What’s the hardest part about keeping your home organized with kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like limiting toys really helps. I don’t feel overwhelmed with the actual toys we have. The most difficult clutter for me to stay on top of is paperwork/art and little Knick knacks from holidays, birthday parties etc. I usually let the stuff sit and once it hasn’t been touched in a month trash it.

That stuff does stack up for me but I find it more manageable to go through because once I actually get into the stacks, it's pretty easy to get rid of things. I just went through a big stack that came home in a backpack at the end of term and it's all random worksheets -- I'm not keeping all that crap. I saved one spelling test (20/20 and cute example of current handwriting) and a worksheet where she had to write an autobiography that was so cute. The other 5-60 pages went in the trash.

Also, something I started doing when my oldest was in K: Each year I take an art portfolio book (just a black book with clear plastic sleeves inside) and I can keep enough stuff to fill that book and that's it. Each one has 24 sleeves, so you can display 48 pieces of paper in it. I use some of the sleeves for things like birthday cards or postcards from friends on vacation. Doing this forces me to evaluate whether something is worthy of keeping. And each book doesn't take up that much space -- I now have 5 for my oldest and 3 for my youngest and they only take up a few inches of shelf space. Plus it's nice to have that stuff organized and my kids really like looking through them and remembering. My thinking is that eventually I'll have 13 books for each of them and they should be able to fit in a file box that we can store in our home or they can take to their home when they're grown. Having them makes it easier for me to throw out other stuff because I'm not worrying that I'm tossing out their entire childhood. I feel like I'm saving just enough for the memories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keeping up with the way kids change. I feel like house constantly needs to be reorganized as the kids mature.

Yes! The systems thinking about what drawer configuration suits our current needs - lunchboxes and accessories vs bottles and parts vs whatever comes next.

Yes yes… this! Kids are constantly outgrowing clothes and shoes too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. We had a big enough house. I was a SAHM. DH was a dedicated dad. I had a lot of support and I LOVED being with my kids.

I converted 1/2 our main level (formal dining and formal living room) into a gated kid's area with a Montessori classroom vibe, place to sleep, read, eat, paint, go on slide, book shelves, activity centers, toys and that remained in place for many, many years.

They both had their bedrooms but we also converted a space upstairs into a lounging area which was a big hit for hanging out with friends, sleepovers etc.

Basement had another large and comfy kid's friendly place for the kids. My home was very organized.

I had a cleaner who came twice a week to clean and organize with me. DH handled the kitchen and cooking. I did the laundry and had someone who did the landscaping and gardening tass. We entertained so often that we had to keep the house clean.

AND inspite of all of that - we had one giant hidden hoarder room where we just stashed stuff that we did not want to deal with and it is still a bloody mess. Maybe AI and robots will clean it up one day.

You win for Least Self-aware DCUM Post of the Day. Congrats! And just under the wire, too. Whew.

+1. What an interesting and incredibly off the wall post. I’m imagining adults dedicating 3000+ sqft to kid lounge and play space across multiple floors of a house and struggling to maintain the space even with gobs of money and zero responsibility. A twice a week cleaning lady + stay at home mom + dad who handles all cooking + gardeners + still a hoarder room for life is truly a unique situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. We had a big enough house. I was a SAHM. DH was a dedicated dad. I had a lot of support and I LOVED being with my kids.

I converted 1/2 our main level (formal dining and formal living room) into a gated kid's area with a Montessori classroom vibe, place to sleep, read, eat, paint, go on slide, book shelves, activity centers, toys and that remained in place for many, many years.

They both had their bedrooms but we also converted a space upstairs into a lounging area which was a big hit for hanging out with friends, sleepovers etc.

Basement had another large and comfy kid's friendly place for the kids. My home was very organized.

I had a cleaner who came twice a week to clean and organize with me. DH handled the kitchen and cooking. I did the laundry and had someone who did the landscaping and gardening tass. We entertained so often that we had to keep the house clean.

AND inspite of all of that - we had one giant hidden hoarder room where we just stashed stuff that we did not want to deal with and it is still a bloody mess. Maybe AI and robots will clean it up one day.

You win for Least Self-aware DCUM Post of the Day. Congrats! And just under the wire, too. Whew.

+1. What an interesting and incredibly off the wall post. I’m imagining adults dedicating 3000+ sqft to kid lounge and play space across multiple floors of a house and struggling to maintain the space even with gobs of money and zero responsibility. A twice a week cleaning lady + stay at home mom + dad who handles all cooking + gardeners + still a hoarder room for life is truly a unique situation.

