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This mother who hates clutter has banned family and friends from buying Christmas toys for her two children this year.
Alexandra LaPointe from Indianapolis, Indiana, only gives her children money or special days out instead of presents after de-cluttering her home – and urges others to do the same.
The 28-year-old said her decision has helped her make new memories with her children rather than having to constantly stash away unwanted toys.
The mother-of-two has done the same this year and believes it is also a healthy way to encourage her children to look after their own money.
Alexandra LaPointe from Indianapolis, Indiana, pictured with her husband Nathan and children Ali, three (left) and Luka, one, has revealed why she’s banned people from buying toys as Christmas presents this year
The stay-at-home-mother regularly posts about her ‘less is more’ approach to her 46,500 TikTok followers but claims she’s had a mixed response to her new ‘rule’ on social media.
Many social media users claimed that she does not have the power to tell her children ‘what to do with their money’.
Alexandra said: ‘It all started because of clutter and over stimulation. Since I became a stay at home mom and am in the house more instead of out working, I just think that everything overwhelms me more, and also with two little kids.
‘I just have been decluttering everything throughout the house and trying to simplify the home.
Alexandra LaPointe has decluttered and simplified her home after having children and doesn’t want the hassle of more possessions to deal with
The 28-year-old (pictured) said her decision has helped her make new memories with her children rather than having to constantly stash away unwanted toys
‘I for sure think that less is more when it comes to kiddos, for adults too, but for them I think it helps them to have less toys out.
‘And then I also like having experiences and making memories with them.
‘I love it. I think mostly because they’re also pandemic babies. We were stuck in the house for so long and if we get a chance to go and do an activity together, it’s so fun living through their eyes, they love it and get so excited.
‘My daughter was born three months early and we were in the hospital for a long time so now I’m just kind of in this era of life is so short, let’s go and make memories and go and do things if we can, as long as it’s safe.
The mother-of-two has done the same this year and believes it is also a healthy way to encourage her children to look after their own money
The stay-at-home-mother (above) regularly posts about her ‘less is more’ approach to her 46,500 TikTok followers but claims she’s had a mixed response to her new ‘rule’ on social media
‘And if they do end up gifting them money, then we are investing that and by the time they go to college or university they’ll have money for that, or if they don’t want to go that route can use the money for a house later or to travel the world.’
The mother said not prioritizing physical gifts is also handy for her family who live in Puerto Rico, given they already send her children birthday cards.
Alexandra said: ‘I just put a note [on invitation] and said ‘she has more than she needs. If you really want to give her something we’d prefer toddler activity gift cards or a contribution towards our savings account’.
The mother said not prioritizing physical gifts is also handy for her family (above) who live in Puerto Rico, given they already send her children birthday cards
Alexandra she’d prefer to give her toddlers (above) activity gift cards or a contribution towards their savings account
‘And then everybody just bought cards with money and then we invested that for her.
‘Everyone just took it so well and at the end of the party I was thinking, ‘oh gosh, this is so nice, I don’t have a million toys to clean up and put away now’.
‘That went well for her birthday and so I tried it for another in September and it was great as well, so thought I’d try it for Christmas because last year we didn’t have that rule and ended up with like 30-40 toys.
‘And the kids were just so overwhelmed. At one point I just put away some of the toys without them even opening them and hid them in a closet and thought ‘ok, I’ll just wait until they come down and they’re not as over stimulated’.
‘And throughout the weeks I’d just bring a new toy out.
Alexandra advises relatives and friends to take to a museum rather than more clutter for her house
Alexandra said that last Christmas she was gifted a zoo membership which they visited at least once a month
‘For birthdays I do a little note on the invitation and for Christmas I just talked to my mom and sister and explained I was like ‘remember last year, how overwhelmed I was for Christmas? They were crying and there were lots of tantrums. Well I want to give this [family not buying gifts] a try and see how it goes’.
‘So for my inlaws, I just sent them a text and said ‘the kids don’t really need anything, if you want we can make going to the museum of art the gift’.’
