A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
When it comes to moms and clutter, I feel like there are two kinds of women:
- Those who used to have beautiful, presentable, comfortable homes before kids.
- Those who have always struggled with clutter, but abandoned all hope of being clutter free once kids came along.
I see a couple parallels between learning to be clutter free and raising kids.
1. Both becoming clutter free and raising kids look simple for other people, and feel impossible for us.
Before working the Clutter Free system, I couldn’t figure out how everyone else kept their house so perfect. I now know that a lot of those people, because they are a part of Clutter Free Academy, had closet clutter. While their houses looked perfect, you wouldn’t dare open a closet door. I had bought all the books and tried to enact a plan, but none of those resources seemed to cover my issues.
It was the same with raising small kids; it seemed like everyone else had the secret manual on how to grow little ones. They had a plan, and apparently I was out of school the day that plan was handed out. Even though I’d read all the books and taken all the classes, it felt like every situation that came up with my kids hadn’t been covered in the books.
2. Both becoming clutter free and raising kids can feel isolating and lonely.
One of the main reasons we created the Clutter Free Academy online community is because clutter can be incredibly isolating. The fear, guilt and shame that go with clutter can keep us secretive and alone.
It is the same with being a parent. When we feel that everyone “gets it” except us, it can lead to feelings of loneliness and “otherness.” I’m so grateful there were groups like MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers International) when my kids were little. I needed to sit with other moms who were honest about their struggles — not every day with their kids looked like tidy finger painting and super-fun playdates where lattes and laughter were served.
I think one of the best things we can do in every tough journey—including decluttering and mothering— is normalizing those feelings of just not measuring up. When we read the books, gather with others, and are open and honest about our own experiences, it’s amazing how we can lessen the feelings of fear, guilt and shame that so often accompany hard things.
One of the resources I will be giving the moms in my life is Grit and Grace: Devotions for Warrior Moms. I love that the two authors, Suzanne and Gretta, are as real about the challenges and self-doubt around mothering as they are about the fact that they feel like they may never recover from bringing children into their homes.
Don’t do any of this alone. The mothering, the decluttering or anything else you feel like you just have to “grit” through. Because while you may need to grit those teeth, you don’t have to do it alone.
Hang in There, Mama!
For those moments when you think you’ll never live up to the Supermoms around you—when you’re elbow deep in the grind of diapers and laundry and peanut butter sandwiches—you need a good dose of Grit and Grace.
This refreshing collection of 90 daily devotions comes from two moms who’ve found themselves face-to-the-floor in need of encouragement—and now they’re offering it to you. Through humor and vulnerability, these short messages of truth remove the filters of perfection clouding your vision and bring clarity to your purpose as a mom. As you read the Scripture and prayer that accompany each day’s message, you’ll discover more fully who you are in Christ and how to raise your children to reflect His love to the world.
In receiving grace from the One who is present in your life right now and in every moment, you will find you have ever more grace to give your kids.
CONNECT
Stop by www.suzannegosselin.com to get to know Suzanne, author and stay-at-home mom.
WIN
Enter to WIN! We are giving away a Grand Prize one lucky winner PLUS, Harvest House gave us 5 additional copies of Grit and Grace to give away to five more lucky winners! Our Grand Prize winner will get:
• A copy of Grit and Grace, of course!
• A $50 Starbucks card to take you and your mom friends out for coffee on us!!!
Enter to win by leaving a comment about your biggest kid related clutter issue below in the comments section. (We’ll randomly select 6 winners and notify them in the comments section by February 27th.)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Today, look at the woman in your mirror and tell her, “God knew what He was doing when He picked you to be your kids’ mom.” Pray for God to guide you to reach out to a mom who needs to hear this same message: give her a call, drop her an email, or send her a quick text.
Kathi Lipp and Clutter Free thank Harvest House for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.
- #655 Finding Grace in Your Imperfect Space: A Conversation with Hilary Bernstein - February 4, 2025
- #653 Say Goodbye to Insomnia: How Decluttering Can Reboot Your Rest - January 21, 2025
- #652 The Clutter Free Lifestyle: 10 Habits That Actually Work - January 14, 2025
Toys are definitely my biggest kid related clutter problem! I could definitely use this book for myself!
My biggest kid related clutter issue is definitely toys. I often try to figure out the best way to organize and contain them. As a mother of a toddler, I could definitely use the encouragement of Grit & Grace. Thank you so much for your podcasts!
Toys. They play with them. They clean them up. They get more. I use their toys at my job. It’s hard to get rid of them because we use them all the time. The conflict is that I need less stuff in my house.
