p.s. Dear Clutter,
You are really getting in my way and I am afraid you will have to go. All of you. To the trash. I can't get to you right now, you know the holidays, but as of Jan. 2 (I need a day to recover from the holidays) you are out of here. Every last spare broken toy that my child insists is the greatest thing she has ever known. Gone.
Me
Any suggestions on how to de-clutter your toys without horrible drama and fits???
6 comments:
Oh how I miss you Liz! I read your blog every time you post, but I hardly ever comment! I just want you to know we are missing you guys and think about you often!! We should chat one day and catch up!! I would love it!! Talk to you soon!!
Nighttime is a magical time for clutter to disappear.
Every few weeks I go through the girls' things and get rid of all the random art, broken toys, things I HATE, etc. They pretty much never ever notice.
I think the key is to do it gradually (a few things a night) so it's not such a shock.
But do it when she's sleeping.
If they ever ask where something is, I either tell them straight up that it was broken and I had to throw it away, or that I donated it to kids who needed it more (because sometimes it doesn't all end up in the garbage).
Do it while she is at school. Pack it up and get ride of it before she notices. I have gotten ride of a lot of things and my kids haven't said anything. Just don't forget and drop it off at Salvation Army with them in the car :)
We are still trying to wade through all the stuff that we know we can't keep, and it is tough on them...."but I still love it!"
I put it in a bag to donate. If they don't ask for it, it must not have been that important to them. We got rid of a lot that way.
miss you lots!
I second the doing it on the sly, but if she notices that and pitches fits, you could take some discipline issue you know she struggles with, and tell her that every time she forgets to --------, you get to pick 1 (or 2 or 3) of her toys to "give to the poor children". For my boys, it's cleaning their room, and I tell them that if I have to do it for them, I can't be responsible for what disappears. But mostly I just sneak them out to the trash when they're at school...good luck!
After reading this I threw away a few toys, that'll have to do for now. But you have motivated me to do the same after the holidays are over... just purge, purge, purge.
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