I've been lurking this thread since before Christmas. I read the book. I feel stuck though. I feel like our 1200 sq ft house will never be big enough for the four of us plus a dog. It worked fine for the 2 of us and the dog. It doesn't help that I work from home full time and M is a SAHM.
Is there really a point where there won't be kid stuff in our only living space? Looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
@leatherpants, did you see the article I posted in the WLC thread about how KMing is a form of mindfulness/ meditation? I thought that was really neat.
Anyway, I'm not devoted but I work on stuff when I can. I did my big kid's closet last week. Makes me wish I knew how to post pics.
Would you be so kind to post here?
Here it is- the article was about mindfulness, which we were working on in the challenge, but KM made the list, and I thought it was insightful. Feel free to ignore the challenge stuff, that's not why I'm posting.
We own a single family home. There are four bedrooms the two bigger rooms are the master and the office/playroom. The other 2 bedrooms are really too small to share (2 twin beds wouldn't fit). The kids are too young for bunk beds right now 2.5 and 5 months.
We own a single family home. There are four bedrooms the two bigger rooms are the master and the office/playroom. The other 2 bedrooms are really too small to share (2 twin beds wouldn't fit). The kids are too young for bunk beds right now 2.5 and 5 months.
Sounds like quite a lot of space/rooms for your needs, what part of the KM process are you at?
You know what does work though? Thanking things for being in my life and doing what they were meant to do. Like the baby blankets I've been hanging on to for no reason. Thank you for keeping my baby warm. Be free to snuggle another baby somewhere.
That bit helped me so much. It sounds really dumb to thank stuff but I let go of so much old crap without feeling guilty
kona- I personally would purge until all toys fit in the playroom and their rooms. That is one way to keep them out of the living room.
Since they are in the younger side you may still have things like bouncy chairs and pack n plays in the living room as well as toys since they probably don't want to play by themselves. But you can at least return the toys to the playroom at the end of the day and sit down in your own space.
Mine are 4 and 6. All the baby stuff is gone. No toys in the living room. Playrooms is purged and labeled. I probably need to check that since H was home with them they probably did not pick up their stuff. DS has a messy room not going to lie DD's room she keeps pretty clean. So yes we have gotten our space back and been like this for maybe 2 years on baby stuff and maybe a year ago I got all the toys out of the ottoman in the living room. There is hope.
Also if you can utilize your basement and garage that helps. My basement is the playroom while I have 3 bedrooms and a office/guest room.
I've been lurking this thread since before Christmas. I read the book. I feel stuck though. I feel like our 1200 sq ft house will never be big enough for the four of us plus a dog. It worked fine for the 2 of us and the dog. It doesn't help that I work from home full time and M is a SAHM.
Is there really a point where there won't be kid stuff in our only living space? Looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
I've been doing a slacker version of KM and I don't mind toys in the living room, but I have found that I have shifted my mindset from "can't wait to move to a bigger house in 2 years because we've maxed out our storage" to "this house totally fits our needs and we can be happy here for 5 more years".
I've been lurking this thread since before Christmas. I read the book. I feel stuck though. I feel like our 1200 sq ft house will never be big enough for the four of us plus a dog. It worked fine for the 2 of us and the dog. It doesn't help that I work from home full time and M is a SAHM.
Is there really a point where there won't be kid stuff in our only living space? Looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
I've been doing a slacker version of KM and I don't mind toys in the living room, but I have found that I have shifted my mindset from "can't wait to move to a bigger house in 2 years because we've maxed out our storage" to "this house totally fits our needs and we can be happy here for 5 more years".
I've been lurking this thread since before Christmas. I read the book. I feel stuck though. I feel like our 1200 sq ft house will never be big enough for the four of us plus a dog. It worked fine for the 2 of us and the dog. It doesn't help that I work from home full time and M is a SAHM.
Is there really a point where there won't be kid stuff in our only living space? Looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
That can work. Sounds like you might need to declutter more?
Babies & young toddlers don't need as much as we think they do. And yes, once the "gear" goes, you get your house back. Swings, Excersaucers, etc take up so much floor space. Maybe take a look at The Purposeful Housewife with Allie Cassaza (her blog). She a minimalist mom who has 4 kids & homeschools & has it all down.
Yeah we have had a swing, jumper or rocker in the living room for 2 years + now.
We have a really nice toy box that my dad made but it's filled with just the 2.5 yo toys. She has a lot of big Little People things. So then the smaller rattles etc appropriate for the baby are stuffed someplace else.
I agree that I could be more ruthless with the toys, especially the baby toys. The 2.5 yo sometimes has strong opinions.
we took a break but are back at it today. It's a snow day so MH is here to actually help and we're moving onto komono sub categories of tools, and basement boxes. I see a Value Village run in my future
I made it through books and clothes (mine and the toddler's). And haven't been able to tackle another category since Realistically, I think I will need to really, really subdivide to have any hopes of getting things done without a break from work.
