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Surface Disorder

January 26, 2013 By Christine Field

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When the kids were small, we tried to carry out as much clutter as we brought in.  If we got a new toy, something old had to be put away or given away.  Around Christmas-time, we tried to do a toy sort before the gifts showered in.

My Work Area

My Work Area

As the kids grew, summertime garage sale-ing become a fun activity.  I would let them choose large items that I wouldn’t normally buy.  If it was only a few dollars, why not?

With four kids in a house, things could rapidly get out of control.  One year, the house, yard and garage got so bad that we rented a large dumptster.  It sat in the driveway for a week while we de-cluttered.  It was heavenly!  All the big rocks and tree limbs from the yard – gone!  Excess clutter in the garage – gone!  Each person in the house got rid of unwanted, unused items.

If items were valuable, we would give them away.  But with a bunch of kids banging on stuff, it wears out pretty thoroughly.  We could destroy the indestructible!  The same summer of the dumpster, we also got rid of a huge wooden play set.  As we were assembling our family,  someone gave us this enormous yard set, complete with swings, slide and a fort.  It was well-used when we got it, and the kids trashed it thoroughly.  As the nails started to pop out and the slide fell off, we figured it was time to dissemble.  It was effortlessly disposed of in the dumpster.

My Art Area

My Art Area

Since then, I have recommended the one-in-a-family lifetime practice of renting a dumpster to everyone who struggles with clutter.

As the kids have grown, their stuff has expanded.  Our house has more than ample space with 9 rooms and a full attic, but it still is cramped.  Bigger kids just have bigger stuff.

The clutter bothers me more in the winter.  Being cooped up in the house tends to make me notice the mess more.

My messiness is a choice.  I’m the one who doesn’t take the time to organize my papers or sort my clothes thoroughly.  I “do art” as a way to use my right brain more and art is inherently messy.  Is clutter my free choice?

Or do I have a surface disorder, due to the deficit of empty surfaces in my environment?

My Dresser

My Dresser


Filed Under: Declutter, Home and finances, Organizing Tagged With: clutter, disorganization, family life, messiness

Previous Post: « Feeling like a failure?
Next Post: Signs Along the Homeschool Journey »

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Hi, I’m Christine

Have you been a wholehearted mother, but time, toddlers and teenagers have moved on? If you are wondering what comes next for you, you’ll feel right at home here.

Or, are you a mom for whom family life has been non-Pinworthy and parenting has been downright painful? I hear ya. There are many of us around.

Are you looking for a life full of exploration and adventure after the nest empties, but maybe you have no idea how to go about doing that? Stick around! We’ll explore adventures together to help you gain more clarity for your own path.

After a couple decades of writing books and articles about parenting, homeschooling and adoption, speaking to homeschoolers and other parent groups, and reaching out to the mom in the trenches who was trying to make the best of it - my kids grew up. Some grew up and grew away. I was determined to find a way out of the pain, emptiness and lack of direction.

For many of us, the journey starts with something we moms are not accustomed to. After years of caring for and serving others, sometimes we forget the beauty and wonder of US. We need to spend some time getting to know the parts of ourselves that have lain dormant, and take the time to explore interests and passions that we set aside.

I’d like to invite you to get the “What’s Next for Mom” workbook and jump into this growing tribe of Moms who are emptying the nest and filling the life! Let’s reignite your Mojo after Mothering!
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About Christine

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At Real Mom Life, my passion is to provide resources and reassurances for moms facing the surprising challenges of family life. In my writing and speaking, I explore solutions to unexpected issues in adoption, homeschooling, special needs, and more while encouraging moms to extract the maximum joy out of each day. Read More…

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