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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 7:17pm | IP Logged
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Last weekend, we had 5-6 bags and 3 boxes of books dropped off at St. Vincent's. Then a dump run on Saturday.  Dump-run days are my favorite!!!!  Back of pick up filled up with lots of outdoor stuff and things from the garage. FOUR expired car seats went bye-bye!!!!! Moving on.....next round, please!
I have a truck picking up tomorrow, so I'll be running through the house tonight at 9 pm, determined to find at least 2 more bags of stuff!!!!
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 7:28pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
Either that or I am going to dig into one of the school storage cabinets. |
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Would somebody venture to put forth reasonable parameters for this task?? My school room needs doing, I know. There is no clutter book out there that really addresses needs in large homeschooling families where you invest so much money in stuff that might sit for a few years between children but doesn't become dated (like clothes) and really would be ridiculous to re-purchase. I feel claustrophobic in my learning room. Somebody give me a checklist of what to keep and what to give away. The next charity truck comes in one week!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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lapazfarm
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Well, I don't have any magical checklist (boy, wouldn't that be nice) but I can tell you a few things that I decided could easily go away:
1. novels that can be easily found at libraries and used book stores. Why keep a book on my shelf for 5 years between kids, when I can easily pick one up when I need it and use that space for hard to find or regularly used items?
2. Half -used workbooks and coloring books. I used to keep them thinking it is such a waste to throw out a whole book because it is half used. But then what bright-eyed kindergartener wants to use a half-used book? I kept a few to hand to the 2yo to scribble in and tossed the rest.
3. Books collected for a certain unit-study that we are not currently doing(such as all my dinosaur themed books) are boxed up in old Amazon shipping boxes, labeled for easy finding later, and stored in a closet out of the way.
4. Same goes for books relevant to a certain historical period which we are not currently covering (American revolution, Lewis and Clark). Those are boxed, labeled with time period, and stored away.
5. Living math books covering concepts which are between ages of my children. This includes books such as "The I Hate Math Book," "The Book of Think", along with such titles as The Librarian who measured the Earth, and "G is for Googol", etc. These are boxed up and labeled Living Math, Elementary.
6. Science kits and materials on topics we are not currently covering are stored in 3 Rubbermaid bins labeled Earth, Life, and Physical Science.
7. Puzzles and games related to a topic not currently being studied (ex: AC-DC electric current game, Medieval History card game, etc) are boxed up with the books for that topic, if possible.
8. Manipulatives. Most of them are gone. I kept a few, but just how many different types of "counting objects" does one really need? Especially when a handful of pennies or a scoop of beans does the job just as well. And do I really need base ten blocks, Montessori beads, AND Cuisenaire rods? Nope. Just keeping the MM stuff.
This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but it has been very hard for me. I have always thought that I needed to have everything available at all times, just in case I needed it. But what I found is that I had resources I did not even know I had (or had forgotten about) because they were buried under so much stuff. Now as far as strictly school stuff, I have out just the things we use every day (including Superboy's math materials, our map cabinet stuff, and JBug's Montessori beads and language materials), our current Iditarod/Alaska unit materials. Plus I have pulled the materials for the next two units I have planned (Art and Botany)so I can plan with them.
Our school environment is much simpler and much more attractive and peaceful.
This of course, does not include the toddler and pre-schooler's stuff, which I am currently trying to figure out how to deal with.
I hope this helps some.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Sarah
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 8:06pm | IP Logged
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After doing our library/learning storage room (or whatever you want to call it, I pondered much the same thing. Library
For me the checklist went:
*If it hasn't been used yet, but you've had it for years
*If it wasn't successful or popular
*If I never read it
*If I didn't understand how to use it
*If I thought it was high maintenance
*If its missing pieces or its not a set anymore
*If its not "like new" or good condition
*If it needs to be fixed or taped
*If it takes up more space than its worth (a big thing for one minor skill)
*If its made in China or India (possible lead)
*If you didn't buy it (someone unloaded it on you)
*If a household item can replace it (beans for counting, etc)
This is not specific list.
