Last weekend I gave in, powered up the kindle and downloaded *that* book about tidying and read it in two or three sessions.
It's an easy read, with lots of nice stories about clients/former clients, and some clear thoughts and advice about how to declutter and tidy your home (and life). I did gobble it up pretty quickly, indicating that I was quite eager to absorb all the life-tidying advice/principles on offer.
It certainly made me think, and I have been tidying a lot since I finished reading it (but I haven't done it all, and I haven't done it in any particular order - I am a Konmari rebel). I realised that I already *knew* some of the things Kondo recommends. Like the thing about folding and storing things on edge, rather than in piles. I have got one drawer that stays tidy, where you can see the contents in one glance and, don't you know, the contents are folded Kondo style and lined up on their edges.
Anyway, I like some of her ideas, and I have been using them to good effect. Drawers are being reorganised, and clothes refolded in the Kondo way. It's nice to open a drawer and see everything that's inside - rather than see the tops of piles, or - more usually in my house - a random jumble of stuff.
An amazing thing happened when I organised the bean's drawers in the Kondo style. I put most of the clothes away, but hadn't quite finished folding and stashing his shorts. Later, he folded and put them away himself, which was good. But, when I opened the drawer I realised that he had spontaneously folded and placed them in the drawer in the same way as I had.
Totally brilliant.
I hadn't asked him to do it that way. I hadn't explained how to do it, or shown him how I was folding his things. He just did it.
So, it's good then? Well, yes, but no. Some of the advice just doesn't work for me. Do it all (declutter and tidy) in one 6 month period - okay. But never again?
Really?
You don't have children do you Marie?
Children grow and develop, and as part of that process families have to go through a regular cycle of acquiring new things and disposing of old ones. If you have children in a range of sizes/ages then it is patently absurd not to hand some items (clothes/books/toys) from one child to the next. Add to that the constant flow of paper and objects that come into the home with children, and the tidy 'once' rule soon breaks down.
I am happy to throw things away - the broken toys, the beads dropped on the floor, the dog-eared card/certificate/picture that has been in the bottom of someone's bag for a fortnight. But I can't and don't police all of the trinkets and favourite sticks/stones/shells that my children collect. These are regularly cleaned up, but it can't be a one-time event, it has to be done over and over and over again. Not very Konmari.
For me, there is a lot missing from Marie Kondo's book about living with children, about coping with the daily onslaught of stuff that comes through the door, about making decisions about what to keep/chuck, when it's not actually your stuff, but your children's. Although I would love to declutter and tidy my home in a one-off event, I suspect that I will have to keep a permanent donate pile somewhere around the house, for the grown out of clothes, the grown out of books and toys, and the other stuff which no longer fills me/them/us with joy.
Maybe I'm wrong, and once I've Kondo'd my own stuff, my children will also embrace the 'focus on joy - tidy once' philosophy?
I also suspect that despite failing the joy test, I will continue to keep paint-spattered and old clothes for activities that involve spattering paint and digging the garden. Practicality and pragmatism doesn't feature in Kondo's worldview, and her advice doesn't really help much when you need to sort out the garden shed.
I like Marie Kondo's ideas a lot, but can see that they work best for households with grown ups. Maybe her next book will be about tidying for/with kids (or maybe I should write that one?!)
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Sunday, 29 July 2012
Monday, 9 July 2012
41/7
It's that time of year again. The one where I have my birthday (41, ahem) followed shortly after by our wedding anniversary (7 years). To add to the excitement, my brother and sister in law arrived last weekend with their two young sons.
It's such a shame that the weather has been so awful - but if I have learned one thing in my 41 years on this earth, it is this: moaning about the weather never, ever, ever make one jot of difference to the weather that comes. You just have to make the best of it. So, the driest days have involved trips to beaches, farms, play parks and walks around and about; and the wettest days have involved trips to museums, swimming pools, soft play and inside sorts of places. Edinburgh's blessed with a number of such venues, so it hasn't been too hard - but still, a shame for them not to have seen some Scottish sunshine.
