The Slippery Slope

Shortly after hanging up my Clean & Kemp shingle, I began to notice a pattern with my families. Kid's paper clutter. Literally everywhere. Every room. Every drawer. The garage, the car. Everywhere. This form of clutter has become such a common part of my work, I soon began calling it The Slippery Slope. The aftermath of hundreds of avoided decisions.

The Slippery Slope is definitely most parent's kryptonite. We're helpless against it as though tossing out a first grade math workbook is the same as tossing out a piece of our child's soul. Hence, this feeling of helpless, passive indecisiveness means that it piles up and eventually makes its way into the far reaches of just about every space you occupy. And soon, if not already, huge end-of-year grocery bags of your kid's work will be sent home from school, making you feel even weaker. More helpless.

Allow me to channel my inner Cher from the movie Moonstruck and give you a metaphorical slap or two across your face.

Bottom line, you're saving this stuff for YOU and not your child. I want to move you away from the notion that if your kid touched it, it's worthy of keeping. It's time to set a higher standard for your kid's papers. Dirty used workbooks, colored in worksheets, random drawings, and writing exercises DO NOT make the cut!

What does make the cut?

The Best of the Best.

Sweet booklets with original writing and pictures, a few great drawings, anything they write that makes you laugh, and of course, an example or two of their best academic work from the year. Make sure to put the date on the back for posterity.

I am willing to bet that if you empty that dreaded grocery bag of schoolwork onto your kichen table and toss what doesn't meet your new standards, you'll be left with very little. But, oh what treasure you will have! You may even take a page out of my book and incorporate a few of these charming art pieces into your decor.

The Slippery Slope is something all parents need to stand up to daily. Starting TODAY. If you're having a hard time letting go, think of it this way. Kids art is more about the journey than the destination. If something you come across has you feeling indecisive, take a photo. Then let it go.

Take comfort in my mantra, Don't Worry. They'll make more!

Because they will.



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