As we approach the festive season, it’s become apparent that my living space is overrun with an impressive collection of 20 elaborately decorated toilet paper tubes, lovingly crafted by my imaginative 5-year-old. These creations are held dear, with a nightly routine of ensuring each one is accounted for—yes, that means actual counting. Parenthood has led me to this curious point in life, where I find myself safeguarding glittery toilet paper tubes adorned with drawings of babies.
In addition to these quirky treasures, my daughter has transformed our recycling bin into a treasure trove of art—boxes, bubble wrap, jars, tubes, and old newspapers all serve as her canvas. Recently, she even fashioned a butterfly from a broken wooden spoon and a deflated Whoopee cushion. Each piece is cherished, except for that one milk jug filled with crayons that started to emit an unpleasant odor after a few days.
Living in a modest home means that as the holiday season approaches, brimming with new toys, clothes, and potential art projects, we must create some space. This necessitates letting go of toys and projects that no longer hold value for us.
This can be a challenging concept for some family members who might benefit from a hoarding intervention. Therefore, I resolved to involve my children in this year’s toy decluttering initiative. I wasn’t entirely sure which toys they were emotionally attached to, but I hoped they might learn a lesson about generosity. Yes, I intended to engage the kids in this process and then document the experience to share how smoothly it went.
Looking back, I wish I could give my past self a gentle reprimand for underestimating the challenge ahead. Here’s how this year’s Toy Decluttering Initiative unfolded:
- Preparation: I informed my children of the plan: “We’re going to clear out some toys. Look around and consider which ones you no longer play with. Think about how delighted another child would be to have that playhouse you’ve never touched or that train track that’s been collecting dust. Right?”
- Timing: I chose the perfect moment for this endeavor. They were well-fed and well-rested, and I had given them prior notice about the decluttering. It was time to take action.
- Starting Point: We began with their overflowing toy bin, pulling out each item. A yo-yo with a broken string? Trash. Unused finger puppets? Donate. An excessive collection of Happy Meal toys? Trash. Outdated dress-up clothes, baby Lego sets, toddler puzzles, and a bag of plastic snakes—everything had to go.
- Sentimental Attachments: At this point, my children suddenly declared their love for everything. Yes, every last one of those toys. They were attached to the squished-faced doll, the frightening remote-control tarantula that had met an unfortunate fate in the bath, and the box of plastic birthday party favors. They loved them, cherished them, and simply couldn’t part with them.
- Distraction: They abandoned the decluttering process entirely and began playing with the toys instead.
- Firmness: I had to take a stand. “No! We’re committed to this. These items are unloved! You want your toys to be appreciated, don’t you? We all remember what happened in Toy Story!”
- Tears: And then the tears flowed. It was heart-wrenching to see their toys feeling neglected, and I regretted bringing up Toy Story at all.
- Minimal Progress: They reluctantly agreed to part with a single broken doll arm and a puzzle missing most of its pieces.
- Stealth Removal: Once they were at school, I quietly gathered all the items they hadn’t touched in over a year and discreetly disposed of them or set them aside for donation. As I’ve done in previous years, I felt the need to erase my memory of this chaotic process.
- Conclusion: Success! The decluttering was complete, and my children remained blissfully unaware of what they had lost. I’m documenting this experience to remind myself of the lessons learned for next year.
While I genuinely aimed to engage my children in this toy decluttering initiative, I realize, after a decade of parenting, that I should have anticipated the outcome. Don’t follow in my footsteps. Now, I must return to my collection of toilet paper tube crafts.
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In summary, the pre-holiday toy decluttering process can be quite the adventure, filled with unexpected challenges and emotional attachments. Engaging children in this process may yield mixed results, but it is essential for creating space in a busy household.
Keyphrase: pre-holiday toy decluttering
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