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Jun 2008 Issue
By Nettie H. Francis
Pilgrims crossed the stormy ocean. Pioneers braved Indians to travel west. Our grandparents survived the Depression and World War II. People of all ages have faced trials of various kinds. I’m convinced that the struggle of our age is different than any conflict before—it is the “Battle of the Stuff.”
Homes today are packed full of stuff. My elderly neighbor recently had his home “de-junked” by his children. The garbage truck took away four oversized dumpsters full of trash—knickknacks, magazines, outdated household items and more. The tragedy of the situation was that heirlooms were also discarded because they couldn’t be recognized amongst all the stuff.
The Battle of the Stuff is not just for the older generation. Anyone who has children has stuff. From the moment the baby is born, people begin bringing stuff to your house—clothes, swings, cribs, bottles, diapers. Granted—it’s all cute stuff, but it is stuff just the same, and it requires attention and space.
As children grow up, they bring home more stuff—piles of paper from school, marbles from their best friend, fast food toys from eating out with grandma, and now they have backpacks and lunchboxes and jackets that take up space and fall onto the floor.
Soon we have closets full of boxes, kitchen counters stacked with mail, toy boxes full of rarely used toys, bedrooms full of knickknacks, and garages piled too high for cars.
We have more stuff than ever before in history with more room to store the stuff, but, less time to enjoy it and make use of it. Therefore, a house of order requires a mother who has declared war on insignificant items that take up space and energy—The Battle of the Stuff.
Here are some helpful hints for winning the conflict.
Take Command
Realize that fighting this war is almost entirely up to you—the mother. As the homemaker, you are responsible for the order of your house. You have the right and privilege to get rid of anything that is unnecessary. With respect to personal items, it’s o.k. to go through bedrooms, closets, shelves and boxes and make executive decisions about what is trash and what is treasure.
Small, Medium, Large
Don’t let the task of de-junking overwhelm you. Do a small de-junking each morning after family members have left for the day, throwing away leftover school papers and other trash from the night before. Once a month, do a medium de-junking in each room in the house. Carry a garbage bag and quickly walk through bedrooms and bathrooms, throwing away empty containers, old magazines, and broken toys. Once a year, do a large de-junking. Spend one entire day in each room, getting rid of unnecessary items.
Teach Your Troops
Enlist the help of family members in your battle. Discuss de-junking during dessert one evening, and light-heartedly talk about stuff that you could live without. Invite teenagers to de-junk their own bedrooms, and offer your help in determining what is worth saving and what is clutter. Keep a box in the garage where family members can voluntarily place unwanted items. Although your family may originally resist the idea of de-junking, they will most likely be grateful when their home feels cleaner and more spacious.
Alone is Best
De-junk young children’s bedrooms when they are gone. Start with two large boxes or bags: one for garbage and one for a thrift store. Begin at the door working your way around the room, going through closets, dressers, toy boxes, and under beds. Pass on useful items that are mere clutter, and throw away damaged or trashy items. Cleaning without your children will help you to work smart and fast, avoiding teary moments when your child may suddenly remember a forgotten item and be determined to keep it.
Remember, “Out of sight—Out of mind.” If you are afraid your child might miss a particular toy, save it in your closet for a month, in case he asks for it. Children are usually thrilled to come home and find their bedroom fresh and roomy again.
Junk…is Junk
Don’t clutter someone else’s life with your unwanted stuff. Avoid passing on items that will take up space in another person’s garage. If you do know of a specific need within a family, give them clothes or items they can use. Otherwise, send unwanted things to a charity.
Paper, Paper, Paper
A large percentage of the junk mothers wade through is paper. School papers, computer printouts, and mail can turn into a mountain of stuff within a few days. THROW AWAY or recycle most of the papers that come into your home. Schoolwork can be sorted when children arrive home from school, choosing one or two special papers to keep. Do a major clean-out of file cabinets once a year, saving only pertinent records. Go through mail when it arrives, quickly sorting out junk to throw away. You should be sending as much paper OUT of your home as comes IN.
True Treasure
Certain items are worth saving, even if they are only used rarely. Tools such as gardening equipment, camping gear and baby items are resources that should be kept and stored.
Family heirlooms, pictures, and records like report cards and journals are also treasure, for you and the next generation. When de-junking, think ahead to determine if something is worth keeping. Remember as well that posterity would most likely cherish a few special items, rather than boxes full of cards, clippings, and sentimental stuff.
Less is More
Fewer items around your house will allow you to live a life with more light, more room and the freedom to enjoy what you do have. Your family will sense the difference almost immediately. Not only will you be victorious, but you will discover that space and simplicity are worth more than stuff.
