Minimalist And Daycare Provider?? Is It Possible??

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  • WImom
    Advanced Daycare.com Member
    • Jun 2010
    • 1639

    #16
    I hate clutter and organized closets is my trick and an organized storage room in the basement. Zero clutter calms me. I get cranky if my house is cluttered and I feel less patient with things that normally wouldn't bother me.

    Personal - I go through my bins in the basement every 6 months to a year and make myself fill two bins to give to goodwill, if I didn't use it or don't plan too it's gone. My kids clothes go right to the consignment shop each season if they don't fit or can't be used for the younger one and every summer I go through their toys to take to consignment too. I have one bin for each of us (me, husband, and two kids) for keepsakes.

    Daycare - I'm lucky to have a spare room and the closet is filled with those three drawer carts - each drawer is a weekly theme. I only keep what I can fit in it. I also have a shelf with shoe box type boxes for craft supplies all labeled. If I didn't have that my daycare would probably drive me nuts and be cluttered. Once the dc kids become bored with a toy I will take it out for a month or so and bring it back. If they still lose interest fast then it goes to the consignment shop.

    Both my kids (7y and 9y are pack rats - so when they sleep over at friends guess who cleans their rooms?? They never notice the stuff is gone either and I do keep stuff that I know means alot to them. (MY 9 y DD keeps EVERYTHING - I'll see her on Hoarders one day. I found a small box full of price/upc tags from clothes the other day in her room...

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    • Blackcat31
      • Oct 2010
      • 36124

      #17
      Originally posted by iheartkids
      I would be so much happier if I can let go of the big daycare crap like baby swings, bouncy seats, exercauser, bassinets, etc. What do you do with that stuff? I don't have a baby right now but what if in the future I do get one?
      I used to have a lot of infant stuff too. I finally got rid of it all because I stopped taking infants. Then one day, I took one and thought , I got rid of all my stuff....now i have learned the baby really doesn't need all that stuff. It is YOU that needs it all. (I don't mean you personally, I mean the caregivers).

      Now the baby I have is bff's with the floor.

      Comment

      • Solandia
        Daycare.com Member
        • Jul 2011
        • 372

        #18
        Originally posted by iheartkids
        I would be so much happier if I can let go of the big daycare crap like baby swings, bouncy seats, exercauser, bassinets, etc. What do you do with that stuff? I don't have a baby right now but what if in the future I do get one?
        Pass it on!! Seriously, I just give it away. My philosophy is that I bless someone with the things I no longer am actively using, and it will come back to me in my time of need (either the same item or something similar). Kind of like the room of requirement in Harry Potter. LOL

        I do not have the space or desire to hold on to endless amounts of blankets, clothes or equipment or blankets. I make do or do without..

        Comment

        • SunflowerMama
          Advanced Daycare.com Member
          • Mar 2010
          • 1113

          #19
          Originally posted by Blackcat31
          I used to have a lot of infant stuff too. I finally got rid of it all because I stopped taking infants. Then one day, I took one and thought , I got rid of all my stuff....now i have learned the baby really doesn't need all that stuff. It is YOU that needs it all. (I don't mean you personally, I mean the caregivers).

          Now the baby I have is bff's with the floor.
          I totally agree and the 2 infants I have now are on the floor 99% of the time they are awake. I have one exersaucer and that's it and I'm thinking about ditching that but it does help every once and a while.

          Comment

          • daycare
            Advanced Daycare.com *********
            • Feb 2011
            • 16259

            #20
            Originally posted by SunflowerMama
            I've been reading a lot about the minimalist lifestyle and would LOVE to reduce the clutter in our house and really only hold onto things we actually NEED and USE frequently.

            Does anyone out there consider themself a minimalist and how does that carry over into your daycare? Toys, supplies, etc.

            Over the last 2 weeks I've tackled 2 big areas...our large walk in pantry/storage closet and our kitchen and have purged about 6 bags of trash and a van full of Goodwill items. It feels AMAZING and the stress of not having all that stuff around that we never touched and was just taking up space is awesome!

