Scattered, Frantic and Out of Control - But Creating a Cure

So, I was chatting with my husband the other day. I have been feeling out of sorts for a while now.

He probably doesn't even remember this conversation. Do you, dear? (He recently told me that he reads my site while he's at work. ALRIGHTY, then.)

I feel unorganized. Out of control. I can't find stuff, I am missing engagements and most days when I go to bed - there's work left undone, although I know that it's waiting for me when I wake up.

Work is sneaky like that. It hangs around and just waits for you to reappear. "Hey there - you thought I'd disappear while you slept? No such luck. Get back in here and get busy."

My work talks to me. It's a sign of insanity, I'm pretty sure.

Looking around my house and my daily life, it has become increasing apparent that I've lost my grip on having control over certain issues. Instead of everything having a place and everything being in it's place - much of my life is pell-mell. It's scattered. It's this paper is shoved onto a bulletin board and go find that business card that I stuck into the corner of the cabinet and I totally feel stressed.

I need an office, I decided. My issue is that we don't have a spare room to devote to an office. Every bedroom is doubled up except the boys, every cabinet and closet has stuff in it and my former organization has, quite simply, vanished. But, it's funny - we have a room that we rarely use - the dining room. We really and truly use it once or twice a year, when we have family over for the holidays. And I have seen some REALLY cute office designs and ideas on Pinterest that have made me think an office could be of use to me.

So I approached him with the idea, and we talked over the logistics - and I'm going to have my work cut out for me in the organization department - but I'm going to transform the dining room into an office.

Originally I wanted to paint one wall with chalkboard paint and use it to keep notes for myself - but I'll have carpet and don't want the dust everywere. So, then I thought about using the dry erase paint - but it is white and I really want gray walls. (The bottom of the room is already gray and there is white chair raill molding, so I want to paint the top half a lighter gray.) So I plan to get a couple of big white boards to use.

I'm excited about this for many reasons. One - I work from home and it would be lovely to have a designated area for my "stuff". It would be nice to know where my things are - not to wonder is that paper upstairs on my bureau or is it on the bulletin board or did I lay it somewhere else and where, by chance, might that be???? I'm happy to have a devoted work space. Not to have my laptop sitting by the sofa/on the kithcen table/by my bed and have to look for it/keep it away from kids/hope no one has downloaded a VIRUS ONTO IT.

One of the very big benefits to this set up is that it has required that I make some very needed changes to the flow of the house. I have an area in the dining room that has been a catch all for small appliances - the coffee maker, pancake griddle, waffle iron and various larger pots. I wanted to put those items in the extra closet - but that was full of extra foods. I wanted to put those in the garage on shelving - but that was full of miscellaneous crap that accumulates when you have a family of 8 that is not especially organized.

For example - I have FIVE car seats that we no longer use. I'm not saving them for any particular reason other than the fact that I can't donate them to a thrift store (they won't take them) and I don't know anyone who needs them - and those suckers were NOT cheap and I'm not about to just toss them - so there they sit in my garage. I have a double jog stroller that we haven't used for three years - and won't ever use again.

So. If I want an office - and I do, because the idea of it is keeping me up at night - I've gotta put in the organizational effort.

Comments

[Nicole]

Good luck, and I can't wait to see office space pictures!

I'm actually taking the next couple of weeks to declutter our apartment and empty out the master bedroom closet so I can use it as my office. (Hubby never hangs his clothes, and the clothes I have that need to be hung can fit in the kids' closet.) I'm really looking forward to having a space away from Wyatt so I don't have to worry about toddler fingers getting into my files or him sitting at my desk wondering why my laptop screen isn't like the iPad and maybe he should poke harder to get it to work.

[Elizabeth]

Craigslist will work best for the stroller. You can sell the car seats on Craigslist if you want to as well.

Thrift stores can't take car seats for legal issues. You might try to find a women's shelter that might take the car seats if you want the tax write off instead of money for selling them.

