After spending the last year and a half in New Jersey, I have been trying to get adjusted to moving back to our Philadelphia home this fall. My kids’ needs have changed a lot over our time in New Jersey, and we’ve all gotten used to having a bit more space to spread out.
When we moved, we left behind a lot of our less essential items. My husband Leo and I moved into our Philadelphia home 14 years ago, and went from 20-somethings to now 40-somethings. We never really parted with things as much as I had anticipated (can anyone else relate?). So as we’re preparing to move back, the amount of stuff we have accumulated is quite frankly, overwhelming.
I have been doing a lot of cleaning, organizing and donating to create a welcoming environment to move back into. I tried to do some major donations of clothing that didn’t fit the kids, and toys that aren’t age-appropriate anymore. I also gave away a lot of the kitchen items that we don’t use or that doesn’t suit our needs anymore.
As I’ve been cleaning, I’m also thinking about how to set up our home to manage sharing our space as a family. It’s important that I have time to myself each day, and having a dedicated space that feels like mine makes that easier to achieve.
I am focusing on getting my home office ready to suit my needs. It’s not surprising that my needs have shifted a lot in the last year. I’m looking to organize my space in a way that feels more purposeful. It’s one of those rooms that despite having ample storage never looks clean.