Hoarders. Clutterers. Pack rats. Okay, so we're not quite THAT bad, but this family certainly likes to hold on to lots of things that shouldn't be held on to. Every time I finally purge all the school papers, cable wires, broken crayons, and old arts and crafts supplies, it is almost a guarantee that I will need at least two things from that toss pile within a week. Never fails. But that sweet, SWEET, in between time of no mess is so gorgeous that it's totally worth the frustration. Then there's the 'Just In Case' pile.
You know, the pile of things that you stack up while cleaning that completely tower over the 'Toss' pile. It's full of junk that you can easily replace, usually even for free. Paper bags from grocery shopping. Paper flyers from the mail. Massive amounts of stickers from birthday party loot bags. We're total arts and crafts junkies, and Brianna loves that stuff. She's actually painting as I type this and just started hysterically laughing.
Me: What's so funny?
B: THIS PAPER! Look at it!
Me: What does it say?
B: It's from St. Patrick's Day! WHAT!
Me: Wait, did you look at the date at the top?
B: Where?
Me: Right there. Where it says 2011.
This is a problem. Why would you ever need a store flyer from March 2011? I mean, it makes for good table lining (because let's be real; No 6 year old is going to paint JUST on the paper. It wouldn't be a masterpiece if they didn't get all the edges), but I could easily recycle that and just replace when needed. Two years is way too long to keep that stuff.
And the paint! Oh, God, the PAINT! I need to seriously start going through the art bin. I'm fairly certain that some of it is probably from forever ago and crusted to the sides. B's using a cheapy watercolor set right now, but only because we're inside and I denied her the good stuff. The art addict in her just freaked out on me, but no way is she using that in the house, especially on my Mom's table. I did get this lovely argument out of it though.
B: Why can't you just let a girl enjoy her childhood?
Me: What? Brianna, those paints are for outside only. Right now we're inside.
B: Can we move this party outside then?
Me: No, we cannot 'move this party outside'.
I tried so hard to be serious, but, as mentioned in a previous blog, sometimes you just can't. Like the time she asked me very seriously if we had fabric.
B: Do we have any fabric?
Me: No, we don't.
B: *loud annoyed sigh*
Me: Why do you need fabric?
B: Because I was going to make curtains.
Me: Oh. Well you're out of luck, sorry.
B: *sigh* Okay.
And that, ladies and gentleman, is why I should never throw anything away.
