SPRING-Clean Declutter - Need Help

[soul]

As long as you are getting rid of more than you are accumulating @Former-Member.

My daughter is having a clean up because she is moving out. I am guilty of rummaging through her stuff and salvaging some of it. I was a bit taken aback that she was throwing out a few sentimental items such as a ring and a watch that I gave her. I have hidden them away in my dresser drawer.

[Former-Member]

@soul

I wouldn't take the jewellery issue to heart...even though I would probably feel the same initially...

a whole different generation....

we are living in a throwaway kind of society as well..

glad that you kept them yourself too....she might ponder over those one day...might even ask if you know what happened to them...thinking that they are lost or stolen...she might have just grabbed a draw and emptied it into a bag...

at least you have them ..

[Former-Member]

@utopia @Former-Member @Shaz51 @soul @Owlunar @Mazarita @eth @eudemonism

I wanted to let you know that I have made progress with decluttering..

I asked husband to buy some large garbage bags when he did the shopping for me today..

they are sitting nicely on the kitchen bench where they were unpacked..

I thought to myself if I put them away...that will be the end of that...

so they are cluttering the kitchen bench...

one step closer...

[soul]

Nah @Former-Member - she knew I was looking through her throw away pile. I mentioned the items but she just told me that I was a hoarder. In fact, apart from having more clothes than she has (she throws out anything from last season), she has a lot more personal stuff than I have.

Kinda hurt my feelings at the time but I get what you mean about that generation. She's moving to a place where she will have much less space and I know I will be storing what she can't take including her desk and dressing table. 

[utopia]

@Former-Member - well done on your decluttering. And look - a dog kennel can come in really handy. So long as you are throwing out more than you collect from the roadside - you're a winner!
@Former-Member - well done. Takes the first step to start. You're one up on me. Who knows, you may unclutter a draw or two tomorrow.

[Shaz51]

@mohill - well done, you are one step in front of me my friend
Hello @utopia, @Former-Member, @soul, @Owlunar

[Former-Member]

Hi @Former-Member - I wouldn't worry about a kennel and a chair too much, I've been known to come home with an entire car full of roadside pickups. I got rid of a few books today and tomorrow I'm taking some kid's shoes to the op shop so I'm still in front. I did pick up a big plank of wood but I can use it for a shelf in the garage so it already has a purpose rather than just a "might need that one day" find which has always been my weakness. I hope everyone else is doing OK.

[Former-Member]

thanks @Owlunar, @Shaz, @Former-Member & everyone, yes, i have moved into my parents indefinately. The decluttering needed here is off the charts, and comes last with caring for dad who has accellerating cognitive decline, incontinence, poor mobility, chronic pain, & diabetes. Full on - cooking, cleaning, more cleaning, x2 messy dogs & a cat, appointments, transport, toxic family dynamics & now grief of losing mum. Yesterday i took him in to pick up / sign out mum's ashes. He placed them cenrestage on the living room china cabinet among the flowers. - so sweet. I thought it important he did that himself - i just hover & become his arms, legs & brain when needed (so much time & patience required).  

DECLUTTERING comes last, even after my lsy downs (self care re back pain & stress levels is abpriirity for me nowadays), but Yes, i'm more active than usual living here - better 'at it' than when I'm at home for some reason, ext motivated i guess. Yep, Decluttering 'mum's home' feels disrespectful to her as i know she would hate it, but just a little at a time, and things we don't use really, that just get in the way. The linen cupboard is soon on the agenda big job there, mum was sooooo creative, a true sanguine. xox

[Former-Member]

 hi there @faithandhope

[Former-Member]

just stopping a min while physio is with dad. Miss yas all, but no SI. Bins filling up for Thurs collection. Got rid of nearly all the mats holding years of dog pee smell. Mum even had newspaper under the mats to absorb more 😞  The only good the mats served was to stop slips. The dogs are not housetrained, so they're getting locked in one room at night now ( bark their heads off outside at night) - easier to do morning mop then - till i figure out how to manage them, train them. Any suggestions how to stop the male dog peeing on the legs of things etc?