Marie Kondo and her Netflix show are all the rage right now. I get it. She encourages decluttering and the organization of homes everywhere. Her method helps mothers, too. Because as we all know, less stuff and more organization often lead to a decluttered mind. And as a mom myself, I can greatly appreciate this.
Every time my children leave a giant mess of Barbies and Legos, I cringe. My body stiffens and stress creeps up the back of my neck. But despite the stress that the kids’ cluttered toys cause me, I am not about to ask them if a particular toy “sparks joy.” The answer, to every toy in the house, would inevitably be, “Yes.”
But this mom is not down with that.
It’s true if I listened to Kondo regarding my children’s toys, my house would remain as cluttered as it always is. So, I have to choose to ignore her. Always have. Always will. Because as it is with many American households, my children are spoiled—by everyone. The grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends love showering them with toys galore. Quite honestly, it’s ridiculous.
So, instead of asking my children if toys “spark joy” to help in the cleaning up of the house, I simply grab the toys they no longer play with when they’re not looking.
Usually, when my kids are sound asleep at night, I head to the basement or family room to rummage through toys. And I do this almost monthly. I bring three bags with me.
- First, I purge the broken and super cheap toys. Those go directly into the recycle bin.
- Next, I sort toys that I could possibly sell. Once the toys sell, we put the money aside to donate to an organization.
- Then, in another pile, I have toys that we donate to a local thrift store or organization.
- Lastly, I place a small group of toys in the hallway closet so that I can keep them tucked away. That way, when I rotate them back out, they’re like new again for the kids.
When my kids wake up the next morning, they don’t even know a single toy is missing. Instead, they say, “Thanks for organizing our toys, Mom!” But if I had done the decluttering process with them, it would have been a disaster. They would have, most definitely, gotten the case of “The Gimmes,” begging to keep every single toy they own. I’m sure I’d hear, “Noooo, Mom! Don’t throw that away!”
Yeah, not happening. My mom brain cannot handle all that chaos.
Some may think that this is a little sneaky of good ‘ole Mom. But I like to think of it as smart. When I get rid of some toys, our whole home feels lighter, and we do, too. So, until my children grow older, I will not ask them if anything “sparks joy” because I know that the answer will only be yes. So, until then, I’ll be the one who deciphers what can stay and what we can slide out the door.
