So I’ve been declutering for a few months just donating stuff or throwing it away
However the neighborhood yard sale was today so I took an opportunity with the whole family to get rid of things. First time ever.
What a weird feeling when someone says “wow what an amazing thing “ and my heart sinking feeling like oh no what did I do???
Definitely interesting experience.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how long it took me to get here.
For almost 10 years, I shopped constantly for trinkets, home décor, clothes, purses, little things I thought would make my house nicer or make me feel better. I kept buying and buying and buying.
The result? thousands of dollars spent, a huge amount of savings gone, around $36,000 in credit-card debt, and a house full of stuff.
And honestly, the saddest part is realizing how much time and mental energy I spent shopping, looking for things, bringing them home, finding places for them, and then eventually feeling overwhelmed by them.
For the last two years, I’ve mostly stopped shopping unless I genuinely need something. And for the last six months, I’ve been seriously decluttering.
It honestly feels like I’m climbing out from under a mountain of debris after a tsunami. 😂
Every time I clear one area, I realize how much more there is. Sometimes it feels like it will never be enough. And there’s definitely sadness when I look around and realize, I did this. I spent all that money. I accumulated all this stuff.
But something is changing.
I’m finally starting to see the light.
There are actually clear areas in my bedroom now. I can see surfaces. I can walk into a room and not immediately feel like I need to fix 25 things. And somehow my brain is finally connecting the dots:
The solution isn’t getting better at organizing all the stuff. The solution is having less stuff. It’s still hard , I keep just trying to put things in “another place “ vs throwing things away.
My husband recently cleaned up our kids’ room while I was away, and when I came home, I was honestly inspired. It made me realize how accustomed we had become to clutter. We had somehow decided that piles of stuff, overflowing spaces, and constantly having things everywhere were just… normal.
I’m also realizing that the most important part of unfucking my habitat It’s stopping the fuckery at the door.
If I bring one thing into the house, something else needs to leave. Maybe two or three things.
I’m not going to erase 10 years of accumulation in six months. And I’m trying to accept that.
But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m moving in the right direction.
I’m still embarrassed by the money, the debt, and the years I spent shopping. But I’m also really grateful that I finally see the pattern.
Less buying. Less bringing in. Less managing stuff. More space. More time. More life.
Just sharing because today I noticed a few clear spaces in my bedroom, and honestly, they felt like a pretty big deal. ❤️
Pictures of accumulated stuff that I’m still working through.
I have so many questions. Why are they closing. If with paddle racket sports are bigger now.
They were big supporters of the tennis reading recreation commission. Who’s going to sponsor them now?
Yesterday seems the horrible person parked next to me at a soccer game had one of those carts to carry stuff. (I actually saw her when she got off her car) and when she came back she didn’t care how close it was to my car.
That’s all I can think happened because it’s such a straight line and not a key thing.
What type of wax do you use or what else can I do.
I also seem to have tiny black docta on the hood. So maybe it can help me with that too?
Edit to add:
I don’t know if the paint is scratched 😔. It may be and I don’t know how to tell
Today while walking the dog I think we were witness of a whole NG documentary.
First I see this red tailed hawk so close to us it scared me when he landed on the branch. He stood there with his prey for a long time and a few houses down a squirrel barking at us and seemingly aggressive vs the usual scary creature they are. Seems squirrel watched the chaos and was warning others.
Hi
So I was a very involved mom until my kids turned 9-10ish
I used to take them to the park, plan play dates, cute snacks, community events, family gatherings, it’s was all fun and games. Every weekend we’d do something fun and different.
Now I feel lost. They have other interests. One likes soccer, the other doesn’t like anything. Both swim. They like watching YouTube and video games. They like to hang out with their friends. One is in three soccer teams. The other one will start tennis and loves artistic activities.
But I feel lost. Both in how much “control” , discipline, time allowed for tv and phone.
12 year old has a phone with a three hour daily limit no social media.
They can only play video games on weekends two hours each day.
How do you do raise them and put limits Without alienating them. Rolling their eyes, saying rude stuff, is that normal? Sometimes it goes ok and they know they just have to do it. But sometimes it’s like it’s all new. I thought I’d be fine but I feel like I really miss my little kids and now they are strangers? lol I’m exaggerating. But I don’t know what to do anymore. I already have issues with oldest one preferring his dad 💯 over me so my self esteem is a bit bruised. So that pretty much made it all so confusing. My husband and I are on the same page on everything and he’s even a bit more strict, so it’s not that he has it easier with him.
