Kondoing this and kondoing that - thread 4 for Marie Kondo's lifechanging magic with tidying. All welcome!

[TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy]

Here's thread 4 for all the KonMario converts, wannabes, and guests to the magic!

Thread 3

Feeling a bit overwhelmed today and not sure where to start!
I can do my own stuff but what about DH and DS?! They have definitely inherited the hoarding gene from FIL and MIL :( and now a new wave of duplicated stuff to hoard has entered the house...
ARGH!!!

Take it easy, start with something small like your own socks. It must be very frustrating to live with people with hoarder genes though.

Personally since it's still Xmas I'm currently just kondoing chocs

Merry Xmas everyone

DD was given so many presents from grandparents, aunties and uncles yesterday. It is lovely that so many people care enough to get her presents but I have no idea where I am going to put it all!

Off to the in laws today, no doubt to the same amount again

Konmaring chox is my kind of thing

Amazingly DH has just bundled all the kids into the car and I've a couple of hours to crack on.

Thanks BriarRainbowsshimmer - love the idea of kondoing chocs :)

I am pleased to report I have made some progress in DS's room :D I think both DH and DS could see that the hoarding wasn't going to win today so DH has got rid of/listed for sale some of his stuff and DS is turning a blind eye to me removing some of the baby toys (he is 10) from his room. The deflated balloon collection unfortunately made it back in but progress has been made!

I've basically pulled DS's room apart (cleaning as I go) and have stuff all over the spare room and landing right now - so I had better get on and do some more before more than the deflated balloons (why?!) make it back in!

standing these from IKEA are a great solution for wrapping paper storage. Holds several rolls and you can fix them to wall/inside cupboards etc out of the way.

Moving forward I now buy a neutral wrapping paper for gifts (this year had silver, and green grass print), one roll at a time and use it for everyone. Jazz it up with a ribbon or stickers if required.

I did buy Xmas wrapping paper the day I wrapped gifts this year but cleverly used it all up so nothing to store until next year

We have been sick over Xmas - I've had dreadful flu since 19th, and secondary sinus and chest infections. DD1 had flu. DD2 seems to be immune to it all. We have almost got cabin fever. Almost ventured out today, but we still aren't properly ready - maybe a film tomorrow.

THen DD's are with XP for 6 days and I've got lots of self-care and kondoing plans. Almost all my friends are away on holiday, apart from those who have DC who I tend to avoid when my DC are away, so I'm going to make my own fun.

Well I have Konmaried all my cards, stationery sets, etc. I've managed to clear a large folding storage box from under the stairs and the items I do use are now stored vertically in a kitchen cupboard where I can easily access them.

Part of the stationery tidy resurfaced some old gift vouchers which I've used to buy the rest of MK's book (I'm currently working with the free preview on my Kobo!)

DH remarked today that he's very impressed with my newfound zeal for sorting, folding and storing although he did wonder if he'd survive the ongoing cull or be banished like the partner in MK's introduction

Hope everyone gets over their illnesses. Oddly enough no one has passed comment on the effects of kondoing despite our house looking much less cluttered and being much easier to tidy/clean. I keep digging for compliments

Managed to sort through 5 mixed up boxes today! The boxes had been cluttering up our hallway for months so it's a huge relief that they are gone. I put aside photos/mementos to sort into one pile, frames to use in another pile, stuff to charity shop in a bin liner, papers to burn in a tescos bag, papers to sift through/store in another tescos bag. In the meantime the kids had a good long woodland walk with DH.

I have kondoed my shoes and boots, resulting in four pairs being ditched and the rest lovingly cleaned and stored correctly.

Since I had a few unwanted pressies, i have stored them for regifting for birthday presents later. I have even written in my diary next to each person's name which present I intend to give, so that I don't forget --and accidentally give them the same present that they have just given me..

Am feeling very pleased with myself, but also just a tad sad - shouldn't I have spent Boxing Day Kondoing wine and chocs instead?

littlemarvel you have just made my day - we are not the only people in the world with a deflated balloon collection !!
On a serious DD is increasingly concerning me with her inabilty to let things go - I don't mean the usual childhood reaction to toys, I mean things like empty crisps bags and water left in a cup, her anxiety is reaching unmanagable levels and it isnt because of my recnet clearouts cos she isn't aware of it as was all stuff that was out of her sight/awareness anyway :(

aww MILLYmoOse - deflated balloon collections . I'm going to sneak DS's into the storage room in a couple of days and see if he notices.

