Kids Live Here

After a “much less tragic than it could have been” collision between my kids on their scooters, we came into the house, I applied first aid, and everyone was ordered to rest for a while. (Myself not included, of course.)

I looked around the kitchen, and realized that I will possibly never get ahead.

I swear, I worked all morning on putting away craft supplies, toys, dishes, etc., and it’s like nothing ever happened. Instead of having a breakdown, I pulled it together and reminded myself that kids live here. They make messes. I work. I don’t have a cleaning lady.

I used some foam letters to put this message in a prominent place for such moments in the future.

Might I add, that enormous tub of foam letters contained exactly one letter V, and an overabundance of Ns.

Recommended Reading: It’s All Too Much, by Peter Walsh

Clutter is my enemy. The clutter in my house seems to multiply at an alarming rate, and I have had a goal for a while now of learning how to cope with it.

Oh, how I would LOVE to be selected by Oprah to have Peter Walsh come knocking on my door… I’d be willing to sacrifice my dignity and let the world see the chaos behind my blessedly opaque front door in exchange for his customized advice!

But, since that is not probable, I have started my own clutter management program using Walsh’s “stuff reduction” techniques in his book It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff.

The book offers very insightful tips to begin to get rid of stuff bit-by-bit, which as any working mother knows is much more realistic than being able to devote a few hours, a day, a week or solid month (in my case) to improving our living environment. It’s a quick read and a good reference manual for those times the junk sneaks back up on you.

Don’t get me wrong, Oprah… If you picked me, I’d love it!