Alexandra said that last Christmas she was gifted a zoo membership which they visited at least once a month.
They’ve also previously been gifted indoor playground classes, have visited an indoor water park and local museum holding fun Christmas activities like ice skating.
Alexandra has also previously been gifted indoor playground classes, have visited an indoor water park and local museum holding fun Christmas activities like ice skating
She said that her children will always get Christmas presents, she’s just aiming to reduce the amount and this year they’ll be having four each
She said that her children will always get Christmas presents, she’s just aiming to reduce the amount and this year they’ll be having four each, instead of the 30-40 they received last year.
Alexandra said: ‘I think a lot of people, particularly on social media, are like ‘how can you do this to the kids? Especially for birthdays, how can you do no gifts?’
‘And they [children] don’t know any better and for birthdays they’re like ‘oh, we’ll just have cake and hang out with our friends and family’, so maybe when they’re older it may be different.
‘But I’m hopeful that we can teach them that it’s not all about things and we can do things together, and spending time with family is what matters.
She said she’s hopeful that we she teach them that it’s not all about things and they can do things together, and spending time with family is what matters
Alexandra said some some other mothers have felt encouraged to ask for things that they actually need
‘Some positive comments have been that moms feel encouraged to ask for things that they actually need.
‘For one mum, her kiddo needs medical equipment, a wheelchair and other items, and she was like ‘I’d rather my family gift me money to help buy this expensive medical equipment than be given toys that he’s not really going to play with’.
‘One of my friends said ‘what I really need for Christmas are diapers, groceries are expensive’ and that makes so much sense to me.
‘I love that they’re feeling empowered to set boundaries and ask for what they want and need, instead of just going with the flow because someone told them that they have to need toys.
Alexandra’s engineer husband Nathan Lapointe, 33, with her daughter Ali, 3
Another picture of Alexandra’s husband Nathan Lapointe, 33, with her daughter Ali, 3 at the zoo
‘So I think some mums have felt encouraged by it so I’m getting more positive comments but I’ve also had negative ones like ‘how could you do this to your kids?’, ‘I bet you’re fun at parties’ and ‘you can’t tell me what to do with my money’.
‘Sometimes I just think ‘it’s not your house and they’re not your kids’. There’s parents that do want gifts for their kiddos and I’m like ‘yeah, if that’s what you want’, I think that their moms and dads should get to decide.’
Alexandra, who’s always had a knack for organizing and is passionate about the life-transformative impact of decluttering, has amassed more than 566,000 likes on TikTok.
Alexandra said: ‘Please don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and what you need, and I feel like it’s your home, they’re your children and it’s ok to set boundaries.
Alexandra enjoying one of her days out which she was given as a gift instead of more ‘clutter’
Alexandra’s comments have hit a chord with her children, with one saying they want experiences and memories too
‘And I feel like just ask nicely, they will probably be fine, and I feel like that’s a big part of it – asking nicely and explaining why you’re doing it.
‘I explained to my mom and sister, ‘my kids get overwhelmed, it’s too much for them and I just want to to give it a go’ and they want what’s best for the kids so are like ‘ok, we’ll give it a try, even though we like to buy them a lot of gifts’.
‘As long as you ask nicely, don’t be afraid to ask.’
One mum said: ‘I’d rather have ten toys than to have to fit another activity into our schedule. Pls don’t do this to a family that has two working parents.’
Another commented: ‘SAME. I spend so much time cleaning: cluttering/organizing and ultimately tossing or donating these toys or games! Take my kid to get an ice cream cone.’
A third TikToker said: ‘Bet you’re fun at parties.’
Another agreed: ‘Yesssssss. We told family we want experiences and memories, so help us take the kids to do something fun. I’m sick of toys that don’t matter.’
Another said: ‘Ugh when I tell them not to get big sh*t cause our apartment is small a*. I’ve gotten rid of three bikes.’
READ MORE:
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