My in-laws organised a gathering of the wider family to celebrate the visitation from the American branch. As both my mother and father in law celebrate their 70th birthdays this year, we made the most of the opportunity to celebrate, and surprised them with birthday cake and champagne! They were completely unprepared for the surprise - but both seemed really delighted. Significant birthdays are always worth celebrating, and the greater the age, the more reason to take stock and give thanks for health and happiness.
Meanwhile there has been knitting. Dolly (age 3-6 months) now has 2 sleeves. A back will follow methinks. There is also a sock making good progress - mostly encouraged by the tennis, which was superb this year - and one or two other things have sprung on and off the needles. A tank top began a week or so back, but was no sooner started than ripped again. Not. Quite. Right.
It's such a shame that the weather has been so awful - but if I have learned one thing in my 41 years on this earth, it is this: moaning about the weather never, ever, ever make one jot of difference to the weather that comes. You just have to make the best of it. So, the driest days have involved trips to beaches, farms, play parks and walks around and about; and the wettest days have involved trips to museums, swimming pools, soft play and inside sorts of places. Edinburgh's blessed with a number of such venues, so it hasn't been too hard - but still, a shame for them not to have seen some Scottish sunshine.
My in-laws organised a gathering of the wider family to celebrate the visitation from the American branch. As both my mother and father in law celebrate their 70th birthdays this year, we made the most of the opportunity to celebrate, and surprised them with birthday cake and champagne! They were completely unprepared for the surprise - but both seemed really delighted. Significant birthdays are always worth celebrating, and the greater the age, the more reason to take stock and give thanks for health and happiness.
Meanwhile there has been knitting. Dolly (age 3-6 months) now has 2 sleeves. A back will follow methinks. There is also a sock making good progress - mostly encouraged by the tennis, which was superb this year - and one or two other things have sprung on and off the needles. A tank top began a week or so back, but was no sooner started than ripped again. Not. Quite. Right.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Still addicted...
The blanket is still the thing. The socks aren't getting a look in. Neither is the cardigan I should finish (all sewn up and just waiting for 300 miles of edging to be knit onto it). There is an itch to be scratched, and I just need to scratch it.
The ripping and re-doing of the blanket has been a complete success. I am much happier with everything, and now starting to motor along, getting quicker and quicker all the time. It's a good feeling.
The rugby outing yesterday afternoon was fabulous. I have missed going to big matches like that (the last international I went to was the RWC in 2007, when the bean was about 9 months old), and it was so good to be back at Murrayfield for a sell-out match. The atmosphere of Scotland vs. France matches is always very good natured. The french fans play their part well, with lots of flags and coloured wigs and silly hats. It meant that there was plenty to look at for our two little people - particularly the jelly bean - at her first rugby international. Her brother went to his first international match as a babe in arms, aged only 2 weeks! He's been to a few more games since then, mostly with his dad and other (male) grownups. This was our first outing as a family of 4 - and a rehearsal for attending sporting events with small people in tow, as we are off to the Olympics in the summer...
Too bad that Scotland couldnt get a win yesterday - but the roar that went up when they scored was incredible. And, we were lucky enough to be sitting in the north stand, so saw the first (Hogg) try fairly close up. A great memory for us all.
I've been thinking about stuff lately. There are so many of us trying to cope with having too much stuff. And, the more I think about, the more I think that the motto of the 21st century should be: don't buy stuff; do stuff. Yesterday was a good day for that.
The ripping and re-doing of the blanket has been a complete success. I am much happier with everything, and now starting to motor along, getting quicker and quicker all the time. It's a good feeling.
The rugby outing yesterday afternoon was fabulous. I have missed going to big matches like that (the last international I went to was the RWC in 2007, when the bean was about 9 months old), and it was so good to be back at Murrayfield for a sell-out match. The atmosphere of Scotland vs. France matches is always very good natured. The french fans play their part well, with lots of flags and coloured wigs and silly hats. It meant that there was plenty to look at for our two little people - particularly the jelly bean - at her first rugby international. Her brother went to his first international match as a babe in arms, aged only 2 weeks! He's been to a few more games since then, mostly with his dad and other (male) grownups. This was our first outing as a family of 4 - and a rehearsal for attending sporting events with small people in tow, as we are off to the Olympics in the summer...
