Organization for the Emotionally Attached
Let me start by saying I am not an organized person. My house is not neat and tidy. I struggle most weeks to put even my folded clothes away. I have always been this way. I do love beauty and order. I am a Libra and an Engineer, but I am also a sentimental person. I am not domestically disciplined and I grow emotionally attached to things with memories. It has gotten worse with kids — all of their little creations and tiny toys or treasures they find at the beach.
In January, when my husband was out of town and my parents were in town and I had a day off (jeez if that isn’t stars aligning), I had an old friend come over to help me break the ice with declutter and organization. It was an amazing day and a half. I felt so accomplished. Within a few weeks, small piles of things start accumulating or the toys get mixed up and not put away properly. As much as I could, I would try to get my counters cleared off, but I feel like the days just keep escaping me. Monday through Friday are long. I’m typically up at 6am making lunches and getting off to work, returning home around 6 or 6:30pm. Then it’s dinner and homework, showers and bedtime. Then I’m toast.
Today I had a short window of time while the kids were are my mom’s house. I used some of the technique from my friend and felt pretty accomplished. Normally we would pull everything off all of the shelves and make three piles: keep, donate, trash. Today I just focused on toys and the kids’ desk. I had only two piles: keep and a trash bag. Without thinking too deeply threw away their little drawings (no — none were the next Mona Lisa). I got rid of broken toys. There were a few toys that I did set aside for donation in the end. I maybe spent about 90 minutes.
To be honest, it’s a little stressful to pull everything out and look at it all and wonder how will it all fit again. Little by little — sorting and using the different containers, I was able to put all of the “keepers” back in their place. All compartmentalized. The plush toys in a bin. Cassia’s little critters and Polly Pocket in another bin. Nico’s reptiles and cars in their own bins.
I say I’m disorganized, but in this mess of mine I know where things are. I would really love to one day have a house that’s beautiful inside — nice furniture and artwork on the walls. During the pandemic, I did make myself a nook. I bought a desk and bookshelf. I put my beloved books and a lot of my daughters artwork. This is my little spot to sit. One day I will get to the rest of the house. When the time is right, I trust that I will know.
THE process… “before”
Please excuse this messy house, the kids are busy making memories
Done!!
Soon these blinds will be replaced with something decent…
Claire’s work space