The KonMari Method is Not For Everyone

Every spring I get the urge to purge. This is the time of year when the Christmas toys are collecting dust and piles of stuff need to be sorted and tossed. I am not a neat freak, but I do hate clutter. Certain areas of our home like the playroom make me want to jump out of my skin.

When I was a momma bear to only one child my house was always picked up. The playroom was picturesque, and we were ready for a Pottery Barn style photo shoot at a moment’s notice. I was slightly higher functioning back then.  After the second kid arrived tidiness became more difficult, so I lowered my standards. I barely have time to do anything outside of meeting their basic needs for survival. I heard about Marie Kondo a few years ago when her book came out. It sounded interesting, but I only have time to read books that rhyme. Then I stumbled across her Netflix series and that was a game changer.  I was sucked in immediately and binge watched several episodes.

Marie Kondo is a world-renowned tidying expert that helps her clients clear clutter and find joy. Sign me up, I want Joy.  The areas of our home in need of a makeover are the kitchen, pantry, playroom and of course the closets. I decided to start small and tackle my closet first since this is an area that I control. Marie tells you to take every piece of clothing you own out of your closet and pile it on top of your bed. This is a very important step because it is meant to give you a visual of all the excess stuff you have.  Well, in my case I dumped ten years of my life on the bed. Seeing a pile that high sent my anxiety through the roof. I was overwhelmed. So far, no joy.

The next step is to pick up each piece of clothing, hold it close and see if it sparks joy. If it doesn’t you thank the article of clothing and toss it. As I combed through clothes I saw different areas of my life. There was the “before kids” pile that was super cute and tiny. That pile left me depressed.  I would need Vaseline and a shoe horn to get back into those pieces, so I let them go. Still, no joy. Then you have my “mom on the go” pile with a larger array of sizes. Not necessarily the cutest clothes but functional. Last time I checked I couldn’t wear a snuggie to work so I have comfortable yet professional attire. All those pieces left me feeling frumpy and in need of an extreme makeover. Definitely not feeling joy yet but I can’t toss everything, or I will be left naked.

Then I stumbled across a few relics. I found the super cute top I wore on my first date with my husband and my favorite yellow dress that I wore for my bachelorette weekend in Charleston. Finally, I find Joy! These articles of clothing don’t fit anymore but I refuse to toss them for sentimental reasons. Maybe I will put them in a shadow box and display them like ancient artifacts.

Now onto the dresser. Marie teaches you to fold clothes in three sections and to stand them upright in the drawer. She strongly encourages getting your children involved at a young age, so they can experience joy from tidying up. Well, have you folded clothes with a three-year-old? Not at all helpful. I had several piles folded and ready to be put away when she dove off the bed. It was as if she was leaping off the stage at a heavy metal concert into the mosh pit. My piles were annihilated. Again, no joy.

I didn’t finish my project so the remaining clothes that need to be sorted are being stored in the bath tub. When it comes time to tackle the playroom and kitchen I am using the Cristina Method. I will be going in like gangbusters with large black garbage bags and recklessly tossing everything, piece by piece, that we haven’t used or played with in the last year. Just the thought of this brings me Joy.