I really liked in Walsh's book (Its All Too Much)when he said that it is basic math when you figure out how much to keep according to how much space you have. In thinking about that I realized I needed to prioritize and put that stuff away first.
Once you clear huge spaces and have only what you like or use it feels WONDERFUL. Dance and breath in the open space!
Also, as I ruthlessly cleared stuff using the above checklist, I had tons of room for the stuff I liked and thought was worthwhile, with EMPTY shelf space left over.
Not sure if this helped.
ps. Walsh helped me by saying that "paying good money" for something doesn't matter if you don't use it or its not worth its space.
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Sarah
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 8:09pm | IP Logged
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I forgot to say, Elizabeth, take pictures. Even if you don't share them with the world, you will love your before and after shots!
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amyable
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 8:31pm | IP Logged
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LOL, I just deleted my post because Sarah and Theresa said it better than I did. 
For me, what it all boils down to, is "it's just stuff". I have to stop worrying about how much it cost, or how hard it would be to replace. Like I just sold some FIAR books that I will probably never be able to get again because they are OOP. But honestly, I didn't LOVE them and my life will go on without them.
There is so much out there. Even if you give away something that you later regret, your children will still get a wonderful education without it. Seriously. 
Just keep repeating "less is more...enough is as good as a feast...less is more...". Ask St. Francis to help you become unattatched to your stuff - but better hurry up and do it or God may send a flood or leaky roof a la Alice and her wonderful Cottage.  Better YOU get to choose.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 8:36pm | IP Logged
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amyable wrote:
| Ask St. Francis to help you become unattatched to your stuff |
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Now THAT is some EXCELLENT advice!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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RamFam
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 8:48pm | IP Logged
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How do you guys find the time and energy to all this? I have only three kiddos and am overwhelmed by this thread. With pregnancy, the kids, the house, etc. I barely mak it through the day. Do you eat or drink some kind of pure energy or hire help with normal housekeeping or what's your secret?
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Leah
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Tom ^i^, Kyle (my Marine), Adeline '00, Wyatt '05, Isaac '07 Philip '08,Michael '10, and John Xavier Feb '13
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 04 2008 at 9:22pm | IP Logged
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Well, first of all, I don't have a baby, nor am I pregnant, and that makes a huge difference.
Second, it is purely a survival tactic. If I don't get this under control I am going under!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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amyable
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| Posted: March 05 2008 at 6:10am | IP Logged
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RamFam wrote:
How do you guys find the time and energy to all this? I have only three kiddos and am overwhelmed by this thread. With pregnancy, the kids, the house, etc. I barely mak it through the day. Do you eat or drink some kind of pure energy or hire help with normal housekeeping or what's your secret?
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Please don't make the mistake I often make and compare yourself to others online, feeling poorly about yourself saying, "Why can't I do this?? They can! What is wrong with me or my family?" Ugh I am so guilty of this sometimes.
Last year I was closer to being in your shoes, pregnant with a toddler. I sat on my behind for days on end, too exhausted to do anything, not even housework! But because I have spent the last year doing *nothing*, and (and this is important!) my other kids are older than yours, I have a bit of excess (nervous ) energy. Theresa is right - there is light years of difference between a family where the mom is pregnant and/or with tiny children, and a household without. You are doing more important work right now (nurturing life within you and attending to your young children) than I am in tossing so much junk I shouldn't have let in the house in the first place anyway. 
And who says I'm doing the housework properly when I'm in major decluttering mode? 
to you!!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Sarah
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| Posted: March 05 2008 at 7:08am | IP Logged
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RamFam wrote:
How do you guys find the time and energy to all this? I have only three kiddos and am overwhelmed by this thread. With pregnancy, the kids, the house, etc. I barely mak it through the day. Do you eat or drink some kind of pure energy or hire help with normal housekeeping or what's your secret?
