Stuff

Can I be honest for a minute? The day after Christmas I nearly had an anxiety attack from all the stuff that found its way into our house over the two previous days. Though I am not a minimalist, I don't like clutter. And though I am not an amazing organizer, I like things to have a "home" within my home. Instead, I was met with great piles of things that needed to work their way somewhere into our home.

For Christmas my kids got an unrealistic amount of stuff. It blew my mind. It also obviously blew theirs. Not only did they never ask to watch tv on Christmas, but also in the days that followed, they asked every single person we saw if they got them a present. So. Incredibly. Embarassing. And if someone did happen to get them A present, they responded with "Only one?"

Here I spend so much time and energy trying to keep our home peaceful. And I also tried so hard to keep Christmas as least materialistic as possible (each kid gets three gifts from us - wear, play, read) yet that's exactly where it went. And there I was, on December 26th, feeling so incredibly overwhelmed with all the stuff we had gotten and trying to find homes for it all.

I took the kids to the playroom and had each kid pick five toys to get rid of. It literally didn't even make a dent. That's embarrassing to me. Especially embarrassing because I don't want to be that person, that family, that places an extreme value on things, stuff. And I almost feel like it's being forced on me. As if I say not, I'm the bad mom or the mean person not allowing people to "bless" my children.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, I really don't. But when stuff becomes overwhelming, when it becomes anxiety inducing, what is one to do? I really don't have an answer. Obviously a more thorough purge in sin order. But what's hard is figuring out what toys are most logical to get rid of. Is it the ones that take up the most room? The ones that are the least sentimental? Or maybe the ones that are the most annoying?! Because, in the interest of honesty, my children claim all their toys to be their favorite and too special to part with. But now that we are in January, and the kids are headed back to school, I am sensing a major purge and reorganization of the kids stuff coming my way...which, incidentally, I swear the kids have so much more stuff than Ian and I.

How do you part with kids clutter/cherished items in your home? Do you involve them in the process?

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A Toy for Callum

I'm kind of a minimalist when it comes to baby gear (unless you are talking strollers or carriers…eek!). But I realize that most baby things can be done without. In fact, we had hardly anything with Connor…living in 600 square feet will do that to you. With Isla I added a couple things - a full size swing and a play/activity mat. The swing was AMAZING and the play mat, though fun obviously not essential. Well, this time I added yet another baby gadget to the mix - a jumper/exersaucer. Ian's parents gave it to Callum for christmas. Up until this point, it's been sitting in a closet, still sealed in a box. Then this week, two of my friends that had babies around the same time, posted pictures of their kids in similar contraptions, so I thought I would pull it out.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am sure Callum is too small for it still. His little toes barely graze the ground on the lowest setting. And I had to have two blankets around him for support. BUT, he is totally happy in the thing. He even reaches for the toys. It is totally cute…I know, something only a mother would really find "cute". And I kind of can't wait to see him bouncing away in this thing…though I can at the same time, because I love me some squishy baby, but you know.

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I Have a Confession

I HATE playdoh. Like with a passion. I loathe the stuff. It is just so messy. It gets everywhere and is such a pain in the butt to clean up. Because of this, we never have it in the house. Ever. Last year, Connor got some in his stocking and I made it stay at my inlaw's house.

There has been a playdoh set hiding in our house for a year and a half because I have never wanted to get it out. The other day was just one of those days and I needed something to save it. For some reason, I got out the playdoh. The kids LOVED it. Connor sat there for an hour and a half and just played with it. He was so entertained. Of course, it practically took me as long to clean it all up. That night, he begged to play with it again. I waited until the next day and set it up outside and let the kids go to town. It was still super messy, but at least the mess was all over the porch and not my dining room table.

I'm not sure I would say I have a love-hate relationship with playdoh yet. The love part just still isn't there. But, watching my kids, Connor especially, love something so much, does maybe...possibly...open the window for me to allow playdoh in my house...every once in a while...maybe once a year.

And, please, someone tell me, am I supposed to spell it playdoh or playdough? I get that the brand is playdoh, but it just looks better as playdough. It reminds me of the whole kleenex or tissue thing...

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