How many underwear?

If you don't already know it, I have three daughters. They all share a room. I grew up with two sisters and we all shared a room. I don't ever remember it being inhabitable. Then again, I don't ever remember specific toys we played with other than blocks and crayons. On a weekly basis, I have to cajole, threaten, and encourage my girls to clean up their room (which is, by the way, the master suite). My husband, Mr. Fix it, says to me, "It's simple. They have too much stuff."

After defending my right to overindulge my kids with worldly goods, I though I might give his suggestion a try. yesterday was our first official day of Spring Break. In less than an hour, I managed to sort out all four dressers (my son's included) and found that each child had a garbage bag....maybe you didn't hear me...A GARBAGE BAG of unnecessary, superfluous clothing. I'm pretty sure Number 3, a fashionista, will never need three, green, long-sleeved shirts or 14 pairs of pants. I think she can exist with just seven.

I have never been like this before. It's moving across the world that's changed me. Somehow inside I panic. What if I need that for another child? What if I find I can't replace something of equal value or quality for a decent price? But the true fact of the matter is that my wardrobe, though limited, gets me through life just fine and I manage with 5 pairs of pants.

My son's room cracks me up. He is the only one in the house who lives alone. In some ways I envy him. Free to keep things tidy. Free to sort and organize any way he wants. Until I went into his dresser.

Here's a math problem for you.

If a boy wears a clean pair of boxers each day and does his own laundry every Thursday, in what situation would he ever need 25 PAIRS OF BOXERS?

And what's more, many of them on the bottom of the drawer had never been worn or washed since outside Walmart. That being said, somehow the hand-me-downs didn't quite add up this round because Number 3 has no socks at all! Go figure.

Anyway, today is day two of Operation

"Why are we storing crap we don't need, use, wear, etc?"

Can you have etc. in a title?

Here's the other truth that occurred to me. Imagine your kitchen. Imagine that each type of utensil is in a plastic container the size of a shoebox. Then imagine that the shoeboxes are stacked up in a corner that's somewhat hard to get to. When you get one out, you have to unstack the pile, open the container, stack them back up, then put it back later. Would you bother or would you leave everything in a pile in the middle of the room. Exactly.

They need better storage. Thankfully, IKEA is close-by. I rewarded myself for all the hard work by going there today and purchasing much needed storage for the girls and a meatball or two for myself. Call it retail therapy or what you will. If it makes it possible for fireman to get to my girls in a fire, then it's worth it.