It was time for a late spring clean. Or perhaps I’ll call it a pre-Christmas purge. Whatever its official name, I took to the wardrobes on the weekend and made space.

I usually do this kind of mammoth declutter post-Christmas when I’m eager to get the decorations packed away and the house sorted for a fresh, clean, sparkly New Year.

But it would be scrooge-like to discuss such things in late-November so let’s back track.

I was feeling conflicted and perhaps a little annoyed (and there’s nothing that fuels a cleaning frenzy like a little anger, is there?). The children’s wardrobe was full of out-grown clothes and disregarded toys and I couldn’t handle it any longer. It’s a job that takes a fair amount of time and a good dose of enthusiasm/ruthlessness so the timing has to be spot on.

On Sunday it was.

So with donation bags in hand I opened the wardrobe and rifled through the too-small clothes and toy baskets. I cleaned and cleared and sorted and stacked and now we have an organised wardrobe, a few bags of clothes making their way to friends and toys in their respective baskets.

And as I stood back and admired the hard work I saw abundance. “How lucky we are!” I remarked. My sentiments may not have been fully embraced but I think it’s important for the kids to hear them anyway.

It’s important for me to hear them, too.