I was in a dangerous mood today. The mood that screams I AM SURROUNDED BY STUFF – TOO MUCH STUFF and some of it just has to go. My husband is afraid of that mood. If he sees it coming on he makes himself scarce lest I start in about HIS “too much stuff” and demand the lot be culled or at least organized. Not that he ever complies.
The kiddo, on the other hand, LOVES this mood. It means that I dig out lots of old crap. She enjoys examining every piece of crap there is and then asks to keep some of it…which is EXACTLY contrary to what I’m trying to do by digging it out in the FIRST place.
Mind you, some of the crap really ISN’T crap at all…..like the journal I started (never finished) when I was pregnant. The few pages I did write were fond memories of how I felt being pregnant for the first time and anticipating a new life. Of course I chuckled at how optimistic I was compared to the reality of motherhood 8 years later.
Other stuff that’s not crap are the cards, pictures and notes from my nieces – now 34 and 19 years old. Even an old spelling test from one of them! Or the cards from my own kiddo with the fancy way she used to write her letters….the E with a million little arms.
But should I keep the 10 years worth of cards from the hubster? The ones where he just signed his name? Are those worth keeping?
Or the tax returns from 15 years ago? Or bank statements from 10 years ago? The paperwork and receipt for the lawnmower from 1992? 20 years of obligatory cards from the gynecologist stating “your pap smear was normal”? I have all that and more.
I need space….to store more stuff. Yes, MORE stuff. You see I have to retain records of our educational efforts. I need to be able to show that I actually TEACH the kiddo and that she learns and progresses at an acceptable rate. A little “grade book” really doesn’t cut the mustard for a homeschooling family. So I have worksheets and books and tests and writing samples. And that doesn’t include the LEGAL stuff I need to produce each year.
So I’m in purge mode and need to decide (with nods to “The Clash”)
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!
This made me laugh. I dug out an old pregnancy journal…2 pages and that was the end of pregnancy I suppose. Who are these scrapbook afficienados with quirky pen in hand that can account for every detail on the hour? I want to hire one.
Crap is…as crap does. Meaning, if I don’t use it…I want to lose it to the trash; sometimes it ends up on the second or third round. I call it The Crap Carousel. Want a ticket to ride?
I’ll take that ticket thank you very much.
I’m a monster posting to the FreeCycle board today! Hope it all goes…
I know FreeCyclers around your area are going to be SO happy! I SO wish I lived near you … Just sayin’. Of course, that would mean I’d have more stuff…and I’d have to get rid of some more of my own stuff… oh the cycle continues. On second thought, it’s a good thing I don’t live in the neighborhood!
YES! YES! I know that feeling! Why can’t I have clean, flat surfaces? Why do I have bulldoze the kitchen table to serve meals? I think I am finally losing that weepy mommy nostalgia for my kids’ paperwork now that a ream of it comes home EVERY SINGLE DAY in their backpack. I recently purchased a shredder and had a field day with bank statements.
I purge about every other week, at least all the school papers that come home. I have one Rubbermaid each for the girls’ artwork/crafts that is worth saving, and I’m actually considering revisiting Big Sister’s because it might be getting too full… What did you decide about the cards? My husband doesn’t understand why I keep any in the first place!
My hubster is a saver – of everything. He doesn’t understand why I’d get RID of the stuff.
I reached a compromise (in my brain): I kept cards that had a sentiment written BY him – not just the Hallmark words.