When Sherry’s mother visited a couple of weekends ago for Clara’s birthday party she spent many hours helping us get the house ready. Her most impressive feat was tackling the future playroom / second kids’ bedroom (the room that had slowly become our official junkroom). This was the state of the room when she arrived (no exaggeration):
Our pile of stuff basically screamed “I Will Topple Over On Your Baby!” so our original plan was to shut and lock the door for the party to keep the little guests out. That plan failed when we discovered we couldn’t actually close the door anymore—partly because a large box with replacement parts for our recalled outdoor grill had been delivered the day before and was leaning against it.
Before anyone accused us of being hoarders, my mother-in-law quietly took charge and started sorting. The transformation was immediate and gratifying.
Surprisingly, she didn’t toss a ton of things—just a few boxes we’d been clinging to for sentimental or hypothetical reasons (including the box for Sherry’s sewing machine that we’d kept “just in case” those first few weeks with a new machine didn’t go smoothly). Mostly, she sorted: grouped pillows together, nested baskets, stacked boxes neatly, and placed like with like so the room read as organized instead of chaotic.
Now the door actually closes, which was essential for the party—imagine a house full of kids and the comfort of knowing one room is safely out of reach. The room feels a lot less like a dumping ground and more like our mini “decor store,” a place to pull frames, accessories and extra pillows when we’re styling other rooms. That’s how we justify storing things there while we decide where they’ll eventually land.
One special item in the room is a vintage kids’ chair that Sherry’s mom gifted for Clara’s birthday. It’s the very chair Sherry and her six siblings used to sit in for meals when they were little. It’s charming and sentimental, though not up to modern safety standards, so we’re being careful about how we restore and use it. Sherry’s already researching safe restoration practices—checking for potential lead paint or other old finishes—because she wants it to be Clara’s “big girl” chair once she’s done with her highchair.
While the room is far from finished as a functional playroom, making it walkable again felt like a huge step. There’s no rush—right now the living room, office, sunroom, nursery and kitchen all double as play spaces for our little one—so we can take our time planning storage solutions, child-safe finishes, and activities zones.
Clara and I enjoyed a few quiet minutes admiring the clean floor—honestly, the fact that all six feet of me can lie down in there now feels like a minor miracle. We’re grateful for the tidy space, the sentimental treasures, and the reminder that a little focused organizing can make a big difference in both safety and peace of mind.
Thanks, Nonna. We’ll do our best to keep it tidy (and to keep the door closed during grill deliveries).