So here it is: the day after Christmas. A house destroyed. A car packed with gifts in the driveway. An exhausted child. Today, I want to tear down Christmas decorations; I have this intense desire to purge. Too much stuff! I feel as if we're bursting at the seams. And, as always, I want to do it all at once. THIS is housekeeping--and rather than being tied to gender roles, it's a basic human requirement. And so, today, I'm challenging myself to implement the following:

1. The pantry: I choose to buy food simply because it's on sale or it looks interesting or it might be good and the result is a pantry full of unused items. While it might be used eventually, I plan to only buy food that will be used within two weeks and fits with in a plan to use it. We don't eat random bits; we eat meals.

2. Intentional donations: Rather than bagging up loads of clothes and unwanted items and dumping them off at a random collection site, I want to donate intentionally. There are men's shelters who could really use Cory's older work clothes and suits from long ago. I'll solve some of the pantry issues by donating to a soup kitchen or food pantry in town.

3. Toys, toys and more toys: Right now, I'm unpacking from Christmas trips to grandparents' houses. Luke received a lot of practical things (clothes) and books (which are always welcome); but, it does seem as if he has more and more stuff--just like his parents. Today, I plan to buy (oops--another "thing") a big tub for half his toys. Each month, we'll cycle through some toys--preventing boredom AND over-stimulation.

4. Sharing: We have loads of things we no longer need. As we find items that can still be put to good use (like our bedroom TV)--I'll email friends and family and share with the first taker. Anyone need a casserole dish?

5. Put it back on the shelf: Just in the past 2 hours, I've put away six-yes, SIX, tubes of chapstick. But yet, when I check out at Target, I inevitably grab a pack "just in case." I must organize our house so that we know what we have and what we need. And then, I must not purchase items I'm not absolutely assured we require.


I'm hoping to reframe the way I think about running our house. The ironic thing in all of this is that neither my husband nor I are hoarders. We get rid of things on a regular basis and hate clutter. But I think we're both adjusting to three people living under one roof with a very generous family! And most of all, I underestimate the emotional toll too much stuff has on all of us. I want our family life and environment to be streamlined, orderly, and full of room to breathe.

Recovery

We are still in the throes of Luke's illness. The doctors warned us it would be hills and valleys and not the gradual climb to recovery. "Everyone" says babies are resilient, and that's certainly true; Luke popped back into himself yesterday and we rejoiced.

All sorts of other recovery must take place though--the laundry room could use some rehabilitation, I may have to resuscitate the pantry, and we're injecting some last minute Christmas runs into the day. More than those things, I'm finding it hard to "get back to normal." I don't know if it's the single-minded focus to the week ("Make my child better...") or the complete removal of every other aspect of life from the day. In all regards, life just feels mechanical at present.

A take away....because we're always looking for application...I will be there in some form or fashion when friends experience what we went through this week. I want to make my concern tangible.