I have this excessive need to simplify our life. We have SO many things…
I know… what a terrible problem to have. 😉 It is definitely a first world problem, I know, but a problem none the less.
I stress about all of the things that I have to take care of, and somehow find space for.
I can’t take it anymore!
My patience depends on removing the unnecessary stress and giving me more enjoyable time as a mom.
The weight is getting heavier by the day! I love to hold onto items that I know I will need at some point, and I enjoy fixing things that can be fixed. Being wasteful isn’t my way.
So, how can I find my middle ground?
I need to declutter and let go of all of the things that I actually don’t need because these things are owning me!
Everytime I fill a bag to donate, I feel a sense of accomplishment. The difficulty comes with finding a regular routine of decluttering. It needs to be a regular part of our lives, especially as a family of 6! We bring so much in and yet we have limited space… even in a big house.
I was almost fooled. I thought owning a house can hold you back from moving easily, but it’s not the house.. it’s what’s inside!
I can’t very well eliminate everything. I still want to keep heirloom items like my grandma’s jewelry box, mirrors, and old photographs, along with baby clothes for each child that they can put their future babies in and special artwork they have created. I loved that my mom kept some special clothing items and a little chair that my kids now get to enjoy, but where do I draw the line? How much do I keep? How much can I keep without overloading?
My kids will flip their lids if they see me toss out anything that belongs to them, and I would like to avoid that as much a possible! 😄
So.. here it is.. the things that I have begun to incorporate into my daily life in order to make my mom life less of a struggle!
- Eliminate small clothing sizes fresh out of the dryer.
Each load that is washed I would normally just mindlessly fold and seperate into piles based on who they belong to or fit best.
No more.
I have begun to check all sizes every single time. I wouldn’t normally do this because I have 3 girls, and one of them was always bound to fit into whatever clothes we have.
Things have changed. Our littlest lady is now 3 years old and even though she is tiny enough to still fit into some 18 month clothes (she is a little bean!) I have started to take everything under 2t and bag it (Minus special items).
Ahhh, relief. Small anounts of weight being lifted with each bag.
Plus, the hand-me-downs haven’t been necessary since we still buy new clothes for them on a regular basis.
There is no need for me to keep things for the next girl unless they request something specific. They are well provided for, and I do not need the extra laundry!
- One in, Three out.
Buying things for my kids is something I fully enjoy.
That being said.. I cannot buy more until we give more!
“Give and you shall receive.” Right?!
What a perfect reminder of how God will provide what you need if you focus less on keeping, and more on giving.
At this point, three girls hasn’t saved much and instead has added up to 3x the clothes.. if not more! I think I could successfully open a fully stocked second hand store. No joke.
So my new mantra is.. “One In, Three Out!” This currently applies to all shoes, jackets, shirts, pants, dresses, and toys.
I am sure I will adjust the ratio once we have cleared more, but for now it’s working wonders! 😁
Our favorite place to donate is The Salvation Army. They are a nonprofit organization that helps in so many ways.
If you are curious as to what makes this organization my first choice for donating, check out their site.
Plus, there are so many ways to donate to those in need. ❤
- Can I repurpose what I have?
I love any excuse to craft.
Making something is so satisfying, and sewing is my favorite!
Over the years, t-shirts have really dominated my closet because they are all from something of importance to me.
Do I really need to own 27 t-shirts though?! Clearly, the answer is no. I usually only wear them around the house anyway.
My newest task is to make personalized blankets out of old t-shirts! 😀
Such a great excuse to create and eliminate.
My husband likes this idea as well, and wants to contribute. He gathered some shirts that were rarely worn, if at all. YAY!
Now I have lots of material to work with! 👕👚
- Pictures of Pictures!
This has alot to do with the giant art that my children create at school. I love all of it and have a wall dedicated to artwork, but now there is no room for new art!
Time to recycle some paper! 😄
The best way for me to do this is to create books with pictures of pictures. This way, I can still have a printed version of my favorite artwork in pictures that can be shared, stored, and organized so much easier!
If you haven’t tried Chatbooks.. here is a link that benefits us both! You will get $10 off of your first order. 😊
There is even a way to order monthly books of your best pictures! I love how easy they make it.
I have ordered one book so far and it was such an affordable way to enjoy my favorite pictures. I am excited to condense all of the artwork displayed on my walls without feeling guilty tossing the originals. (Well.. not as guilty 😉)
This has been a learning experience because it can be hard to seperate yourself from things, but less is more.
Things should not be what your happiness depends on. You cannot take them with you so why put that extra burden on your shoulders? Less to worry about gives us more time to enjoy the moment.
I know that less to clean and less laundry makes me one happy mama, and my kids prefer a happy mom… and my husband prefers a happy wife.
My goal is to buy less and buy better.
There is a huge problem with overconsumption because things can be made cheaply, and lots of them. Why do we buy so much?! It contributes to the trash we create.
No more cheap purchases for us just because it’s a “good deal.” I am contributing to the problem.
If we buy quality, we have less garbage to throw out because our things are stronger and last longer.
Typically my little ones have so much that they end up not appreciating what they have anyway. Buying less places more value on the things they do get, and they treat their things better too.
Instead of so many little gifts for our kids.. we are investing in experiences!
Experiences last a lifetime, and we can never have too many! It’s the perfect investment.
I would love to hear other ways to declutter and eliminate things… without all the mom guilt. Let me know how you do it!
Time for me to get back to work so I can stress less, and mom more. 😘
❤- Mama Katie
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
-Luke 12:15
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