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Pregnancy means zero decluttering, so don't be hard on yourself. I can barely do anything when I'm pregnant! Yes, I hired a teenager to do some of my basic work whil I sat on the couch when I was pregnant. Nothing got done well and I felt so sad about it! That's probably one reason this place got so out of control!
I am not energetic. You should see my house! Radical decluttering makes other parts of the house fall to complete chaos for a few days.
I have reached a point where if I don't do this we will live in the yard.
Don't beat yourself up. . . I know how that feels, especially when your pregnant. 
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RamFam
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| Posted: March 05 2008 at 9:01am | IP Logged
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Thanks so much for the assurance that you guys aren't super human and I am normal. As I am a newbie here, I was a bit intimidated by everyone else's seemingly saintliness in all things.
I love this community. It has been nothing but inspiration and reassurance. Thanks guys!
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Leah
RamFaminNOVA
Tom ^i^, Kyle (my Marine), Adeline '00, Wyatt '05, Isaac '07 Philip '08,Michael '10, and John Xavier Feb '13
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 05 2008 at 10:43am | IP Logged
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RamFam wrote:
| How do you guys find the time and energy to all this? |
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Most of the dump run was dh's doing, and the bags of stuff have been sitting around since my mom was here in Jan for 2 weeks doing housework and cooking so that I could do some other things. So.....there's usually an explanation....OR....like someone else said, when you're in "project-mode" or "decluttering mode"....there are always things that fall by the wayside....good meals, general housework, homeschooling, etc.
Rest assured......
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Matilda
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I agree with the earlier comment that it is most important to get the work done but add that keeping track of it in one way or another has been an excellent motivator. When I stop and think about what we accomplished, I have cold hard facts to back me up and when I think about buying something new or accepting a new bag of hand me downs, I am reminded of where we came from by looking at my list.
You can see my list of what we gave away this weekend here along with some cheap and easy closet dividers I made for my girls to help keep them organized.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10 , 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
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Erin
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chicken lady wrote:
I hauled away 15 boxes of books, all twaddle! And I thought I did not have twaddle
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Molly
Two days ago I read your comment and thought well I don't think I have twaddle either, but there could be a possibility so I have been very busy and have 6 boxes to toss so far, I only have another 40 boxes to sort
Thanks for suppling the inspiration.
Theresa
I can't believe you have to fit it all into one trailer load!!!! 
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Erin
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missionfamily
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Oh yes! I finally finished the little ones' room, which included gong through all kids' clothes and shoes in storage, all kids' hanging clothes, the laundry system (te folding baskets are in there) plus all baby toddler toys and board books. I put a major new clothing system in place in my mind and wrapped my brain around how I will select what to keep/purchase in the future. This was huge to me. I'm still evaluating every piece as it comes out of the dryer, but I feel so much better.
Do you realize that for every wearing of an item, you have to touch it an average of 6-8 times? To put it on, to take it off, to put it in the baset, in the washer, in the dryer, in the basket again, fold, put away. That is a significant time investment in a item of clothing...I'm asking myself for each item if it worth what it takes to manage it...you'd be surprised how few things make the cut...and I've earmarked items to pass on when something new comes in, plus made a spring shpping card to keep in my bag.
This has been life-changing for me, silly as it sounds...laundry was always a guilt-evoking areaof failure and waste for me. It feels so good to be conscious of what we have, why we have it, and feel like it's manageable enough to take proper care of it. WHEW!
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Colleen
dh Greg
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hmbress
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 11:44am | IP Logged
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Colleen and others - is there a rule of thumb that you use for how many tops/pants/PJs/etc. a child really needs? I think I have too much for my kids - laundry piles up and becomes overwhelming. I'm beginning to think less is more, but am not certain how radical to be in thinning out the clothing stockpile. I will be participating in a Mom 2 Mom sale next month (like a HUGE neighborhood garage sale of just moms selling kids clothes, toys, and books, etc.) so am very motivated!