Too bad that Scotland couldnt get a win yesterday - but the roar that went up when they scored was incredible. And, we were lucky enough to be sitting in the north stand, so saw the first (Hogg) try fairly close up. A great memory for us all.
I've been thinking about stuff lately. There are so many of us trying to cope with having too much stuff. And, the more I think about, the more I think that the motto of the 21st century should be: don't buy stuff; do stuff. Yesterday was a good day for that.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
New Year's Evolution
Like many people, I can't resist making New Year resolutions. This year, like most years, I am trying to make positive and small changes. My overall goals for the year are two fold: do more exercise, and simplify our lives where possible.
Rather than throw myself into a New Year routine of running, swimming and working out - which is likely to lapse well before Easter, this year I am trying a different route. I am trying to build things up, to evolve our routines and patterns slowly - making more time and space for physical activity. Some of the opportunities will - I hope - be about us as a family, and some will be just about me. If it works, then by the end of the year things should look and feel a bit different. I'd like to be a lot fitter, if nothing else.
So far, we've resurrected our habit of going for a family swim at the weekend. Swim is a loose description of what we do, but that's not really the point when you've got two preschoolers! In addition, I've dropped my pilates class in favour of something a bit more aerobic - my core muscles may be strong, but my fitness level is pretty low - and that's my priority at the moment. So, I'll be swimming instead...
In other news, I have finally abandoned the lovely, but (for me anyway) completely unknittable Betty from Rowan Winter Kids. I love the look of this jumper, which I was trying to make for a friends daughter - but I have failed at every turn. Although this is a lace pattern, there are no charts, only a written description of the 4 or 12 row patterns involved. I can follow those okay - but get into bother when it comes to accommodating either increases or decreases and find myself and the correct pattern parting company making a unholey mess rather than a lovely lace fabric. I have cast on cuffs, sleeves and back in an attempt to get this going. To no avail - I think I have ripped back about 6 times now. Grrr.
Rather than throw myself into a New Year routine of running, swimming and working out - which is likely to lapse well before Easter, this year I am trying a different route. I am trying to build things up, to evolve our routines and patterns slowly - making more time and space for physical activity. Some of the opportunities will - I hope - be about us as a family, and some will be just about me. If it works, then by the end of the year things should look and feel a bit different. I'd like to be a lot fitter, if nothing else.
So far, we've resurrected our habit of going for a family swim at the weekend. Swim is a loose description of what we do, but that's not really the point when you've got two preschoolers! In addition, I've dropped my pilates class in favour of something a bit more aerobic - my core muscles may be strong, but my fitness level is pretty low - and that's my priority at the moment. So, I'll be swimming instead...
In other news, I have finally abandoned the lovely, but (for me anyway) completely unknittable Betty from Rowan Winter Kids. I love the look of this jumper, which I was trying to make for a friends daughter - but I have failed at every turn. Although this is a lace pattern, there are no charts, only a written description of the 4 or 12 row patterns involved. I can follow those okay - but get into bother when it comes to accommodating either increases or decreases and find myself and the correct pattern parting company making a unholey mess rather than a lovely lace fabric. I have cast on cuffs, sleeves and back in an attempt to get this going. To no avail - I think I have ripped back about 6 times now. Grrr.
Monday, 9 January 2012
2012
It's going to be quite a year:
there's a fifth birthday;
a 65th birthday;
two 70th birthdays;
a visit from our American cousins;
a trip to London for the Olympics;
a new kitchen and utility area in our house;
and, the bean will be starting school.
No doubt there will be other things as well. Some knitting and sewing and baking and making of all kinds. I'm trying to change a few other things too - but I'll save that for another time.