Ok I don't get how if I do Kon Mari I will never have to do it again.
I mean I do try to keep up on things coming in the house but some are more out of my control like presents for the kids and stuff H buys.
For example with presents I have to make that extra effort to donate them and wait and see if anyone will use them so they sit there for a year and no one has touched them. Like my boss got me a poster and a luggage scale and a journal. Nice thought but I don't think I will use any of them but they just sit there. Maybe I need to re read a present section.
As for kids stuff there will always be that seasonal rotation of clothes that are too small and toys they outgrew. It is probably easier without kids.
@clarypax, the way I interpreted the book is you'll never have this mass-scale cleanout again. For the categories I've done, I am much more intentional with what comes in and also cutting something when it's utility is gone. Sweater with a new hole that would previously have sat around for 2 years- gone immediately. I think especially because kid stuff rotates so often- you must have mini-periodic purges.
My oldest is now purging her own stuff (clothes, at least). Hoping the others will learn in time!
@clarypax, The way I read gifts in KM was that the purpose of them is to bring joy to the gift giver through the act of giving and to you by receiving the gift. If you don't want the physical gift then give it away and don't feel guilty since it served it's purpose.
FYI - I use my luggage scales a lot, if you do any air travel they are worth keeping
Gifts are not my love language. They are frequently a form of stress for me both giving and receiving especially if the person doesn't really know what to get me. Then I feel guilty for not using it. I think that's why Christmas is not my favorite.
I made H go down to the basement and really go though stuff. So much more for the trash and the donate piles. I tried on all my snowboard gear and ::shock:: it didn't fit, so someone is going to get some hardly used pants and jacket for next to nothing. Also listed my old snowboard boots that I've had for so long and got replacements for 5 years ago. Why did i still have the old ones?
I finished shoes! I did them originally when I first did clothes about 9 months ago but I redid them today and got rid of a load more. I can now say that I wear every pair of shoes I own. Even DS is down to 4 pairs - snow boots, school sneakers, outdoor non-snow boots and 1 pair of next size boots.
I posted once in here and haven't been back to it yet. My house is such a disaster.
Right now I'm kind of skipping around not doing it the KM way but...I have a basement full of everything. So I've been tacking our largest storage area in the basement for now.
So far I've donated: Big box of dvds Pile of blankets and towels Big box of books 2 giant boxes of random stuff. Lots of clothes purses and shoes. 3 trash bags full of clothes. 2 boxes full of kids toys and miscellaneous
I've thrown away a ton of junk. I've also sold a few things like some nicer purses and shoes.
I've still got a ton to do but it feels so good being rid of so much stuff!
I still haven't tackled old electronics. I've look into so many computer recycling possibilities but my province does not recycle electronics. So smashing and dumping is the only option, I hate that
Post by mykidsgotcurls on Feb 13, 2017 23:59:37 GMT -5
I konmaried a vcr today. My assistant wanted one and I vaguely recalled us having one. Boom! Husband dug out of the garage. I asked her if she would be at work tomorrow or time traveling to 1986.
I can't wait to tackle our garage. I know it's not to KM process but it's way too cold to be out there for long.
I still haven't tackled old electronics. I've look into so many computer recycling possibilities but my province does not recycle electronics. So smashing and dumping is the only option, I hate that
Do you have any big electronic stores that take old electronics?
No, that's what's so frustrating! Staples takes old electronics in every province except mine, I should check best buy but I bet they are the same
That is ridiculous!! What does your province have against recycling?
apparently they are int he process of setting something up, so we can expect an electronics program in... 2025 maybe? They also don't recycle glass???
Are you just trying to spread propaganda so us from the US won't try to flee to amazing Canada and hang pictures of your beautiful prime minister in our houses? Looking at justin Trudeau sparks joy for me.
(Ps we dont actually hang pics of our leaders here)
apparently they are int he process of setting something up, so we can expect an electronics program in... 2025 maybe? They also don't recycle glass???
Are you just trying to spread propaganda so us from the US won't try to flee to amazing Canada and hang pictures of your beautiful prime minister in our houses? Looking at justin Trudeau sparks joy for me.
(Ps we dont actually hang pics of our leaders here)
apparently they are int he process of setting something up, so we can expect an electronics program in... 2025 maybe? They also don't recycle glass???
What province do you live in? Also I can't believe they don't recycle glass.. Germans would be dying at the thought of just throwing glass out.
New Brunswick. There's private reclamation yards that will take glass bottles but no curb side pickup run by the city like they do with paper and plastic.
I just found a charity that takes old computers and printers and refurbs them for schools! Hurray! They shall be getting 2 laptops, 1 desktop PC, and 2 printers.
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