Five Things I Learned About Life - Through Packing

During the packing process just to de-clutter the house I learned some valuable information.

1. I shop too much.  I threw away tons of things with tags still on it.  Things I forgot I purchased.  And TONS of stuff I forgot I even had.  I feel disgusted with myself.  Not just the total waste of money, but the extra stuff in an already packed house.  Out.Of.Control

I vow to only go to the store when we actually need something.  To buy only what we need.  Not to save coupons unless I actually need that item.

2. Too much kid stuff.  The kids have so much stuff they can't appreciate what they really like.  Not only is it us buying too much, but the amount of gifts they each get for Christmas, birthdays, etc.  adds to a HUGE amount of stuff.  It's certainly not that we're not appreciative of our very generous friends and families.  It's just that, one family can only have so much stuff.  It seems silly to throw out or donate perfectly fine toys just because more toys are comin' their way.  I'm trying to come up with a way to ask  for experiences rather than actual things.  I'm not sure how to say that without sounding like an ungrateful greedy bitch.  If you have any insight for me, let me know.   Seriously.  Let me know.

Just today Victoria wanted a math game app that was 9.99.  Right away she said, "That's too much tho, right?"  I pulled out an iTunes gift card she got her her birthday.  (I found it in a birthday bag last week that was yet to be unpacked from last April - that's how over the top our problem was.)  She was thrilled!

3. It's ok to let go.  So many things have memories.  So many things are worth something.  I can remember what came from each person.  For me to throw something out that someone gave me, is so hard.  I feel like that person will be offended.  Then I thought, Would I care if she threw it out three years after I gave it to her?  Hell no.  I couldn't care less.  So, I tossed it.

4.  Giving makes me feel so good.  Our amazing daycare does a new theme each month.  This month happens to be construction.  I went through Christian's room and pulled out all of his play tools.  A large bin full.  I figured Christian uses real tools now and Brecken has more time to play with them at daycare than he does here anyway.  I also gave one of his walker/riders we bought him last year at this time (he still has two here!) seven toddler puzzles, games, art supplies, Diplo building blocks, play vacuum, close to 100 books….at least one full load each day this week.  Luckily for us she was thrilled.
Everyday I picked him up and saw kids reading our books or laying on their little bellies doing a puzzle I felt like a million bucks.

We packed up clothes, shoes, blankets, towels, toys, and a stroller for Mark's brother and sis in law who are having a baby in a couple months.  That makes packing up baby things so much easier.  Knowing another baby we love is going to use the stuff makes it so much easier to move on.

Giving is great.

5. Less is more.  Less stuff is a good thing.  It's just stuff.  Unless I love it.  It should go.  I brought tons of stuff to school in the last couple weeks.  Hundreds of books.  Name it.  I brought it.  My friend walked in and she offered her basement to us for storage.  I actually said, "Oh don't worry about it.  Half the stuff I hope gets broke so I don't have to keep it."  The look on her face told me, that's a very odd thing to say.  Up until then I didn't think anything of it.  Why am I keeping seven large vases?  I buy people flowers just to give the vase away and people actually drive the empty vase back to my house.  Guess, why.  They don't want the vase either!  I kept a few "antique" vases my grandma gave me.  The rest we tossed into the dumpster.