Okay so we don’t have any cats (the dogs would eat them) and, at the moment we don’t have any mice (thank goodness), however now that Ming is 21 he seems to think he is the cat and I am the mouse. If cats are controlling and mice are meek, then perhaps he is right.
So, while ‘the cat’ was away for a few days, Dina and I decluttered and sorted my old office (including the four-drawer filing cabinet!) the bathroom, my bedroom (which was already okayish) and went through ALL of my paperwork which is now properly filed in the filing cabinet in actual files! I am a very happy mouse.
The only drawback was that I was under strict instructions from Ming to not go to the dump with the rubbish until he had checked I wasn’t throwing anything out that he might want. This happened two weeks ago and the ute was so full it took him ages but he only found two unopened toothbrushes so I was just given a little claw pat and off I went to the dump. Now we have a second ute-load of rubbish which I plan to add to today while Ming is at work.
On his return yesterday he went through this second lot of rubbish while I was in town and when I returned in the early evening his expression was grim. My little mouse voice quavered:
Me: What have I done now?
Ming: I’m a bit hurt, Mum, but it’s okay.
Me: Did you find something on the ute that you wanted? Oh no!
Ming: You are being too ruthless. I think from now on I really need to be here to make sure you don’t do the same thing again.
Me: Just let me get out of the car and come inside.
Ming: Yes, we should talk about this.
…….
Me (seated with a fortifying glass of wine): What did you find?
Ming: Like I said, I’m okay about it now, Mum, but it’s taken me a couple of hours to get over it.
Me: Just tell me….
Ming: You threw away my Mother’s Day card to you from last year.
Me: OMG Ming I’m so sorry! I was really careful to put all of the sentimental stuff into the sentimental box. I don’t know how I missed that. Did you retrieve it?
Ming: No point, Mum, you’d ripped it in half.
Me: What? No way. I must have thought it was something else!
Ming: Just don’t let it happen again. Please put everything you are uncertain about into a corner where I can go through it myself. I don’t trust you.
Me: Okay, darling. Sorry. Do you want a hug?
Ming: Maybe a bit later.
Cats can be cruel but mice can be mischevious so, while he is at work today I will very quickly chuck the crate of his primary school drawings onto the back of the ute. After all, even though he was a prolific artist at 5, he wasn’t Picasso.
On second thoughts maybe I should wait for him to come home and check first! In the meantime I will put all of the stuff he wants to check into the corner for Captain Cat to sort out himself.
This mouse is feeling the mirth!
jmgoyder 
Is your lad a bit of a hoarder then! 🙂
Like father like son – argh!
Yes, alas!
“While the cat’s away, the mice (aka mouse) will play”
I’m so glad Dina is helping you (and not Ming).
Are you finding it easier to divide the hoardings up into the ‘keep’ and ‘throw-out’ bins now? I certainly found it hard to Let Go when I first started many years ago. Fortunately I find it easier and easier each time I move flats. I cannot possibly imagine clearing out a large old farmhouse.
All I can say is thank God no one was around while I had last year’s clear-out. My family can’t understand why I donated, or re-homed, so much. (Obviously they don’t have tiny one-bedroom rented flats).
It is getting much easier now to divide the hoardings and we are now putting anything that might have selling worth into one area for a valuer to come in. It is hard to decide sometimes and I know you have gone through this which is really helpful to me. I love the idea of giving away stuff that I/we don’t need!
That’s the whole key to living a Simple life without Material Possessions weighing you down. Besides it becomes so much easier to do the Housework quickly and then spend time on the things that really matter in life – loved ones, hobbies, socialising, whatever it is that you most enjoy.
One needs to change one’s mindset. It’s not about ‘wasting money and throwing possessions away’. It’s about donating, or re-homing unwanted possessions to people in the community in need. I often think about the hundreds (or thousands?) of library members who have the benefit of the books/dvds which I donated. I can’t read small print and anyway, I did offer my family the unwanted items first.
It’s about sharing and caring.
Not about wasting good money (as my Mother used to say).
What a sentimental son.. how sweet… Diane
And sour – haha!
Kinda like ‘sweet pickles’… a little tart and a little sweet… Diane
I think that is such a difficult job. Only I think I will be fighting against myself on all the sentimental items!
Thinking of you my friend.
Thanks, Julie. I try to take it one day at a time, but sometimes I have to stop and remind myself to stop worrying, so I guess that one day thing doesn’t always work!
You are right.
I admire your patience so much Jules, I like tossing, but I don’t because I am married to a hoarder and it gets so frustrating! 😀
I remember having lots of arguments with Ants years ago about his hoards!
Like father like son 😀
I wouldn’t , couldn’t throw away the artwork (this is Mrs hoarder here) However he may be hurt that you don’t value it. . And if he didn’t want to keep it perhaps you could just keep one or two pieces as a keepsake. I do know this is probably not terribly helpful as I need help myself. Mind you it’s good that I recognise this as that is the first step to a cure!
I wonder if Dina does house calls!?
Good idea to just keep a few, Ingrid and, yes, Dina does house calls!
In my view commemorative cards are for the occasion, not for ever. I suppose it’s the ‘hoarder’ instinct in him.
Yes!
I have an aunt and cousin who behave in exactly the same way! Makes me laugh out loud.
Hahaha!
There is so many things about Ming that are so endearing. 🙂
Would you like him to come and stay with you for awhile? Just joking!
Hahahahaha! 🙂 I’m pretty sure most kids do NOT want to trade their mom in for someone else’s mom!!!!! 🙂
hahahaha
I took all of that rubbish to the dump today and as I was tipping all of it into the big bins I discovered the ABBA beanie Ming gave me a couple of years ago so I rescued it!
Good for you to do all that decluttering. You can’t keep everything! My husband keeps everything- I’d be throwing it all out. Good to have some balance in the house! Good Luck!
We only have two more rooms to do then it’s Ming’s turn!
Good for you for finding your funny claws! 🙂
It’s quite fun!
A mirthful mouse is very understandable, after reading/seeing all this, including the sweetness over the card. ❤
He is SO sentimental!
You are doing a great job! I like how you can keep a sense of humour through it all. 🙂
It’s making me so happy!
I wish I could find your resolve and do some serious clearning out myself!
What a large task you are achieving Julie – I’m so happy for you!
I would have a hard time not getting rid of the stuff as soon as I have decided it is rubbish though (lack of patience). You are a kind woman to let Ming go through the stuff. ❤
Diana xo
It was exhilarating going to the dump yesterday!
As it always is when one completes a looming, overwhelming task, yes?
Yes indeed!
I guess if it was me, I would let him look through the stuff. Never know what he thinks about his childhood memories! Just my thoughts dear friend
Good idea!
I am impressed by the amount of stuff that you actually managed to throw away. We have been doing some de-cluttering and have managed a weedy two foot pile of paper so far.
That’s because you are much more organised.
I can tell you my girls are like why would you keep and old card, what’s the point, they don’t get it well two of them don’t get it one does
Ha!
Ming is so funny! I would be in all kinds of trouble if either of my boys were sentimental like that. I’ve never been one to keep cards. I do wish I’d kept some of their drawings and schoolwork though. Good luck with the decluttering!
He is ridiculously sentimental!
It can be very tough to live with “Keepers.” My husband, and son are both keepers. We have two sizable boxes full of grandson’s school work. And he’s only 11! I keep telling Son he can’t keep everything.
I had me a good smile…something like that has happened here too 🙂 like magic!