Simplifying is my new MANTRA. I am tired of clutter. I’m tired of mess. I’m tired of being tired. My solution this week: While the kids are at school/napping/visiting neighbors/looking for the $25 you said you hid in the backyard, I am taking garbage bags to their rooms. They don’t get to say ANYTHING about what they want to keep (I’m so good, I knew not to throw away the used tissue from 5 years ago that my daughter was attached to. I’M KIDDING! I am pretty aware of things that might make them cry if there were gone). Anyway, I choose what is going to be kept and what is going to be donated. The funny thing, if they don’t catch me in the middle, they don’t even know anything is gone. I do this about every 3 months and my house is slowly but surely becoming easier to clean. Instead of hiding things in boxes or bags in the back bedroom, I can actually allow people to come to my house UNANNOUNCED! Can you say, GO GIRL?
If you want to see more WFMW, get thee to Shannon’s blog!
Good Luck! Remember though, you can clean and throw away all day long…..but you had better watch how many bags of useless junk you bring back in the front door when you get back from town.
By: Missy on December 12, 2007
at 6:55 am
I do this every couple of months with my kids stuff too. I think Alexis dresser is due for a cleaning now that I think about it. Maybe I can talk my brother into letting her over this weekend. There have only been a couple of times that they have actually noticed something missing, but if I try to throw something away while they’re watching there will be a total melt down of some sort. Crazy crazy crazy! Good luck with the cleaning.
By: Amanda on December 12, 2007
at 3:02 pm
I am so with you here! I’m in a decluttering frenzy, and am throwing away all kinds of things that nobody will ever miss.
Happy tossing!!
By: Jen on December 12, 2007
at 3:02 pm
would you believe I have the SAME plan for today??? Go us!
By: misty on December 12, 2007
at 3:12 pm
i do this and most times it is fine but then, every so often, my middle son, the pack rat says, “mom, I can’t find my ___ anywhere. will you help me look?” I want to say, “it’s gone” but instead we look. i blame it on the fact that they don’t always put their toys away. it’s really not lying, aren’t we doing this because the toys are everywhere?
By: janet on December 18, 2007
at 2:29 pm