My biggest “kid clutter” issue is with my youngest of three. She is 16 & some days I wonder if she or I will make it to the next day! Granted we are definitely a dysfunctional family; hubby is majorly bipolar, her sister who is 2-1/2 years older (& she had to share a room with for 14 years) is also bipolar, I suffer with depression & anxiety to a reclusive point & she was born with attitude and as a drama mama! So when she first hit high school, (where it’s “cool” to be depressed/suicidal, etc) she began making little comments. Not wanting to overreact, I talked privately with her teachers (I work at the school) and her older brother & sister, who all confirmed my suspicions that it was all just for show. So, I let it slide, and played the waiting and watching game. Until she started complaining that she was having chest pains & panic attacks. (Mind you this is a HIGHLY intelligent young lady who I do not doubt googled symptoms) But at this point I felt I had no choice. So they have diagnosed her as well as bipolar and have medicated her. But she now claims that the meds are not working, like she wants more. This last visit to the psychiatrist, we were cutting up in the waiting room, then when they called her name, her demeanor and even facial expression completely changed.
So maybe this wasn’t exactly the parallels that you were meaning, after going back and looking at some of the other posts. . . But my house, looks scarily similar to the description above.
Thank you for all you do & for taking the shame out of being human and not picture perfect!
I commented the other day to the blog post, but I just finished listening to the Facebook live with Kathi and the authors… ALL of you spoke to my heart, this is right where I am… And so I sat on the floor and cried as Suzanne prayed for us as moms! Thank you so much for being real about it all – so we don’t feel alone and like failures! This is the plan God has for us and He promised a future and a hope!
I would really love this book (and already have someone in mind to share with after I’m done reading!)
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I’m struggling with this so much right now! My biggest clutter challenge feels like literally everything – the never ending laundry, dishes, pee on the floor (because potty training), crumbs under the table and toys everywhere. Praying for so much grace during this season of life and very thankful for other moms who can relate and have been there before me!
I have a six year old, a three year old, and a baby girl due at the end of March. Our biggest sources of clutter are definitely clothes, toys, and paper! I’m trying to simplify as much as possible before the baby comes, but it’s a challenge to find the time and the energy! 😉
I think giving yourself Grace and knowing that the season is short. This is help me tremendously!!
My biggest kid clutter problem is random stuff that appears from
Nowhere and isn’t really worth keeping but for some reason they brought it home!!!
I would love to have this book to donate to my MOPS group library.
Laundry & Kids clothes are my biggest struggle!! It feels like a constant battle to organize clothes that they have outgrown. Thankful for God’s grace and an easy going husband who puts up with my multitude of laundry baskets.
I am in this season and it feels like a lifetime. Laundry, toys, toddler in constant need of something. It’s a daily struggle to feel like I’m enough. Thank you for your podcast.
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Clutter? It’s an on-going battle! Lol. When I set the timer for 15 minutes and focus on one area/task it really does help. Good old advice from my Mom. But I would have to say clothes/laundry piles add up quick and can make me feel overwhelmed.
I became a first-time mom one week ago! Our baby girl, Mary, was born Feb. 12, 2019. I’m curious if Grit and Grace gives advice for how friendships will change or grow (or be lost) in this new season of my life. If so, I’d love a copy!
With our kids currently ages 2-9, and they are all crafty/creative type kids, I feel like my biggest kid-clutter issue are the various make believe scenarios set up around the house/construction paper project/3-D puzzle/LEGO creation/crayons/scissors/paper scraps/etc… I’m glad that they use their imaginations, but oh the mess….
Loved this podcast! I’m 100% in this season of life right now! My girls are 5,4,17 months. Finding time for myself is hard. I struggle with anxiety and depression. Time with God is a must!
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With 3 kids and 1 on the way, clothes are 100% my biggest problem. We moved into a 5th wheel a few months ago and I significantly downsized the amount of clothes each child has, but I still can’t seem to keep up!
Our kitchen and garage are the clutteriest places in our home. Things get put in the garage to deal with another day. And, when we got married last year, we combined 2 full houses of kitchen “stuff” and there’s just too much!
I have an artist in the family….13 years old. She started seven years ago. She won’t let anything go. Totes and totes of artwork!
It’s a toss up between toys and paperwork. All the paperwork is overwhelming with 4 kids. My two youngest LOVE drawing and making art projects non-stop. Plus, there’s all the papers brought home from schools and church and the mail.
With 5 kids; clothes are 100% my biggest clutter issue. Yes, the laundry, but also staying on top of weeding out clothes that no longer fit, are too worn out, or even teaching the kids how to not dump all their clothes out of a drawer in attempts to find one item ? It’s a time consuming battle!
