Desperate times call for desperate measures...

One of my goals for 2011 is to become a better homemaker--to make our home a more cheerful, inviting place. I have never done a very good job of keeping house, I can admit--and I feel that it's important for a family like us, who are living a simple life together at home almost all the time, to have a home which is at least tidy and comfortable.

My husband has already painted over the drab, dirty grey walls in our livingroom and front hall way with a fresh, cheerful colour of blue. This is a big improvement already, and it will look even better once I get around to making some kind of window covering for the large window in the livingroom. I also want to make a quilted wall hanging and throw cushions, but I probably won't get around to that for quite some time!

This picture of my two girls shows the new colour in the background:

Kira is such a good big sister!

Really though, the biggest obstacle to this house feeling like a cozy home is the non-stop mess and clutter. Those of you with young children probably know what I'm talking about. The very worst room is that of my two boys (who are 2 and 6). My blood pressure rises every time I step into that room and have to kick a path for myself to walk. And believe me, I do clean it regularly, and engage the children to help too...it seems to only take about half a day for it to get completely trashed again.

Here is a picture I snapped this morning of the area in front of the boys' closet:

This is typical, although to be honest some days (the ones where the toy box is dumped out, the drawers emptied and the shelves overturned) it's much worse, and the carpet is not even visible.

This situation has been making me unhappy for quite some time. So I finally decided to do something drastic. Desperate times call for deserate measures. I'm going to remove all the toys from this room, and store them away for now (I don't know where yet but I'll use the trunk of the car if I have to). I'm only going to leave behind their clothes, blankets, books, and wooden blocks. Then I will encourage them to keep their room clean, with my help. If they can keep a smaller amount of belongings reasonably tidy for a full week, then I will add back one other toy or group of toys. If they can keep those clean, I'll add more. If not, I'll take those things away again. And so on. I'm hoping that with fewer things in the room, it won't be so overwhelming for them to keep it tidy (with a bit of help from me).

As you might guess, probably some of their toys will never make it back. I am always trying my best to reduce the number of excess belongings we have in our home--with a family of 6 (and a business) living in a small townhouse, it's the only way to keep our home from becoming a disaster! Besides, this is not our permanent home, and I don't want to be packing up and transporting endless amounts of toys when the time does arrive for us to move to the country.

I am determined, I am going to win the war against mess and clutter! Our home is going to be a pleasant place to be. Wish me luck...

(Here is another post I did last year about decluttering the house.)

Comments

[Sonja]

Yay! For you! I did something similar when my children were younger and it was very helpful. But it was not an overnight change and sometimes the house still gets messy - just because we live and play here. The good thing is that now peace and clean are quickly achieved because we all know how to work together. Good Luck!

[lily]

Oh dear, I remember it well, I had four little ones ruling the roost, they've all grown up now, well the youngest two, 15 and 17, are still living at home, so I know what absolute havoc children can create.............hope your solution works.
lily

[Beryl Lynn]

I am right there with you in terms of wanting to be a better homemaker and also having a newborn in the house. Being a SAHM is extremely rewarding :)

[woolies]

My 2 teenage boys rooms are still disaster areas. Nothing seems to work. They were much better when they were younger!
And don't feel badly, there is never enough time in the day. :)

[PlainandJoyfulLiving]

Hi Laura,
We have so few toys for our children and you know what was so neat, the other day Abraham said, "I have lots of toys Mom." Oh, I am so thankful we don't watch television so that he sees all the advertisements, etc..
Warm wishes,
Tonya

[sara]

Hi yep been there done that and now doing it again..have limited my 2 tots to 2 favourite toys and the rest are in the toy box in the playroom..they are given the chance once a wk to swap the toys over..so far it has made my life much easier..my older girls joked about it the other day when they saw i was doing it to their little sisters..they remember it well..they thought i was mean but now realize what a night mare it must have been for me..4 children,toys all over etc..trust me they will thank you in the end..
take care
sara

[Provincial Homemaker]

GOod luck. We only have one toddler and her toys are already taking over the house. I have been thinking about putting in a toy rotation policy. Perhaps this is the week to do it.

BTW, I love the colour blue on your walls.

[Julia]

The toy swap/rotational system is a good way to reduce toy clutter..not that I ever managed to be consistant in that area.

Maybe I need to post a photo of my (teenage) girls bedroom...that might help to make you feel better about the toy clutter..LOL! All the best Laura!