Ah, springtime—when the urge to declutter and reorganize hits with full force. As the season faded into summer, I found myself engulfed in activities like swim team obligations and various camps, all while promising my daughter, Emma, that I would tackle the mess on my desk. “There’s just never enough time!” I would lament, earning a weary sigh from her.
Fast forward to a Saturday morning when we finally had a free day. Emma woke up early, bursting with motivation to transform her space. When I finally emerged from my slumber, I was greeted by a chaotic scene: piles of toys, clothes, and other assorted items littered her room and the hallway. She had dived headfirst into her project without my guidance.
Two hours later, our mission had escalated. We had meticulously packed away her American Girl dolls, their outfits, and even the furniture from her dollhouse. We sifted through years of clothes and toys that had been stashed away, only to create an even larger mess that spilled beyond her room. Who knew decluttering could be so… messy?
As the day wore on, we had to leave the disaster behind to attend other commitments. When we returned that night, I discovered Emma and her friend navigating the wreckage of her room to get to bed. “Mom, can you please clear your desk so I can use it tomorrow?” she pleaded. I knew I had church commitments the next day, but I sighed and promised her I would tackle it sometime after we returned.
The next afternoon, I approached what I thought would be a simple task. My desk was small, so how much could there be to clean? As I began to remove the layers of books, papers, and photos, I soon found myself buried in a mountain of medical documents, old letters to my kids, and various other items that needed sorting. I sat on the floor surrounded by piles labeled “trash,” “recycle,” “find a place for,” and so on.
But then, an idea struck me! If I cleared out the medicine shelf in my armoire, I could store these papers there. Opening the armoire, I discovered medications from 2012 that were long overdue for disposal. As I sorted through the clutter, I stumbled upon forgotten jewelry boxes, which prompted a trip down memory lane.
After a brief diversion, I attempted to fit the newly found jewelry into my main jewelry box, only to realize it was overflowing. So, I began purging outdated accessories from my collection. Meanwhile, I found an old pair of Emma’s kindergarten glasses tucked away, and I took them back to her room for safekeeping.
In my quest for more space, I noticed a giant bin of dress-up clothes in her corner. “Does she even use this anymore?” I pondered, deciding it was time for that bin to go, creating a bit more space for the remaining chaos.
Then, as if on autopilot, I pulled everything out of her closet, grossed out by the dust that had accumulated over time. My cleaning frenzy continued as I realized the books from my desk had no home on the shelves; they were packed to the brim. Rearranging frames and organizing church CDs led to yet another pile forming beside me.
Four hours later, I was left with a whirlwind of organized chaos. I had cleared the trash and recycling, but there were still piles of jewelry, frames, toys, and books scattered throughout the house. My home felt like a war zone, yet the desk? It was finally cleared out.
If you’re also looking to tackle a similar project, you might find inspiration in our related post here. And if you’re considering at-home insemination, check out Cryobaby’s at-home insemination kits for an excellent resource. For those navigating pregnancy, March of Dimes offers invaluable support and information.
In summary, sometimes what starts as a simple task can unfold into a massive project. Embrace the chaos, and remember that progress takes time.
Leave a Reply