Thanks for any advice.
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Heather Rose (ds13, ds10)
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missionfamily
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The process was easier for me since I have all boys. Here's what I learned:
The boys only need two church/dress outfits a year...one for the spring/summer and one for the fall/winter. If I limit those to certain styles that can be mixed and matched and keep only one of each size, I can keep them all hung and organized in a closet and put the sizes we need for each season in their closet. So....I am keeping dark corduroy pants and red plaid button downs in each size, plus any red sweater vests. I am keeping khaki pants and light blue and green plaid button downs in each size plus and navy sweater vests we already had. Each child has a belt, one pair of dress socks, and nice shoes.
In addition, the fall closet will have a rugby-tye shirt in red or navy and nice jeans to mix and match with the dress clothes for outings like dinner out, parties, etc...
In the spring, there will be one nicer pair of shorts in khaki or navy and a polo shirt in light blue or green for the same purpose.
I am keeping three sets of pjs per child and those will be onesies and soft pants or pj pants and shirts that can be mixed, not matching sets.
Play clothes for this summer will be 5 pair of shorts and 6 or 7 seven shirts as well as one pair of jeans and one pair of athletic pants...I'd like to go to even less at some point, but this is a good start. I'm trying to stick to neutrals in shorts and certain colors in shirts so that things match.
Each older boy also has a list of what sports items he needs and I am limiting the amount we have of those...for instance, Quinn has to wear pants to fencing, so there were four or five pairs in his drawer. For a kid who goes to class once a week, one pair is plenty.
Soccer socks and shorts got pared down too.
Shoes got pared down to this list: sandals/crocs...tennis shoes...dress shoes...athletic shoes...rubber boots.
I love that things are pared down enough that I can pretty much keep a mental checklist...I can scan the laundry bins, know what didn't get washed yet or what shoes didnt get put away and send someone to get them. I feel like we are being muh better stewards this way.
I did this same process for outer wear, clothes in storage, and me and dh.
I will evaluate all hand-me-downs that come into the house in this way as well.
Wow,that was probably longer than you wanted...but there you have it .
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 1:22pm | IP Logged
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missionfamily wrote:
| Do you realize that for every wearing of an item, you have to touch it an average of 6-8 times? To put it on, to take it off, to put it in the baset, in the washer, in the dryer, in the basket again, fold, put away. |
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You made me LOL with that keen observation!
Now I'm not dealing with the high numbers of children in this household, but I'm finding that I don't have enough clothing. I'm lazy, and don't want to do laundry more than 1-2 times a week. The fewer clothes, the more frequently I have to wash to keep it in the rotation. Just in my own greatly reduced wardrobe while I'm between sizes, I have to wash every 3 days so I can repeat my clothing.
So, I guess I'm fighting the trimming down the clothes.
As an aside, my son goes through pants...I mean, his knees literally goes through his pants. They don't make sturdy pants anymore. Are there knee reinforcers that I can put into the knee section BEFORE they get holes?
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2  '07
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hmbress
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 2:11pm | IP Logged
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Wow Collen, only one dress outfit. So the boys pretty much wear the same exact outfit all fall and winter? But they can wear them with or without the sweater vests?
I love the idea of mix and match PJs - where do you get tops and bottoms that aren't matched sets?
Jenn - I have heard that if you get the Sears brand jeans and the knees wear through, they will replace them free of charge. Even if it is your third (or more) child wearing them! I haven't tried this yet myself, so I'm not clear on the details, but I think as long as you have a receipt you are able to take advantage of this. I am just getting to the point (well, maybe actually a year ago) where clothing is being worn long enough to wear through the knees, so I'll have to start purchasing at Sears.
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Heather Rose (ds13, ds10)
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Topic: Decluttering seems to be popular
