In Our Elements
may 2026 | make space
Summer’s coming. End-of-year celebrations are in full swing. And with new beginnings often comes something we don’t talk about enough — endings, grief, closure, and making space.
Saying goodbye.
Clearing space.
Letting go.
We spent the long weekend cleaning out our house — crafts, clothes, and crap — half-finished projects and all the miscellaneous “maybe someday” piles that have built up over time.
This weekend was about loading it up and out.
And honestly? I realized I don’t even want to replace it. I just want space.
I don’t want to donate 5 things and buy 5 (or 10) more. I just want space.
I want space physically.
and emotionally.
and mentally.
If you’re feeling the same, I invite you to join me in making space. Maybe for new stuff, more opportunities, fun experiences, or exciting changes.
Or maybe you just want enough space to function without feeling buried under clutter, overwhelm, or noise — in your home, your heart, or both. Can we set the bar low and just say we want space to pee alone — door closed, no interruptions?
ELEMENTAL MOMENT
Three phrases I never thought I’d hear.
“That can be recycled.”
“That can be trash.”
“That can be donated.”
My oldest is, lovingly, a bit of a hoarder.
It’s the sweetest kind of hoarding (if there is such a thing) — everything has meaning to them.
HSC + ND + biggest heart ever + unbelievable memory = every. single. thing. matters.
An old birthday card?
A broken craft project?
A random rock from three years ago?
All deeply important.
And if they spot something in the trash or recycling bin without knowing about it first… I’m basically done for.
And to be clear - I don’t hide, lie about, or sneak away my kids’ belongings. I won’t get rid of their things behind their back or while they’re not looking. If something of theirs is leaving the house, it happens with their knowledge and consent. But I’m human and occasionally I throw something away by accident and hear about it for years to come.
I know this isn’t sounding like a recipe for successful decluttering… yet… stay with me:
Here’s the magic:
This past weekend, my sweet hoarder went through everything WITH me.
And we PURGED… and organized and laughed and cried and bickered and needed space before going back to work.
Now, sure — there were definitely things I would’ve happily let go of that they still wanted to keep. But honestly? The progress felt so huge I didn’t even care.
And now that they’re older, I add in when appropriate: “If it means that much to you to keep it, it goes in your room.”
Which has created a really beautiful shift toward ownership, responsibility, and awareness around their space.
(And also the realization that their room is, in fact, not magically infinite.)
So my admittedly unsolicited advice to you (besides don’t sneak stuff out when your kids aren’t looking — tricks don’t build trust) is this:
Let things unfold in their own time and space.
I spent years thinking we’d live in a hoarder house forever. And this weekend gave me hope and reassurance.
And honestly? Watching them tear up over an old wrapper because they remembered the memory attached to it reminded me of something important:
Just because it’s not meaningful to me, doesn’t mean it’s meaningless.
RESOURCE REVIEW
Find your style of making space. There are lots of ways to declutter — and honestly, I think the “best” system is just the one that actually works for your brain, your family, and your season of life. The common thread in all decluttering btw is that it’s never just about the stuff. I think my oldest is onto something realizing at such a young age that there’s meaning to everything. Often when we hold on to ‘things’ we’re also holding onto emotions, memories, or stories that are connected. So get ready for an emotional roller coaster — a therapeutic one — and I invite you to lean into clearing space, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or (very likely) all of the above.
Here are a few places to get started:
Marie Kondo — we all know about things that spark joy. (And we also know she softened her approach a bit once she became a parent 😂)
I don’t know anyone who follows 100% of her protocol — I mean, if you know someone who keeps their shampoo NOT in the shower, please introduce me — but I LOVE the idea of letting go of things with gratitude and intentionally keeping the things that genuinely bring joy into your life.
The Minimalists Podcast — a great reminder to live more minimally… if that’s your goal. Honestly, even if it’s not, I still find it inspiring and uplifting. It’s less about owning nothing and more about being intentional about what fills your life and space.
Find Yourself at Home — an amazing book I randomly found on a library shelf months ago that came at exactly the right time. It focuses on the relationship we have with our homes and how each space can either support us or quietly work against us.
Clutterbug — I think I shared her website quiz a while back where you can find your “clutter style” and learn what type of organization actually works best for your brain. It’s been shockingly accurate for everyone in my family. She also has a YouTube channel with quick tips for maintaining your space.
(Fair warning: the videos are longer than my attention span allows for most days 😂 — but the tips are genuinely helpful, and you can easily skim for what resonates.)
None of these resources are really about creating a “perfect” home. (And none of them, sadly, will just swoop in and magically do it for you) but they’re about creating a home (as an everlasting work in progress) that works for YOU.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Your local library.
We recently PURGED a ton of books — at home and at school.
Which is hard for me because we are OBSESSED with books.
But then I remembered: we’re ALSO obsessed with libraries.
And somehow, reminding myself of that gave me permission to let go more than usual.
I’m not really saying goodbye to these books forever.
I’m just letting go of needing to personally own every single one.
And honestly? There’s something really comforting about knowing that if I want to revisit a favorite someday, it’s probably waiting for me at the library.
Libraries also off SO many amazing activities for kids and adults. They’re a wonderful place to meet people, explore new interests (many libraries now loan out ‘things’ not just books!), and connect with your community.
And also importantly — they’re one of the very few places left where you can simply exist without someone expecting you to buy something.
FROM THE FOUNDER
Make space, y’all. Less really can be more.
I talk a lot about grieving the parent we thought we were going to be, the family we imagined ourselves having, or the children we pictured ourselves raising.
Because the truth is: so much of this is unpredictable and out of our control. And I hear from a lot of parents (myself included) that parenting is nothing like we thought it would be.
Part of fully living this life — with this family, in this season, exactly as it is right now — is learning to loosen our grip on the picture we thought it would look like.
Not because our dreams were wrong.
Not because disappointment doesn’t hurt.
But because there’s so much beauty waiting for us in what’s actually here.
Easier said than done? Absolutely.
But worth every tear, every smile, and every moment you choose to truly see what’s right in front of you.
For me, that looks like a house without wine glasses (#9yearssober), a closet without clothes that don’t fit (#prebabyweightisnotmygoal), and shelves without crafts my kids don’t actually want to do (#childled).
Because making space isn’t just about physical things.
It’s also about letting go of outdated stories, unrealistic expectations, harsh self-judgment, and the exhausting habit of living for other people’s approval.
Less clutter. Less pretending. Less pressure.
More room for what we actually want.
Happy May the force be with you — (every day 😉 not just the 4th!)
💕 Heather
P.S. We had the MOST amazing dollar sale this month. We met AWESOME people doing awesome things, and it ended up being such an uplifting experience.
We’re planning another one next month, so mark your calendar for Wednesday 6/17!
And if your own “make space” journey leaves you with things to donate, we would gladly help rehome them. Every dollar raised goes directly toward our Karma Scholarship Fund — helping make lifelong, joyful learning as accessible as possible. Just email to set up a drop-off - heather@elementsacademy.org