am or how many people I know. This is my definition of living more simply.