Updated: December 21, 2016
Originally Published: December 18, 2016
I currently find myself in possession of 20 meticulously embellished toilet paper rolls, each one a work of art crafted by my imaginative 5-year-old. Every night, I conduct a thorough inventory to ensure none are missing. Who would have thought that parenthood would involve safeguarding glittering toilet paper tubes adorned with childlike drawings? Yet, here I am.
In addition to these quirky treasures, my daughter has transformed our recycling bin into a treasure trove of creativity, utilizing boxes, bubble wrap, jars, and even old newspapers. Just the other day, she crafted a butterfly from a broken wooden spoon and a deflated Whoopee cushion. Each piece she creates is treasured—except for that one milk jug filled with crayons that began to emit a rather unpleasant odor after a few days.
Living in a small home means that as the holiday season approaches, filled with new toys, clothing, and potential art projects, we need to clear some space. This calls for a significant decluttering effort, where we part ways with toys and creations that no longer serve a purpose.
However, convincing certain family members to let go of their belongings is a challenge, akin to orchestrating a hoarders’ intervention. This week, I decided to involve the kids in the toy cleanup process. I’m not completely certain which toys they hold dear, but perhaps they’ll learn a valuable lesson about sharing. Yes, I’ll engage them, and then I’ll write about how wonderfully it all went.
Here’s how the Great Pre-Christmas Toy Cleanup unfolded in our home this year:
- I set the stage. I gathered the kids and said, “Alright, we need to get rid of some items. Look around and think about which toys you haven’t played with in a while. Imagine how happy another child would be to receive that playhouse you’ve never touched, or that train set! Someone would be thrilled to have it, right?”
- I chose the right moment. They had full bellies and were well-rested. I had prepped them for this day, allowing them time to adjust to the idea of parting with some toys.
- We tackled the overflowing toy bin. One by one, I pulled out items. A broken yo-yo? Trash. Unused finger puppets? Donate. A mountain of Happy Meal toys? Straight to the garbage. Out went the too-small dress-up clothes, baby LEGO sets, toddler puzzles, and a bag of plastic snakes.
- Suddenly, they claimed to love everything. Oh yes, every single item. They adored the squished doll, the bizarre remote-controlled tarantula that had an unfortunate encounter with water, and the box overflowing with party favors. They loved them all and insisted they could NOT part with any of it.
- They shifted from helping to playing. Instead of sorting, they became engrossed in their toys.
- I took a firm stand. No means no. These toys were unloved! Don’t you want your toys to find a new home where they’ll be cherished? We’ve all seen what happened in Toy Story!
- Tears started to flow. Oh dear, the toys were sad without their owners, I know. (Why did I have to bring up that movie?)
- They reluctantly agreed to let go of a broken doll arm and a puzzle missing most of its pieces.
- When they were at school, I made my move. I gathered everything they hadn’t touched in over a year and discreetly packed it away for donation or disposal, just like every other year.
- Victory! We successfully purged, and they were completely unaware of what had been removed. I’m documenting this experience so I won’t forget it by next year.
I genuinely attempted to involve my children in the process of decluttering their toys. You’d think after ten years of parenting, I’d have anticipated how this scenario would play out. But here we are. Don’t make my mistakes. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to tend to my collection of toilet paper tube masterpieces.
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Summary
The holiday season prompts a necessary toy purge in a small home filled with creations and clutter. Engaging children in the process may seem like a good idea, but the emotional attachments to their toys can complicate matters. Ultimately, stealthy action is often required to clear out unused items while maintaining peace at home.