Lids

When you clean out your kitchen cabinets, do you have more containers than lids or vice versa? For me it's always been the former -- until now. I've put off my kitchen demolition until Monday, but there's no more avoiding going through the ten years of junk that has accumulated in those cabinets. I had pulled all the storage containers out a few weeks ago, but I hadn't really sorted them. There isn't much point in saving those that are not complete sets. This afternoon, after my son and I had made waffles together and visited a newly-discovered nature trail, I said, "Let's play a game. It's called 'match the lid to the container.'" He said, "I thought you were going to suggest playing a real game. That one doesn't sound like fun." I sat down in the middle of the living room floor with all the lids and containers and went to it.

One thing I've learned about my kids is that, while they'll be lazy along with me, if I get going on a task they won't just sit around. I had asked my son earlier to go through his old closet and see what we could donate. Instead of helping me with the container/lid situation, he got onto the clothing donation task. Of course, he had to show me each item he was getting rid of and each he was keeping; I guess clothes hold more memories than we might give them credit for. I'm sure I've saved some of my clothes for sentimental reasons, but I have tried to be more practical lately.

Back to the lids . . . I have nearly twice as many as I have containers. Part of me thinks I should save the "better" ones in case the containers turn up. I even tried to justify putting them in the donation bag instead of just throwing them away, but my son gave me several reasons why that wasn't a good idea. At the very least, I'm going to put them in my recycling bin. Maybe there they can find some greater purpose.