But the dolt does the laundry

[Anonymous]

Anything with glitter gets tossed immediately. Glitter is the devil.

[Anonymous]

Time. We both work out of the house full time and the kids are in activities.

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant with our second when our son was 6. So, we had purged all the baby and toddler stuff and dedicated a playroom to ninja/climbing/legos. I had organized all of his daycare- Kindergarten art into a book for a keepsake. Had consolidated all his baby and toddler treasures into one box and then our second arrived.

Now, with a 16mo old and 8-year-old we are overwhelmed by the baby stuff and 8-year-old boy stuff. The 16mo old grows out of clothes and shoes and toys every 6 months and we have lots of hand-me-downs I have stashed away. I have giveaways for friends of friends and a local organization for young moms that need to get out of the house but I need time to do it.

I have two containers of toys and books she isnt ready for but want to keep for years 2-4. My son is still into playing pretend with animals and climbing his ladder, but he also is super into sports so we are bookended with him. Both love books and I need more book storage.

We need built-ins in the family room and living room but that takes time or money, neither of which we have in surplus. I also dont like to throw out anything that isnt trash so I donate- clothes, shoes, toys (complete, clean, in good condition)- to local charities. I do try to sell some of the bigger items but lately Marketplace is overrun and too much effort.

Its phases and you have to declutter within the phases and after. Thats the hard part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. We had a big enough house. I was a SAHM. DH was a dedicated dad. I had a lot of support and I LOVED being with my kids.

I converted 1/2 our main level (formal dining and formal living room) into a gated kid's area with a Montessori classroom vibe, place to sleep, read, eat, paint, go on slide, book shelves, activity centers, toys and that remained in place for many, many years.

They both had their bedrooms but we also converted a space upstairs into a lounging area which was a big hit for hanging out with friends, sleepovers etc.

Basement had another large and comfy kid's friendly place for the kids. My home was very organized.

I had a cleaner who came twice a week to clean and organize with me. DH handled the kitchen and cooking. I did the laundry and had someone who did the landscaping and gardening tass. We entertained so often that we had to keep the house clean.

AND inspite of all of that - we had one giant hidden hoarder room where we just stashed stuff that we did not want to deal with and it is still a bloody mess. Maybe AI and robots will clean it up one day.

You win for Least Self-aware DCUM Post of the Day. Congrats! And just under the wire, too. Whew.

You win for the most gullible person of the day on DCUM too. Do you believe everything you read on DCUM? What about the networth of $7 million that I forgot to mention? I also did not add the youthful, healthy and energetic engaged grandparents who are conveniently taking care of my kids on the weekends while DH and I go on our relationship-affirming dates or international trips.

I wrote it all tongue and cheek, but now I wonder why people on DCUM so readily believe fantastic stories and tall tales of others? Everyone thinks they are the only one struggling and everyone else is having a great life and have access to great resources etc. Somehow, even educated people are triggered and angry when they hear that others are having a good life - but they don't doubt it for even one minute. Wut?? Have you seen the situation described above in real life? (BTW - Full Disclosure - this was a made up tale of a composite of several people that I know of - some have cleaners, some have space for kids to play because they are too poor to furnish rooms after buying a house, some people have DH cooking, some people have WFH capacity etc. The only truthful part in this was I do have an unfinished area in the basement which is a store room and hoarder space. )

On the other hand, all of you will disbelieve any truth that is right in front of your faces.

You will believe that all American parents are having a perfect life which is somehow not in your grasp (remember hating on Hilaria Baldwin with her gazillion kids and saggy balls DH?), but you will not believe that Trump will destroy the nation and enrich his friends and family - as he promised he will do.

Silly Goose!!

[Anonymous]

Are we writing a blog post for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anything with glitter gets tossed immediately. Glitter is the devil.

lol. I hate playdough.

[Anonymous]

Mail
Paperwork
Everybody’s technology… phones, computers
Stuff that comes in every night and leaves every morning… no sense it goes to the bedroom. Coat, shoes, backpack, sports equipment, instruments, computers, purse, keys

Books

There needs to be a reset after Xmas and a place for all the new junk (I mean presents) people receive.