Anyone who navigated this transition successfully knows what should I do now?
I am shocked that the mold in my kids Owalas grows so fast. I have one Stanley for me but also see areas where mold can grow fast. Seems Yetis are better for mold control. Toughts on this?
Hola estoy en cumbaya con mi hijo de 9 años por una semana. El sábado vamos al teleférico.
Pero no sé q mas hacer con el. Le encanta nadar, no caminar mucho ni viajar mucho en carro no más de una hora y media.
Q me recomiendan?
Guys what is this? It’s the front corners of my car. There’s no way I hit anything as the alarm would have made a beep.
Also is on the two sides left and right.
Warning for keyboard warriors : this is just an observation , not bashing anyone.
I find it so funny how we as parents try to make the best decisions possible and from an outside perspective it can look so contradictory. At the end of the day is more about the connection between our kids and us and some things are just their personalities and what will be will be.
Examples:
We don’t let our kid have discord but he can listen to any song on Spotify Eminem, bad bunny , curse words etc. I’m not happy about it but have other things to do than police his music. His friend has discord but can’t listen to music with curse words.
My kid doesn’t have YouTube on his phone. His friends have YouTube galore. They still find a way to send each other videos.
My kid doesn’t have social media but has an apple phone with parental controls. I manage everything. His other friend has a bark phone but has TikTok.
When I was in school I knew these kids who their parents did not let them watch TV at all (80’s) cause it was a waste of their brain. They turned into regular adults.
My uncle had his kids playing chess non stop to increase their intelligence. They are the most average, regular adults ever.
My brother has soooo many rules for how we adults need to talk to his kids. LOL. Eg talk in a comunal way not like giving orders. They are still regular kids and even a bit spoiled but no more than my kids and I used to give orders left and right.
All this to say we need to chill and just love them and keep doing our best and trust the process.
Viajo an Ecuador este fin de semana. Quiero bajarme unos libros en mi kindle de autores ecuatorianos. Vivos. A quien me recomiendan y q libro. Vi un post de a estos son los autores del momento: Nelson estupiñan, Mf ampuero, Mf Heredia, Óscar vela, Gabriela alemán, Mónica ojeda, Ernesto Carrión.
Three bags of clothes and some toys ready for donation. Should I wait to have more or just go NOW?
Edit to add:
The reason why I ask it’s because I don’t want to waste a trip for only three bags. I thought I’d have five.
Granted it’s a 9 minute trip
I just dropped them off. What a relief! 😅
I feel the sunscreen im using with my kids actually is burning their skin? Am I crazy?. I use spray copertone and spray of banana boat. Which one do you use?
Edit to add:
On their face I’m using on them my own which is a Spanish brand (ISDIN) I feel is working but on their bodies I feel these sprays are making things worse.
Also I used the roller for goop and it really truly burned mine and my husbands skin. Thank goodness I didn’t use goop roller on my kids.
Help please. I work a 9 to 5. Work late on Wednesdays and my one kid has soccer on Fridays pm and Sundays pm.
I don’t have to worry about weekdays meals only weekends. And only my laundry to fold it.
How often and when would you:
Yesterday we had company and the house is clean. Perfect time to start over with a good routine.
Do you guys reply when strangers say good game congrats?
I’ve enjoyed the non interactive part of the game. It’s in and out win or lose. No interaction first time someone says something. Don’t know what to respond
How do you clean this area? Under the removable washboard
Do you throw away bras that don’t fit you? Or donate them. Some are kinda new.
Sorry for the question don’t judge I just never gotten rid of anything before. Only accumulation of things.
Finally used the watermelon 🍉 spot today
My life is a mess. In terms of discipline. It’s not just cleaning, is the cooking healthy, working out, working without slacking, etc.
I wonder if anyone here says at least my room doesn’t look like this? Lol
I want to get to a point where I can help others and not always ask for help with my unmanageable cleaning situation.
Anyways just wanted to say thank you to all the ppl who are always jumping on the threads to help and give advice or just give support.