OT: Finally Did It!!

[JJ's Mom]

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

I just had to say I finally got completely F.E.D. U.P. with my cluttered house. I think I've written here before, my house is small and has limited closet space. Junk, papers (esp. junk mail and school papers) and just a variety of things that accumulate over time (everything from kids' trinkets to old clothes that don't even fit, small appliances and much, much more...) finally put me over the edge. I'm not a good housekeeper, perhaps that goes without saying!!

But, I've spent 5 of the last 7 days PURGING my world. My DH has done as much as or more than me, and the kids helped too. I think we are up to 8 trips to Goodwill with the van loaded. And a shameful amount of trash finally taken out of here (not to Goodwill!)....as in, I'm the person who would let a small room gradually fill with stacks of papers I intend to shred but let it go too long and then it seemed overwhelming.

Some days we worked almost without a break. Still a little more to do, but man, I feel like my voice echoes in here now! And it turns out I DO have enough closet space to accommodate everything I need and most of what I wanted to keep.

Rewards = 1) Feeling of freedom for me and my family and a place to relax 2) A cleaning person 1-2x/month to help me keep up the actual cleaning, but even more for the motivation to not let clutter accumulate!

Barbara - I was thinking of you and your de-cluttering efforts you've posted about. Seems like whenever you posted it kind of nudged me one step closer to this point, so THANKS!!

Anyone else out there who feels overwhelmed....just do it. You can't imagine the peace and sense of accomplishment you will feel.

[Barbara]

Congratulations!!!! It sounds like you all put forth a tremendous amount of effort and that you are all now reaping the benefits! I'll be honest and say I am a tad envious! But definitely a happy jealous - LOL. And your post is very timely in that I've been in need of some motivation lately... THANK YOU! I think I'm going to start going through my cookbooks next. I tend not to use more that 5-6 of them. The rest seem to go untouch!

Again, congrats and thanks so much for sharing!

[dagmara04]

That's great! I am making lots of progress, too, but not as much as you!


Amanda

[K-Pop Mama]

JJ's Mom, sounds like you were very productive and are now enjoying the rewards and benefits of being clutter-free. I LOVE hearing about this! AWESOME!

And Barbara, I know what you mean about cookbooks!

I hope you ladies, and Amanda too, are having a wonderful summer!

[hosta]

Congrats!

I've been doing this on a small scale. Hitting some problem closets and cupboards. Next on my agenda is the kids' toys!

[Lori at the Beach]

way to go!! I'm still inching my way along room by room. School papers and projects really add up. I donated a lot of books my son has outgrown and they went to the local library and to friends. I need to have DH get to his closet and sort out his donations to Salvation Army.

[JJ's Mom]

Thanks, everyone.

Barbara, holy cow was it ever a tremendous effort. One afternoon/evening we were all working so diligently my dd finally reminded us at 9:30 that we never ate supper. My kids helped so so much. DS is old enough to responsibly run the shredder; he only jammed it once which is better than I usually do! My dd loves to sort things and dust and organize and did 2 rooms almost all by herself. By some miracle, there wasn't one argument or fit about any of the things we said good-bye to.

I let go of stacks and stacks of Cooking Light from when I had subscription....hard to let go as I felt it was always such a well-done magazine. I went through every page where I had a sticky note and if I still wanted that recipe or article, I took out the page and put it in my binder. (My most-used recipes are in a 3-ring binder in plastic sleeves). I couldn't bring myself to give up the hardcover books of CL recipes compiled by year, though....so many good recipes.

Hosta - closets and cupboards were absolutely killing me. I mean, stuffing those full of junk and items I never used meant that I had nowhere to put anything else either, after a time.

Re: kids' stuff. It's really weird how I can not care about some of the stuff I've kept over the years as long as I know I still have it. But then when I have to make a choice to keep it or donate it, some of it I just couldn't part with. My kids' newborn/infant/toddler clothes for example. Cognitively, I realize there are others who could use them and clearly WE don't need them and that I haven't even laid eyes on that stuff for years. I also have all DS' baby bottles, and all DD's pacifiers. It's just some strange emotional thing...I think I'm afraid of forgetting all of my cherished memories of their earlier days if I get rid of some of these things. Anyone else ever feel that way? I can't quite put my finger on it.

Lori - yep, we gave away hundreds of children's books too. My DH went through and took out all the ones that could be used in the elementary classrooms at his school. Favorites were kept for now, and may be passed on to cousins. The rest were donated.
For a couple of school years now, I've given each of my kids an accordion file at the start of the year and if there is a school paper we'd like to keep, they put it in their respective file. I keep things that are very special to them, and a few now and then that are just representative of their age/grade/current work. Files are kept in their rooms. That's working well. I just need to be diligent about all the notices and calendars and updates and whatever else the school always sends my way.

Sending cyber-energies to everyone working on this type of thing!!

[hosta]

I kept a few favorite newborn outfits, and gave away the rest.

For those items you're primarily keeping because seeing them brings back good memories, you can take digital photos and then have a memory album.

[K-Pop Mama]

For those items you're primarily keeping because seeing them brings back good memories, you can take digital photos and then have a memory album.

Yes! Photograph sentimental items (even better to do it with your kid in the picture, too). Pictures take up less space, but will still give you those fond memories. If you store sentimental items, they will eventually age, collect dust, take up space, and get damaged. Plus, if they are packed away you won't have a chance to see them so what's the point? You can look at a picture anytime!

I'd say the exception to this is one or two of the most special of special things and things that genuinely belong to your children, like things their foster mothers gave to them.