A picture my son colored in second grade. Wait until you read the story he wrote about it below!
Funny how it takes guests staying with us for me to get motivated to clean closets. I successfully emptied the casita closet. It had turned into storage space for all sorts of stuff including blankets, air mattresses, slippers, Sorel snow boots, hiking boots and even a box full of canvases and paints. Now it holds an appropriate number of sheets and towels.
That felt so good. I continued my cleaning spree in my own closet.
My efforts filled a car with blankets, books, comforters, and more that made it to Kiwanis Thrift Store. It’s amazing how things can accumulate after three short years of being in our new home. To be honest, a lot of stuff that I stored in closets moved with us.
Next, I went through my bathroom drawers and threw out ancient makeup, cough drops, unnecessary ointments and mini lotions and shampoos from years of hotel stays.
I have a guest bedroom closet left to tackle and I’ll be done! But it has all the personal things like photo albums, boxes of photos from my mom including her notebooks and diaries. I have generations of things to go through. Like the photo above, I saved things my kids created, report cards, school awards and swim medals. I have my daughter’s set of Madame Alexander dolls from the Wizard of Oz. I think it was easier to clear out the big stuff — especially because there’s no emotional attachment.
Here’s the story that goes with the photo:
What are your thoughts about the story? FYI, “derend” is a unique spelling of turned.
How do you do to prepare for guests?
What 2nd grader knows the word “telekinesis” and almost spells it correctly as well??? You should frame that pic and story and give it to your son 🙂 Not long ago I finally made my last major clean out of saved keepsakes from my own childhood. It was time.
The kids all got everything I saved for them when each moved out. Last time I visited the youngest in CO we went through her bin. So many things I had forgotten about her growing up plus things she had saved herself and added. It meant a lot to sit with her and do that.
The telekinesis really cracked me up! I’m wondering where he got that. I remember his teacher asking what I was teaching him at home! I’ve got photo boxes for my two kids. But they don’t have room in their apartments for anything extra right now. They’ve both moved around a lot, so I guess I’m stuck with their bins for now. How nice you got to share the memories with your daughter.
Aww, a cute and imaginative story by your son. Loved the drawing too.
It’s an universal truth that we get more cleaning and housework done in half an hour before guests arrive than in a whole month 😹🤣
That is a universal truth. I loved rediscovering my son’s story and picture.
Indeed. Good for you that you’ve kept these sweet mementos safely.
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So cute!
Thanks!
Adorable story!! As to guests, as our place is so small we rarely have guests…
Thanks! It was fun to find that story after so many years. We have plenty of space but don’t entertain that often. It’s amazing how much junk we accumulated!
Any story with a powerful mermaid is a good one. Them’s the rules.
As for houseguests, launder linens, pretty much dust the guest bathroom that we rarely use, and get in the guests’ favorite adult beverages.
Yes, a magic mermaid wins every time! As for guests, you’re good. I use our casita as my office, so I had a lot of work to do. Also, my closets were out of control from moving 30 years of stuff here. I tried very hard to throw a bunch of things out when we moved, but on retrospect, I could have done more.
I had the same thought as Deb…in response to “telekenesis” being a word in his story. Wowza! Made me smile, smile, smile! And I don’t know about you, Elizabeth, but there’s nothing more satisfying than cleaning out closets and those drawers that contain so much oddball ‘this and that’. I swear I step lighter, have better posture after I do a tidy up. 😜
I laughed out loud when I uncovered that story! I’m glad you enjoyed it, too. Yes, it does feel good to get rid of the oddball stuff and have a neater surrounding.
There’s nothing like the imminent arrival of guests to spur a cleaning spree.
Love the story!
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Yes, it feels good to get so much done. I have the one guest room closet left, but I ready for guests. I’m glad you enjoyed the story!
Wow – telekenesis as a word/concept for a 2nd grader? How impressive!
Loved hearing about your cleaning spree. I haven’t done a lot of that lately but whenever I get a little corner cleaned up, it feels great!
My son was something else! I am so proud of him. I have no idea where he heard about telekinesis. I remember in kindergarten he asked me if infinity was a symbol or a concept!
Yes, I’m feeling good about my house. My guests arrive from Kirkland tomorrow 😊
What a bright little boy! My mom is doing some similar cleaning, and it’s so fun to see some of the old school work and pictures.
He always had me on my toes. Yes, it’s fun to look back at all the memories, but it’s hard to decide what to throw out.
I remember reading once about an overwhelmed mom taking photos or scans of her kid’s art work and school projects. While the originals are gone, the pictures are still available to reflect on. That could be an option.
Good idea! Thanks for sharing.
What a cute and imaginative story from your second grader! And there’s no better time to get cleaning done then soon before the guests arrive. 🙂
Thanks! Yes, it was nice to get so much work done. Now the guests are here, I’m exhausted!
😁😁