            If you do see yourself as a minimalist I'd love to see pictures of your space and how it's reflected in your daycare setup.
            I am one big time. In every aspect of my house. But a lot of it has to do with the fact that I hate shopping...

            I will email you a pic of my DCR so you can see how I keep it. Sorry, I don't want to post pics here of it. I like to remain anonymous.

            Comment

            • godiva83
              Advanced Daycare.com Member
              • Mar 2011
              • 581

              #21
              My lovely father is a 'collector' I would say borderline hoarder with too much space to cram his things. He has a huge house every spare inch covered with things, a cottage full and a 4 car garage and loft all FULL

              I don't know what we will do when the time comes for him to leave us ... Most things are expensive and antiques but it would take months/ years to sort. I am trying to encourage him to start letting go of things slowly, either selling, donating, or giving to family.

              For Christmas there was a huge break through. Instead of him going out to purchase more things, he picked out one special keep sake to give to everyone. My son got an old pedal car he had fixed up, painted with his name, my nephew a beautiful sled he redid and I got my great great grands wingback recovered. He has some real treasures... And I hope I don't end up hoarding his collections - something's are hard to part with.

              Comment

              • Country Kids
                Nature Lover
                • Mar 2011
                • 5051

                #22
                My goal this year is to just basically finally streamline my home and yes I guess you could say become a minimalist.

                Here is my plan:

                Take one room a month and work on one shelf or one drawer a day. I will have 11 areas to work on which if the timing goes right I will have a beautiful house to entertain in by December 1. happyface

                I am not going to work on it though on the weekends. Just Monday through Friday and this will be during naptime. Some areas will be in the evening but hopefully not to many.

                Also, I'm going to start using up ALL of my preschool curiculum that I have accumulated over the last 16 years and not rebuy anything for a long, long time. It should take a least 2-3 years to do this. I will also be using ALL my craft supplies and only buy if I have NOTHING that will work.

                I am also going to make a regift it box. I have run across quite a few things that are brand new, unopened that could easily be reused. I already have two baby shower gifts thanks to decluttering a shelf under my bar.

                I tried joining the Flylady forum to no avail. I'm actually suppose to call the network engineer so we can walk through the process and see what is going wrong. I would love to go through this journey with others to keep me on track.

                Someone posted awhile back about making our houses like gramdmas when we were little. We always found things to do without a TON of entertainment options. Why can't we still do that?

                As of yesterday I have already thrown or put in the yardsale box 80 things. That averaged to 20 things a day that was either trash or something we no longer used, needed or wanted for some reason. This all started to take place on the ninth of this month!

                I'm very excited about this next years journey. Also, did you know if you got rid of 5.5 things a day you could be rid of 2012 things for the year! Isn't that weird because I know I can easily, easily do this.
                Last edited by Country Kids; 01-13-2012, 02:20 PM. Reason: Added wording
                Each day is a fresh start
                Never look back on regrets
                Live life to the fullest
                We only get one shot at this!!

                Comment

                • Heidi
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • Sep 2011
                  • 7121

                  #23
                  Originally posted by sharlan
                  We went from a 1k sq ft home to a 4k sq ft home. We unfortunately went from 1k sq ft of junk to 10ksq ft of junk.

                  I've been working on "decluttering" for the past two weekends. We started with the garage and unloaded a whole dumpster full of trash/junk. Usable things went to Goodwill. E-waste went to the recycler.

                  Last weekend I hit the kitchen (every single cabinet and drawer), butler's pantry, pantry, broom closet, and upstairs linen closet. We filled another dumpster load and sent 4 loads of usable junk to a friend who's daughter is having a Goodwill pickup for her cheerleading team.

                  Next weekend will be the playroom and backyard.

                  (My niece is an honest to goodness hoarder. I am making her clear out her junk, too. It's been really hard for her, but she is trying.)
                  Do you remember George Carlin's "stuff" skit?