[Karen]

Does your area have a "freecycle" group? http://www.freecycle.org/

I've been able to pay forward some of our items there.

I HEART pinterest too!!

[Patricia]

Good for you. Everyone in a house should have a spot to call their own -- and you know, in my experience, it is mom who either gets the kitchen (ICK) or left out. When I went back to work outside the home, I turned my old office into my MUCH NEEDED craft room. When it isn't a storage room because of a basement flood, it is delightful to have a place that is completely MINE. (Someday, I'll even paint it.)
On the carseats. I know they were pricey. I know you'd like to see good from them. But carseats have an expiration date and I'm thinking yours might have expired. I have put all mine on the street because even though I'd love them to go to someone who needs them, I have truly used them to the end of their life. Now, I don't put them in the cans -- so we have the trash pickers come by and they take them and I try to believe that someone who is truly desperate is using them now. But truly, don't beat yourself up over the carseats if you do trash them.
Enjoy YOUR room!!!!

[Sandra]

sell the jogging stroller on craigslist and free cycle the car seats. put the over flow appliances in the garage or food in the garage. then have some fun organizing and setting up your office.

earlier this year i turned a corner of my family room into my office area. my desk and all my office equipment was in my bedroom sitting room area that i never used, so i had the husband move everything into the family room where i am the majority of my day. i went and bought some cute things to organize my desk and now i have a place for all my stuff. i keep it looking nice bc it's open and everyone can see when they walk in my house. haha

post pictures of your office project as you go along. i'd love to see the progress.

[Melody]

I believe carseats expire after 6 years, so they may need tossed. If not, craigslist free section.

[Pat]

You might inquire if a local women's shelter has use for any of the car seats. I gave old but serviceable dishes and suitcases to our shelter. Abused women often have to leave everything behind and just go. Therefore, they need everything when they are starting out on their own again.

Of course, this would be strictly as donations, you don't get anything back. It's a great way to get rid of still usable things that you don't have space for any more.

[Melissa@HomeBaked]

Good luck on your reorganization! Another vote for freecycle, if you have an active local group. I have purged so much stuff from my house, and also gained a few needed items. Another idea for carseats--maybe a foster care organization? I cleaned up our expensive seats and donated them to a local group that provides baby gear and clothing to families taking emergency foster placements.

[Mary D]

About the car seats, as painful as it is, TOSS THEM. And when you put them out for trash, cut the straps so no one can use them. I know, I know, I sound all harsh and mean. However, here is the reasoning - You are not allowed to sell them or donate them for safety reasons. Say someone gets one of your old car seats, has an accident and the seat doesn't hold (may not be belted properly, whatever, reason doesn't matter). Guess who they can go after for an injured child? That would be YOU.

I understand wanting to help, but these days, I am not willing to put my family's financial safety (as perilous as it already is) at risk.

On the rest, CONGRATULATIONS! But know, children will still attempt to find a way to sneak their stuff into your room. Don't you know it is the unspoken childhood rule Mom's aren't allowed their own space :)?

Keep us posted.

[Brandy]

Ooh, an office sounds good! And the grays sound pretty! Hope everything finds a place and you can start to use your office soon!

[addy]

Good luck with the project Carmen. Our dining room was the office for a few years. Worked out very well.

[Headless Mom]

I so wish we lived closer. I have a project that I need help on so we could trade labor!

[MelissaS]

Good luck undertaking this project! I have taken over a spare bedroom as a craft room, and it is wonderful to have "a room of one's own" that is not the kitchen, or the laundry room...

Just think how you might even sleep better if work is OUT of your bedroom :)

[Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith]

What a great reuse of space! I love Pinterest, they have great ideas. If you need any help sorting out stuff and organizing, I love doing that type of stuff.

