How Marie Kondo Now Embraces Messy Life with Kids

Marie Kondo's 2010 book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and her hit Netflix show on home organization made her a global sensation known for her signature method of organizing by identifying items that "spark joy", discarding everything else, and creating immaculate spaces.

On the show, she would visit the homes of frazzled parents and insist that maintaining a clean and organized home was possible using her KonMari method of tidying, organizing, folding, labeling and organizing.

However, in the 13 years since her book's first release, Kondo and her husband have had 3 children. Today they are ages 2, 6 and 8. An appearance she made in 2023 made it clear that after her third child, tidying became less of a priority.

“My home is messy, but the way I am spending my time is the right way for me at this time at this stage of my life,” -Marie Kondo

Her latest book Marie Kondo's Kurashi at Home is less about immaculate house-keeping, and more about the Japanese concept of kurashi which emphasizes simple ways to bring calm and joy to everyday life. This may be anything from cleaning to playing music to cooking.

Today she emphasizes the value of identifying one's own rhythm, routines and ways of sparking joy - apart from tidying. Instead she recommends everyone create their own doable joy routine and try it for 10 days and see if they make you feel better.

 “Up until now, I was a professional tidier, so I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times,” ... “I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me. Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.” -Marie Kondo

Joy-sparking activities in Kondo's own life include sleeping in 100% silk pajamas, drinking tea three times a day, reminiscing through scrapbooking and a childhood sewing box, wiping her shoe soles and having quality family time.

“Tidying our homes, tidying our environment is also a way of tidying our minds... By organizing our hearts and minds, it becomes clear what we really want." -Marie Kondo 

So it seems that the reality of parenting has shifted Kondo to a more holistic view of tidiness and sparking joy. Maybe there's hope for all of us!

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