An organized garage which is different in winter and summer

Blankets and pillows

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea that’s about right. Plus I’m the only one who actually tries anything. The piles are just invisible to everyone else

+1

My spouse is basically the Absentminded Professor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. We had a big enough house. I was a SAHM. DH was a dedicated dad. I had a lot of support and I LOVED being with my kids.

I converted 1/2 our main level (formal dining and formal living room) into a gated kid's area with a Montessori classroom vibe, place to sleep, read, eat, paint, go on slide, book shelves, activity centers, toys and that remained in place for many, many years.

They both had their bedrooms but we also converted a space upstairs into a lounging area which was a big hit for hanging out with friends, sleepovers etc.

Basement had another large and comfy kid's friendly place for the kids. My home was very organized.

I had a cleaner who came twice a week to clean and organize with me. DH handled the kitchen and cooking. I did the laundry and had someone who did the landscaping and gardening tass. We entertained so often that we had to keep the house clean.

AND inspite of all of that - we had one giant hidden hoarder room where we just stashed stuff that we did not want to deal with and it is still a bloody mess. Maybe AI and robots will clean it up one day.

You win for Least Self-aware DCUM Post of the Day. Congrats! And just under the wire, too. Whew.

You win for the most gullible person of the day on DCUM too. Do you believe everything you read on DCUM? What about the networth of $7 million that I forgot to mention? I also did not add the youthful, healthy and energetic engaged grandparents who are conveniently taking care of my kids on the weekends while DH and I go on our relationship-affirming dates or international trips.

I wrote it all tongue and cheek, but now I wonder why people on DCUM so readily believe fantastic stories and tall tales of others? Everyone thinks they are the only one struggling and everyone else is having a great life and have access to great resources etc. Somehow, even educated people are triggered and angry when they hear that others are having a good life - but they don't doubt it for even one minute. Wut?? Have you seen the situation described above in real life? (BTW - Full Disclosure - this was a made up tale of a composite of several people that I know of - some have cleaners, some have space for kids to play because they are too poor to furnish rooms after buying a house, some people have DH cooking, some people have WFH capacity etc. The only truthful part in this was I do have an unfinished area in the basement which is a store room and hoarder space. )

On the other hand, all of you will disbelieve any truth that is right in front of your faces.

You will believe that all American parents are having a perfect life which is somehow not in your grasp (remember hating on Hilaria Baldwin with her gazillion kids and saggy balls DH?), but you will not believe that Trump will destroy the nation and enrich his friends and family - as he promised he will do.

Silly Goose!!

Lady, when a joke doesn't land, it's generally the fault of the delivery. Sorry people didn't get what you meant, I think it was just not that kind of conversation. Better luck next time.

[Anonymous]

Toys/games/arts and crafts items that at some point are all contained and put away, and then very quickly are all over the place.

Shoes! As my kids get bigger (11 and 9 now) they have bigger shoes and more pairs and they are just all over the house. The one basket on each level I have to contain them often overflows. Once it's organized, all it takes is a sports weekend to cause chaos again.

Clothing. They grow out of things less frequently, but their items still need culling. We still have to reevaluate what fits and what they are actually wearing, sort, donate/hand down every season. I try to do it at least twice a year, but often 4 times a year is better. Holding onto items that "might fit" next year but are out of season is a big organizational issue. You have to get it out of their drawers (things like pants in summer or bathing suits in winter) but also have it accessible for when the season comes around to try it on and THEN maybe still get rid of it.

Seasonal decorations are a smaller pain point, but still there. Before kids I have very few of these, but now I have a huge box of Halloween and multiple boxes of Christmas and a random box full of other small items.

All that is to say: anytime I think about how I need to purchase something to help me get organized, that IS NOT THE ANSWER. The #1 answer is to get rid of things you own and are not using regularly. Get. Rid. Of. It.

[Anonymous]

I'm overwhelmed by toys. Grandparents spent at least 1k per kid for Christmas (the other set of grandparents probably $200 a kid, which is still a lot). We honestly are still sorting boxes of new toys and can't find a place to put them all. It was so out of control. Kids were only willing to give up duplicates that they received. The waste of it all really gets to me. DH and I both agreed that we were going to sit down with grandparents and discuss limiting toys next Christmas. It's just so sad that they have all these toys and games, but no one to play them with. As a family we only play games 2-3 nights a week and we'd never get to them all. So much of the craft kits require parental help too. I wish grandparents would just do them with the kids instead of only gifting them.

What has helped a lot was installing cubbies. We love our new cubbies. Each kid has one and it's stopped coats from being strewn everywhere.