[Wendy S]

Good luck a space to call your own is a wonderful thing. (Even if it is for work.)
As for the carseats. Several previous posters are correct. Carseats need to be tossed after 6 years of the manufature date. It is stamped on the carseat itself. At this point the plastic starts to break down and is not reliable in an accident. Someone mentioned cutting the straps. That is what you need to do as well as break the seat up any which way you can before putting out. If they are less than 6 years old then I don't know you could just keep holding onto them until you hit the six year mark. ;-)

[Kris]

Toys r us has a great trade in event going on right now. You can trade in old baby equipment for 25% off coupons.

[LizP]

First - Dry Erase paint??? OMG! Tell us more, tell us more! (I have chalkboard paint)

Second - people have already said Women's Shelter and Freecycle. Another option might be a Birth-to-three group?

[amie]

In the last few months, I too havE realized our dining room is a beautiful, light filled room that only the dogs use on a regular basis for napping. This summer it became the kids art studio, filled wi, sth art supplies, projects, big table to spreadout on, etc. So with school getting into full swing, it has become the at home school room. I have cubbies for their coats & school shoes. Hooks for bags of dance & sport geat. A "mommy in basket". Everything needed for homework including pencils, paper markers, dictionary, sharpener, comfy chairs, sturdy table , musical instruments, and music stand. Th ekids have been great about coming home from school and dumping their stuff in homework room. Which leaves my kitchen realtively uncluttered & organized. Most important the homework room has no distractiosn like tv, phones, etc and no reason to get up an dlook for supplies. So far so good. It is much more practical use of a beautiful space that in the last five years has been used for two meals and 500 doggie naps :) Good luck with your room repurposing < keep us posted on progress :)

[Kati]

To second (third? tenth?) the sentiments already expressed - the amount of money spent on something does not determine its worth. If you at finished using an item, or never used it in the first place, yet are making room for it in your home and in your life, you are a servant to your stuff instead of your stuff serving you. I am a natural hoarder, but this sentiment (picked up from some organizational book/show/website along the way) has allowed me to let go of things almost as soon as I realize they are no longer serving me. It's painful to let them go, like the $20 bottle of hair gel that made my hair feel crunchy instead of smooth - but I have an even bigger problem housing things that do not "carry their weight" as it were.

Or you can look at this from a karmic perspective. The things you are preparing to release are goin to be the exact things someone else desperately needs at this point in his/her life.

[Melanie]

As much as it pains you, the car seats have likely expired. I know the car seat from my oldest had expired by the time my youngest was born (he was 6 when she was born) The plastic doesn't last and they are not safe. Please dispose of them because it's likely they would not survive a car crash if someone decided to use them.

And, YEA! for an office of your own!!

[UKCraftySal]

This sounds like such an exciting project! Please do keep us up-to-date with how it's going. It'll be fantastic for you to have your own space, and I bet you will feel so much less stressed.

I have my eye on the kids' playroom for my craft room (I also want to hold classes), and they know they have an absolute cut-off when the younger one reaches 18 - but I wish I didn't have to wait for another 3 years!

The bit which made me laugh out loud, was when you wrote about moving the appliances but there's food in that place, which you need to move, but there's clutter in THAT place! Just like my house. I planned to start de-cluttering in January...now it's September! But it's never too late to start, right?!

[Carmen Staicer]

This was a good lesson for me. Some things I dont want to get rid of, but I know how excited that I get when I see the *exact* thing Im looking for in the thrift store.

Best,

Carmen

[Carmen Staicer]

I cant wait to be finished. Im really looking forward to it!

Best,

Carmen

[kyooty]

Carseats if they are expired? cut the straps and leave them at the curb. As for the stroller? sell it. :)

I saw a garage while out walking? and they had made a porch in their garage. I want that now. You wouldn't know it's there unless you close open the garage door and it's big enough for a freezer and pantry.

[Amy]

Free Cycle to get rid of the stuff you no longer need! Believe me someone will be happy for it! I free cycled a double bike trailer yesterday morning :)