Has anyone who's had a baby (or is about to) dealt with being kind of a minimalist or being stressed out by stuff and a lot of clutter?
I mean, I'm not leading any kind of hardcore minimalist lifestyle. I have plenty of stuff. But I try really hard not to accumulate stuff I don't use or too many "extras". I'm the kind of person who, if I lived on my own, wouldn't have a TV or a microwave, and tries to donate an equal amount of clothing every time I get something new. I strongly believe having too many belongings is bad for a person's mental health and lifestyle - if you have less STUFF, it's easier to focus more on and value things like friendships, experiences, etc.
My unborn child has over 20 stuffed animals already. I bought the material to make a moby wrap. My mom thought that was ridiculous, and bought me another carrier. It was a different style carrier....so fine. But she just bought me a THIRD infant carrier, because "it's like the one you made but nicer". She insisted I NEEDED a rocking chair, and when I refused she bought herself a rocking chair to put in our living room, and then kept bugging me about and eventually bought ANOTHER rocking chair for my bedroom. She's now convinced the baby needs a second baby swing (because I won't want to have to move the one 7 lb, completely portable swing we already have), a bassinet (on top of the travel crib with bassinet attachment I have AND the crib) and that I need a changing table because the (built in) dresser I have set up with the changing pad is inadequate.
People have been really, really generous, and I appreciate that a lot...but now I have 15 infant hats. And 7 quilts. And 15 swaddling blankets. And 5 sets of infant bath towels. And two diaper bags. My mom keeps ripping the tags off of stuff I get because "you're going to NEED it". And a lot of the stuff I'd feel bad returning because they're nice, thoughtful gifts from people that are important to me, anyway.