DS just thanked me for his lovely clean and tidy bedroom and sneaked a couple of things back it. He knows I must have got rid of a lot of stuff to be able to get it this tidy but we aren't discussing it. I'll be heading to the charity shop first thing in the morning with the four bin bags full of stuff that is currently in the boot of my car (another two bags are in the bin) so he doesn't do any more rescuing.

I watched an episode of extreme hoarders with DS a year or so ago when we was having issues and that helped a lot, at the time.

Just been interrupted by DS insisting that he keep some packaging...

Have your sought help for your DD MILLYmoOse? As much as I find DS's tendency's frustrating they don't seem to be attached to any anxieties or particularly extreme.

we were having issues...

Definitely not!

I'm willing the time away until PIL go so I can get on with tidying away everything. Feels a bit bah humbug but I want to get moving.

I have one child that won't let go of stuff too. Wrappers are easy enough but he seems to be very attached to every tiny thing. I'm not sure what the answer is and I might just have to resort to a bit more storage in his room which defeats the object really

I need to start looking for some help in the New Year . She is just 6 and most people would laugh at me if I were to say she was anxious cos she will bound off into situations without a backward glance, and will chat to strangers all day long, very bubbly little girl.
She has always had an issue with the recycling bin which I finally traced to an episode of Peppa Pig ! DD didnt want her stuff
'mashed to make things for other people' which is very logical for a 2 yr old. She is probably a bit too logical/sensible for her age really and being an only child doesn't help matters. Times like Xmas/Sept would always throw her and she'd be a bit more clingy etc but the month of Dec has been horrendous :( . She is now developing patterns/habits that need to be completed even though she doesnt want to 'be a girl that does XYZ, will I ever be old DD again and not want to do these things ?', she can't make choices even on what to wear without rationalising why she shouldn't wear this item ( Ive removed most of clothes so she only has 3 dresses,pairs of underwear to decide between now ), NOTHING can go in any bin, not the wrapping,the actual crackers,food she doesnt eat etc etc . I haven't been able to face even going to the local shop with her this week because we are both on the verge of tears by the time we get home . Were supposed to be travelling to my parents this week but no way can I handle it on my own, and my parents would send her in to total overdrive

Ohhelp I agree. I also think it may have just dawned on him that I'm just about to start the garage and study - both of which are his department.

I see the kids stuff as temporary - even if it means years, thy will grow out of stuff eventually.

DS1 doesn't want to give away anything. He's going to keep all of his toys forever and take them with him when he builds his own modern house in the garden.

Apparently.
Especially as our house is too old and he likes modern buildings!

He hasn't noticed the departure of tonnes of baby stuff, but maybe he never associated those with his as DS2 came along quickly after him so they weren't 'his' for very long.

Milly - tbh that does sound like she needs some help. Hope you can find someone.

That sounds really hard for both of you milly. It sounds like she does need some help to get her on the right tracks. A close friends DD is having support for something similar but to do with a saliva/germs obsession/worry. Lots of baby steps forward at the moment. How does your DD find school milly?

Ya, I havent been stressed by the stuff up til now because its been very temporary and it makes sense why shes been a bit stressed etc and most importantly it hasnt impacted on her/our lives . Whatever is going on now is out of her active control, thats what worries me . I think its just a question of her learning some basic coping skills, and me knowing how should I approach these things, maybe I let them escalate to much. Also I have to say I do recognise the need to make 'patterns', I did something similiar in times of stress though I would have been older and it manifested itself differently and wasn't in a way that other people would notice it whereas DD sis quite obvious esp when she freaks out about the pattern 'going wrong'.

Loves school, loves drama class, loves going to parties/playdates - once we manage to get her out of the house that is, that causes upset about missing home, her toys etc etc -none of the 'needs' seem to have reared their head when she's away from me as yet, but am going to try to talk to her teacher after the break if I can find someone to take DD while I do it. Think she and I possibly spend too much time together too,we are rarely apart and I m not sure it's a good thing at the moment .

One of the coping skills my friend has been directed to use with her daughter is chewing when stressed. So chewing a liquorice stick (one from a health food shop that's like a wooden stick) or something similar. I guess even a stick of carrot/celery might do though? Or chewing gum. Or maybe there's something else she can do to self soothe? I wonder if there are sone good books on amazon that might help too maybe?