Clutter-free is the way to be

We are halfway through the 2023-24 school year. While adjusting schedules, creating a routine, keeping everyone healthy, and trying to rear well-rounded individuals, you have amassed several things that might need your attention. By now, your child has brought home various papers and art projects, creating nice piles, similar to your junk mail, in their room or on your dining room table. Don’t forget their clothes! Growth spurts, food stains, worn knee pants, and mixed-matched socks have caused you to accumulate too small, stained, and shabby shirts, jeans, and school uniforms in closets, drawers, and laundry baskets. Use the Christmas break as a reset for your mind and body and your home.

No More Papers!

Sort through all of those stacks of school papers. Trash, respectfully recycle, or reserve as keepsakes those old tests, worksheets, ditto sheets, coloring pages, and the like. Sort the papers into 2 categories (keep or toss) to determine how to diminish those piles:

Keep

• Art – if it is a foot or handprint or something your child is particularly proud of creating
• Homework/worksheet – if it is a subject your child has struggled with and needs more practice
• Newsletters – only if it contains information that you need to be reminded of
• Progress reports/Report cards – this is a personal preference. Personally, I enjoyed looking back to see my grades as an adult.

Toss/Recycle

• Art – coloring sheets – you may have to get rid of these when your child isn’t at home. It’s like that old sweater you find in the back of your closet. You haven’t seen it for years, and it’s probably stretched out of shape or just doesn’t fit, but when you see it, you want to keep it even though you probably won’t wear it again. Your child may find a reason to keep that teddy bear coloring sheet even though they haven’t seen it since August.
• Homework/ditto sheet – if your child has mastered the subject, there is genuinely no reason to keep it.
• Newsletters – some contain the same info weekly or month after month. I’m sure you can toss those from August unless it’s a memory you want to cherish (i.e., your child was featured as a star student).

Your Children need your presence more than your presents

Remember to go through those clothes and toys! Even if you choose not to buy your child new clothes or toys for Christmas, it doesn’t mean relatives and friends will not bless them. Filter through your child’s closet and drawers. Walk into 2024 fresh and accomplished!

It is more blessed to give than to receive. We all know that this time of year, children, in particular, are focused on what they will get. Use this time to show your child the importance of giving. It is easy to tell your children that there are those less fortunate, but they will learn a valuable lesson by going through their toy boxes. Find an organization collecting gently used toys and allow your child to participate actively in the donation.

Purging your closets will allow your children to be grateful for what they have and appreciate the life you have been able to afford. Those pants you wanted to get one more wear out of or those shoes that you clearly have gotten your money’s worth, don’t be afraid to toss or donate (if you can). A friend or relative can probably use a bag or box of clothes and shoes.

Busyness is an easy excuse to allow your house to fall by the wayside. However you celebrate this holiday, carve out some time to let go of those things that no longer serve you so you can make room for the blessings coming your way.

Give love. Get love.