Happy New Year.
there's a fifth birthday;
a 65th birthday;
two 70th birthdays;
a visit from our American cousins;
a trip to London for the Olympics;
a new kitchen and utility area in our house;
and, the bean will be starting school.
No doubt there will be other things as well. Some knitting and sewing and baking and making of all kinds. I'm trying to change a few other things too - but I'll save that for another time.
Happy New Year.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Quick, quick, sloe
We went furtling at the week-end. Furtling and rootling and rustling the leaves and hedgerows for sloes. Searching for treasure.
We had seen them last winter, in the depths of the snow and ice - and made a mental note about the location. Sloes are a bit like hen's teeth in Scotland. And, if you know anyone that has a supply, they usually won't tell you where they get them from. Not like my native Herefordshire, where every hedgerow and every lane and every winding path has sloes and rosehips and blackberries/brambles in plentiful supply.
We had seen them last winter, in the depths of the snow and ice - and made a mental note about the location. Sloes are a bit like hen's teeth in Scotland. And, if you know anyone that has a supply, they usually won't tell you where they get them from. Not like my native Herefordshire, where every hedgerow and every lane and every winding path has sloes and rosehips and blackberries/brambles in plentiful supply.
Anyway, we were in luck - the birds and other sloe hunters hadn't yet stripped the bushes bare. So we picked enough for our needs and left the rest for the birds. I'm looking forward to sloshing them around with sugar and gin and waiting for the delicious rosy red colour to emerge. I'm not sure it will be ready in time for Christmas, but perhaps in the new year?
As for this - it's hard to believe this was the scene in our street at the end of November last year. The bean keeps asking when it's going to snow....
Soon I tell him, soon...
At least this year we'll have the sloe gin to keep the grown ups warm!
Monday, 5 September 2011
Making Lists
No work for me this week, so my making monday is all about lists: planning the week ahead to make the most of my time at home, some of it without children(!)
: : read/finish reading the lovely books that are cluttering up my side of the bed
: : convert as many WIPs as possible to FOs
: : sort and rationalise the fabric stash (see item above)
: : bake and cook good things
: : weed, deadhead and tidy up the garden
: : attend to personal grooming (pedicure and haircut both booked)
: : catch up on paperwork/tax affairs
: : sleep
: : eat
: : play
: : blog
I hope there'll some more of these:
: : read/finish reading the lovely books that are cluttering up my side of the bed
: : convert as many WIPs as possible to FOs
: : sort and rationalise the fabric stash (see item above)
: : bake and cook good things
: : weed, deadhead and tidy up the garden
: : attend to personal grooming (pedicure and haircut both booked)
: : catch up on paperwork/tax affairs
: : sleep
: : eat
: : play
: : blog
I hope there'll some more of these:
And plenty more of this:
Monday, 25 July 2011
Super Sunday
The sky was blue, the sun was glorious and we packed lots into the day. My idea of a super Sunday...
walking up Blackford Hill with the children
stopping to watch the ducks and geese at the pond
making chocolatey, beetroot brownies
loads of washing washed and dried
the windows all open, bringing sunshine and warm air into our home
a family bike ride through the cool shade of the Hermitage of Braid
a well-earned ice cream eaten in the sun
home made pizzas, eaten in the garden
water play
bare legged children running and running in circles on the lawn
another nappy sewn and washed, ready to wear
my first home made yoghurt
listening to the cricket as we pottered in and out of the house
a knitting experiment concluded and frogged
walking up Blackford Hill with the children
stopping to watch the ducks and geese at the pond
making chocolatey, beetroot brownies
loads of washing washed and dried
the windows all open, bringing sunshine and warm air into our home
a family bike ride through the cool shade of the Hermitage of Braid
a well-earned ice cream eaten in the sun
home made pizzas, eaten in the garden
water play
bare legged children running and running in circles on the lawn
another nappy sewn and washed, ready to wear
my first home made yoghurt
listening to the cricket as we pottered in and out of the house
a knitting experiment concluded and frogged
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