As a mom of 4 (3 teens and 1 preteen), it’s so hard to keep the house clean and all of their stuff picked up with all their extra curricular activities and me working full time, etc. Trying to carve out family time and then time to clean and such is hard these days. I would love to read this book and then pass it on to one of my friends who may need it too
Both of my daughters are warrior moms! I support them as much as possible, but would love to give them a copy of this devotional book.
We have 4 young kids. We are drowning in toys. My biggest struggle is getting rid of what they do not play with. My kids truly only play with 25% of the toys we have. But yet they do not want to get rid of anything. I feel bad getting rid of toys they just got for Christmas but if they haven’t played with it by now, odds are they won’t ever. We have so many played with once toys too.
We have four kids in one bedroom and they have a wide range of ages and interests so there’s a lot of stuff. It’s just a mess in there! Add to that the fact that when we moved them in there we got rid of their broken beds. I’m getting them new beds this week and shelving later this month. Hopefully we can start clearing out the clutter!
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I love the parallels between being clutter-free and raising kids!! So true!! Our struggle is that we are in all seasons of life, I feel like. We have two girls and two boys…and a baby on the way. Our kids are 15, 13, 10, 6 and due in 3 weeks. We have everything from trains, little people, and dolls to college fliers, drivers’ ed manuals, and ACT information. And now we add in baby gear again!! I also homeschool the 6 and 10 year old, so I have school work and books galore. Add in two kids in track, two in dance, one in cross country, three in soccer, two taking piano, two taking voice lessons, one in basketball, one in showchoir…we have sparkly costumes and mud-covered cleats everywhere I look! 🙂
Speaking of being in so many seasons, we live in Ohio, so everyone needs sweaters and snowboots (we’ve missed 8 days of school already for below zero weather, snow, and icy roads), as well as clothing for 95 degree heat and humidity. The struggle is what can you get rid of when it feels like you need it for the various seasons of life that you are in…sometimes simultaneously?! 🙂
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My biggest clutter challenge is that my kids don’t want to get rid of anything. They want to keep every drawing, every paper they write, every junk toy they get from McDonalds or the dentist, etc.
So many toys! We have put some up in storage to be brought out later (surprise, these feel like new!), but still have tons underfoot… and on the couch and in the kitchen! I feel like my husband and I are constantly picking up, even though we try to get the kids (1 & 4) to help before bedtime. But my biggest struggle would probably be the boxes and piles of MY stuff waiting to be gone through that I keep forgetting about or moving aside because of the constant daily stuff!
We have lots of clutter issues, BUT the one that probably bugs me the most is the piles of papers and markers we keep in the kitchen so he can draw. We have a small bookshelf there as well for art supplies and it just ends up messy with papers sticking out of it!
Our biggest kid related clutter is the clothes. I have five young children and the amount of laundry that accumulates is crazy. I feel like I can never keep up. Laundry piles are all over my house.
Toys are my biggest kid related clutter problem. Also, clothes because they grow so fast.
My biggest clutter issue is toys.
Laundry. With six kids, it seems to be never ending and always present –waiting to be either folded or put away.
I think our biggest kid related clutter is clothes, followed closely by papers! My family buys the kids clothes all the time and that’s great but half of them the youngest won’t even touch but I feel guilty if she hasn’t worn something at least once. The oldest is growing so fast that she has 3 sizes in her closet right now and is always trying to wear something too small. I keep pulling the small stuff as it comes through but I need to spend a whole weekend in their closets. Now to find the weekend free enough to do this mountain of a task…
Hey! My biggest related kid clutter has got to be toys. We have toys in all rooms of the house. I have 2 boys 8 and 4 years old. So it ranges from big preschool aged toys to spark imagination which my little plays with sometimes to crafts and building toys for my older boy who seems to conveniently forget to clean up when hes done no matter how many times you remind him. And stuffed animals are a big thing for my oldest as well. I finally went Marie Kondo on the boys stuffed animals and asked them to donate any that didnt spark joy for them since most end up under the bed.
We call our youngest daughter “the hurricane” bc she leaves a trail of destruction and clutter wherever she goes. And it seems that no amount telling her where things go/cleaning up makes a difference. I pray one day it will all click for her!
My biggest challenge is keeping all the kids’ stuff that is sentimental…,hard to let go of it
I love this! My biggest clutter issue with kids is them spreading their toys all over the house! I try to set boundaries for where they can play with their toys (in the living room and their bedrooms), but inevitably, all the toys end up in all of the places throughout the whole house. ??????????
Such a great post! My biggest clutter challenge is toys. My kids are each three years apart and are boy – girl – boy so different ages, stages and interests. I tell myself this won’t last forever, but in the meantime, GAH!