                  Comment

                  • Heidi
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Sep 2011
                    • 7121

                    #24
                    George Carlins stuff skit for those of you who are too young to remember..

                    Comment

                    • cheerfuldom
                      Advanced Daycare.com Member
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 7413

                      #25
                      I am a minimalist and so is my daycare room. It can be done!

                      Comment

                      • SunflowerMama
                        Advanced Daycare.com Member
                        • Mar 2010
                        • 1113

                        #26
                        Originally posted by cheerfuldom
                        I am a minimalist and so is my daycare room. It can be done!
                        Ohh I'd love to see some pictures of your daycare room!!

                        Comment

                        • athomemommy

                          #27
                          Originally posted by daycare
                          I am one big time. In every aspect of my house. But a lot of it has to do with the fact that I hate shopping...

                          I will email you a pic of my DCR so you can see how I keep it. Sorry, I don't want to post pics here of it. I like to remain anonymous.
                          I am too and just starting I really want to let go of some of their toys. And have it so they are more creative. I would really like to see your pictures. Everydayonpurpose@gmail.com

                          Thanks

                          Comment

                          • Countrygal
                            Advanced Daycare.com Member
                            • Aug 2011
                            • 976

                            #28
                            I live in Amish country..... the ultimate minimalists.

                            Can you live like that and run a daycare? Not in this state UNLESS you are Amish. ROFL!!!

                            I am required by state law to have this, that and the other thing. My floor plan is open, which helps, but I am frantic to redistribute the "stuff" so as to have more room. If you come up with any answers or ideas, please, PLEASE, pass them on!!!!

                            Btw, sunchimes, it isn't only 130 yo houses that lack closet space. I would literally kill for a pantry - I'll bet you have one! ::::

                            Comment

                            • Heidi
                              Daycare.com Member
                              • Sep 2011
                              • 7121

                              #29
                              Originally posted by Countrygal
                              I live in Amish country..... the ultimate minimalists.

                              Can you live like that and run a daycare? Not in this state UNLESS you are Amish. ROFL!!!

                              I am required by state law to have this, that and the other thing. My floor plan is open, which helps, but I am frantic to redistribute the "stuff" so as to have more room. If you come up with any answers or ideas, please, PLEASE, pass them on!!!!

                              Btw, sunchimes, it isn't only 130 yo houses that lack closet space. I would literally kill for a pantry - I'll bet you have one! ::::
                              Country-I, too, am in WI...just next to Amish Country is Juneau County.

                              Oh, I think it's 764 licensing rules....!!!!

                              Comment

                              • Sprouts
                                Licensed Provider
                                • Dec 2010
                                • 846

                                #30
                                [QUOTE=WImom;185930]I hate clutter and organized closets is my trick and an organized storage room in the basement. Zero clutter calms me. I get cranky if my house is cluttered and I feel less patient with things that normally wouldn't bother me.

                                Personal - I go through my bins in the basement every 6 months to a year and make myself fill two bins to give to goodwill, if I didn't use it or don't plan too it's gone. My kids clothes go right to the consignment shop each season if they don't fit or can't be used for the younger one and every summer I go through their toys to take to consignment too. I have one bin for each of us (me, husband, and two kids) for keepsakes.

                                Daycare - I'm lucky to have a spare room and the closet is filled with those three drawer carts - each drawer is a weekly theme. I only keep what I can fit in it. I also have a shelf with shoe box type boxes for craft supplies all labeled. If I didn't have that my daycare would probably drive me nuts and be cluttered. Once the dc kids become bored with a toy I will take it out for a month or so and bring it back. If they still lose interest fast then it goes to the consignment shop.

                                Just curious, how many of the 3 draw things do u have , if it is for every week then do you have enough for the whole year????

                                I wish I had an minimalist expert to just come and help me, for free, hehehe ...I have trouble just starting because I get overwhelmed!!

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