Anyone with children will tell that they come with a LOT of " stuff". Some of it isn't even really their "stuff"! For example, my cookie cutter collection has tripled since Lala's arrival. Toss in very generous grandparents and birth parents who sent boxes of things for every. single. holiday. on. the. calendar. and it just adds up tremendously.
Some things I have no qualms about tossing. Pens without lids. Playdough. Broken toys. Then again... somethings I can't bring myself to toss... MY favorite shirts for the cuddler. All of the children's books in french that my mother would cry about if I tossed away. Some times I think the list of things I can't bring myself to toss is larger that the really usable list.
Really, it's not good to have so much stuff. First, it takes way too much time to keep clean. Second, the kids do not enjoy having cluttered spaces; they can't play and it makes their behavior wacky. Third, it makes me feel like the worst mom ever. Kids deserve to have a nice place to live with a mom who can play with them instead of constantly moving things around or trying to fold 47 pairs of pants - for a toddler!
Do you have a decluttering system? How do you choose what gets tossed and what does not?
For what it's worth, I did toss the stained shirts that were MY favorites for the cuddler. I cut out the designs on the front and tossed the rest. At less the designs take up less room than the whole shirts did.
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3 Talk To Me!:
I feel your pain! It's a constant challenge. I just try to find room in the closet for the stuff I can't part with. Someday, when the kids move out, they'll have to take it with them!
I had this really long great post and stupid Blogger ate it so I'm going to write it again as a blog post. Come check it out in a little while!
Mary in TX
OK, the original comment was better, but here's my post! http://marythemom-mayhem.blogspot.com/2011/03/decluttering.html
Mary
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