I loooooove this story. I experienced the same thing. As I worked on decluttering, my kids picked up the basics from me.
I don’t always feel like I’m passing on my new, declutterer habits to my daughters. They like collections, and they treasure coloring pages from church and school. Then I walk into my bedroom and notice something in my “empty” donation box.(For the record, I keep one right inside my bedroom door for the family. I usually am the only one who uses it. And I had just filled one and replaced it with an empty one.)My youngest daughter had put these items in the box, unprompted to pick up, declutter, or clean her room.It’s good to know I’m teaching these habits. AND my family is learning them.Thank you, again, for all you do,Kim P. (and daughter!)
Some posts I’ve written that will help you as you declutter:
If you need help working through your clutter, my book, Decluttering at the Speed of Life, will talk you through the entire process.
That is so great! I have also tried to pass along the decluttering tips…and my children have finally started letting go of things that they are keeping “as memories”…clothes that don’t fit, or that they don’t wear…because they see me doing the same. Some of the t-shirts have an “cultural” theme (Estonian), which we collect into a separate box, and donate to younger members of our family and community who will actually understand the slogans and references….
Power to all of us during this time!!!!
Lydia
Dana – when this is all over, the thrift shops will need time to sanitize the facilities, organize their employment and volunteer schedules, and I think it would be wonderful if all organizing/decluttering posters/podcasters on line would ask people to postpone donating the goods for a few weeks when this is all over AND PLEASE CALL THE THRIFT SHOP AND ASK WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE DONATED AND WHEN. I think it would be a wonderful thing if you could also spread this idea to your fellow posters/podcasters.
Ironic, isn’t it, that now when we probably have more time to declutter and collect things to give away, we can’t get rid of it. And we’ll have to create space to store these things. But don’t let that stop you from decluttering things to donate.