(no subject)

[the_rck]

In years past, Cordelia has had the sort of Advent calendar that has little pieces of chocolate for each day. This year, with our efforts to keep her away from dairy, Scott bought her a different sort of calendar-- It's a Playmobil thing with a little toy for each day. Cordelia loves it. Scott hopes we can put it all away at the end and reuse it next year. I hate it because it's more clutter, clutter with teeny pieces to get lost.

Of course, I'm currently seeing everything as clutter. I want to throw out everything we own, even the things we use or value highly. Refraining from going overboard means that I'm doing nothing to reduce the problem, and really, I have no idea where to start or where to draw the line. Plus, throwing out things that belong to Scott or Cordelia without consulting them seems a Bad Idea. I may end up doing it, especially with Cordelia's stuff as she won't okay getting rid of anything, but I'm trying to hold myself back for fear that I'll start pitching things I oughtn't.

This has led to a difficulty with Scott's parents. They want a Christmas wishlist from me, and I can't think of anything to put on it. I want nothing tangible coming into the house, no clothes, no books, no DVDs, no yarn, nothing. I can't think of anything I want enough to ask for it, at least not stuff they can give. All I can think of is the stuff I don't want.

I'm hoping that, once my leg is doing better, the urgency of the clutter hate will die down enough that I can work on a purge without worrying that I'll go too far. Otherwise, I'll have to wait until Scott or some other adult has time to help me out with it (or maybe until Cordelia grows up).

Comments

[sorcycat.livejournal.com]

Netflix gift certificates!

[the_rck]

Can one get those without going online? My in-laws won't shop online at all. It makes them nervous even to browse online.

[sorcycat.livejournal.com]

That seems extremely unlikely. I've never looked. If it were blockbuster you certainly could, but I'm not sure about Netflix.

[sorcycat.livejournal.com]

Alternate idea... overnight with Cordelia. You get a day off or date night.

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

Would your in-laws be willing to give time, in the form of helping out around the house, taking Cordelia fun places, etc. etc.?

If not that, how about food gift certificates of things that are delivered, like fruit of the month club?

[the_rck]

In a different year, I might ask for and get time, but they're traveling a lot right now due to my father-in-law having retired last year. They're also very busy with their church activities and such.

I'm not sure what sort of options exist for delivered food. I'm kind of nervous of it as stuff and worried that we wouldn't actually eat whatever it was.

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Ask them for help with the new couch?

[the_rck]

Getting time from them is sadly very unlikely.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

Can you ask for gift certificates of time/favors/services? There are a LOT of things that you need help with, that local relatives can help with, that are difficult for you to ask for. Looking after Cordelia. Rides to medical appointments. Moving furniture. Assembling furniture. Heavy yard work. I don't know how much of that your in-laws can do, but I know it's a lot easier to ask for something next Tuesday if you have a coupon indicating the person is willing to do it 6 times in the course of the year.

[the_rck]

Unfortunately, they're traveling a lot right now. They'll be gone for all of January, for example. I'd love to get coupons for assistance. It's just not feasible right now.

[cherydactyl.livejournal.com]

I noticed that Meijer's has a gift card kiosk with lots of cards from restaurants, Blockbuster, etc. That might be a way to steer them to a certificate use, if there's a Meijer's near them.

[the_rck]

I don't know if there's a Meijer's near them or not. I'm not sure what's around there.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[evalerie.livejournal.com]

A few more ideas for wishlist items, though I don't know if any of them would work with your inlaws:

* perishable items, such as food or flowers. Chocolate? :) A fruit basket? Fancy cheeses? Hm... maybe not cheeses.
* my extended family has been asking for charitable gifts to charities that they like, such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, or Food Gatherers.
* you could look up the wish list for a charity, such as Ozone House, and request items that you could re-gift to there.
* a magazine subscription, so that you can recycle the issues when you are done with them?

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I agree with you that throwing out other people's stuff when they're not around is a Bad Idea. My mom is still hotly bitter about things her mom did that with, 70 years ago. My own kids wouldn't let me throw anything away when they were little, but when they got older they became okay with it. My completely wild and unscientific guess is that Cordelia isn't too far away from reaching that point too -- maybe another year or two. Not that that helps with anything when you are wanting to de-clutter *now*, not years from now.

[the_rck]

Scott wants me to start throwing out Cordelia's stuff. I'm digging in my heels in spite of wanting it gone. I don't want to break her trust in me that way.

I'm avoiding asking for food gifts because I've been finding sweets repulsive and am not sure I'd actually eat anything given to me. It's frustrating Scott to no end.

I like the charity idea, though. I'd have to figure out how to make it work with no online component, but it's a possibility.

[kyrielle]

Gift certificates, time, the couch. Would organizing stuff help with the clutter at all or just become clutter? Would they be able to help you with the cost of additional, not-insurance-covered, PT? Clothes for Cordelia? Kids seem to be constantly outgrowing things, so at least there'd be an outgoing set of clothes as she grew....

[the_rck]

My father-in-law retired last year, so my in-laws have been traveling a lot this year and plan to do so next year. That makes it unlikely that I can get gifts of time. I would love those, though.

I think clothes for Cordelia will be coming to her. At least, I hope so.