The Purge: Making Room for Magic (and My Sanity)
T-48 hours before my playroom becomes a dumping ground for the newest additions of Christmas joy in the form of gifts.
This is the ‘calm’ (lol, when is it ever calm) before the storm. The pause before the wrapping paper explodes, the hunt for AAA batteries begins, and toys begin multiplying overnight like gremlins.
Here’s the thing. I feel deeply grateful that my kiddos are fortunate enough to receive more than they understand. I want to say this honestly, because this feeling exists across many families of all dynamics: whether your child is opening one gift or ten, the emotional load of managing stuff is real. This isn’t about having “too much.” It’s about how quickly things add up in a tiny human’s world mixed in with our own and how that can feel like a lot for everyone involved.
As a mom of two with only 16 months between them, it can be especially overwhelming. They’re close in age, share interests, and yes, happen to be the only grandkids on both sides of our family. Which means even aunts and uncles love to sprinkle in something special. But regardless of where gifts come from or how many there are, the result can be the same.
If it’s overwhelming for me, imagine how it feels for them.
The excitement of something new lasts mere minutes (or seconds) until the next thing is opened. And those new toys are folded into regular play alongside everything that already exists in their world. What starts as intentional play quickly turns into standing in the middle of the room, unsure where to begin or what to play with first. If at any point in the next month your kid is turning to a tablet or a TV, trust me. They’re ‘there’. Mentally standing in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do.
Oh, did I mention we also just had a December birthday? So yes. This chaos has already begun.
The Annual Purge (Because My Brain Needs It)
Better late than never, I’m starting the annual purge. Not because I want less joy, but because if I don’t clear space in our playroom, I can’t clear space in my mind.
If you’re in the same position as I am, or just trying to breathe a little easier in a sea of LEGO pieces and random Barbie shoes, here’s how to do it.
First Rule: Don’t Ask. Don’t Involve. Don’t Explain.
Before you do anything, don’t ask or involve your kids.
I know this goes against a lot of well-meaning parenting advice. And sure, there’s a time for teaching decision-making and ownership, but December 23rd is NOT that time.
It’s tempting to go through every toy together, but let me tell you how this usually goes. The second you ask your child what they want to keep, suddenly they cannot live without the dollar store stuffy duck from two Easters ago with one eye that’s been hiding behind the play oven.
Out of sight, out of mind is the strategy here. Be careful not to waiver from it. And please, do not even think about doing this while your kids are awake or actively playing. This is an after-bedtime task only. No feed-back. No witnesses.
Three Categories. That’s It.
Now that we’ve established the ground rules, it’s time to get organized. We’re sorting everything into three simple categories:
Toys they’ve outgrown but still hold sentimental value
Toys they’ve outgrown or are no longer interested in (for donation)
Broken or irreparable toys
Yes, we could go deeper (rotation bins, supervised play toys, multi-piece sets with strict rules) but let’s be real. It’s December 23rd. Nobody has time for that.
In the middle of the playroom, I place three vessels:
A storage bin
A box
A garbage bag
Anything I want to keep for nostalgic reasons or future hand-me-downs goes into the storage bin. I don’t seal it right away in case things need to be cleaned or sorted later, but it’s ready to go.
Donations go into the box. This often gets split later between items going to charity and things being passed along to family or friends.
The garbage bag is self-explanatory. Some items make their way to recycling. If something can be revived with a battery change, it gets a second chance in the donation pile. You’ll find you throw out a lot of stickers. So. Many. Stickers.
You’ll think you’ve barely made a dent. Your probably right. Trust the process.
The Safety Net
Everything gets put away before the kiddos wake, but here’s my biggest tip: nothing leaves the house for two weeks.
If you accidentally take away the one random thing your child suddenly panics over, you still have an easy recovery before panic sets in and tantrums ensue.
Future-you will thank you.
The Final Layer: Elevated Storage
The last thing to consider is whether your child is ready for elevated storage based on their learning and maturity level. This might mean introducing a puzzle cabinet, a craft bin, or toys that now “live” in the playroom instead of being accessible ‘where only mom can reach’ (Play-Doh, I’m looking at you).
If they’re doing a great job with cleanup, this gives new items a clear home, and gives you one less thing to step on.
And Then We…Let It Be Messy
However you choose to prepare, let’s be honest: as parents, it’s never perfect. Things don’t fall into place like a flawless game of Tetris. Post-holiday anxiety is real and it can take time before things feel settled again.
The feng shui of play will return, until the next holiday, of course.
So until then, grab a coffee, take a seat, and embrace the chaos.
You’re doing great.
Happy holidays!
