StuffStuffStuffStuffStuff

Where did I get this idea of being overloaded with stuff? From society? From tv? From Wal-mart? Certainly not from my parents who were the epitomy of "right-sized" and simplistic. Maybe that's it. Maybe I was the pendulum that said "I don't want this" but while it was swinging away never took the time to stop and ask "how far do I want to go?".

Today's simplistic change deals with laundry. While I was folding my 7 year old daughters clothes it hit me that I was folding about 2 weeks of clothes. I do laundry every week. I'm always griping that she changes clothes too often and when she picks up her room in a hurry it really gripes me when she throws clean clothes in the hamper because it's easier than folding and putting in the drawer. My mind started doing the math. There are only 5 days in a school week so at the end of the week I should only be facing 5 school outfits and 5 sets of pajamas and maybe an outfit or two extra, right? As I was folding outfit after outfit after outfit I decided that I had been willingly participating in an out of control process.

Wal-mart bags. Might as well use them for something other than carrying home my guilt from spending too much money, right? I picked out 5 outfits complete with underwear and socks and placed each set in it's own bag. One kit per day. Recently, due to morning struggles, I had resorted to picking out my daughter's outfit for the day and carving it in stone. She and I would agree and once it had been settled, that was it. No changes allowed so the kit idea simply took this one step further.

Next I went to her room. There were clothes on the floor. Clothes in bags on the floor. Clothes on the bed. Clothes hanging up. Clothes in the dresser. Now remember, this isn't counting the FULL laundry basket I had just folded. Can you believe I recently thought perhaps I needed to go clothes shopping for her. Eeeeck! I gathered them up. Emptied the drawers. Next, I placed 5 sets of pj's in one drawer, 2 shirts in the shirt drawer and 2 skirts in the bottoms drawer, 2 pairs of panties in the panties drawer. Remember, all the clothes she should need are in the bags, these are just extra changes in case there's a spill or she wants to relax in something in the evening. I had 4 very full walmart bags left over which I placed in a hall closet away from her access.

Having done all this I fully expect the following rewards:

1.) Quick, silent, easy mornings
2.) No clothes strewn about
3.) A very small pile of dirty clothes at the end of the week (could I possibly only do laundry once every two weeks?????!!!!????? Oh dear heaven let it be so!!)
4.) Saving money on washing supplies
5) Saving time washing drying folding and putting clothes away

I also expect a conversation with my daughter who will be dismayed that she doesn't have access to clothes to change every few minutes. I'm not sure what my plan is there. I really don't want her to feel deprived. Playing dress up is an important part of an imaginative little girls day. She still has access to her play dress up dresses. I will see what suggestions she may have.

Will it work out this way? We shall see. I will report back on Friday.

Love,

Sarah Mommy