Sarah Potter’s Deployment Decluttering Journey: Taking Control of Clutter and Creating a Lighter Home
Military life comes with a unique set of challenges—frequent moves, deployments, and the constant need to adapt. For Sarah Potter, this was her reality. As a military wife, she found herself navigating a surprise deployment, an upcoming move, and a home that felt overwhelming. But instead of letting it consume her, she took control—decluttering her home and simplifying her life while her husband was away.
Sarah’s story is one of resilience, empowerment, and learning to take authority over her home. If you’ve ever struggled to declutter because of family dynamics, feeling like you don’t have “permission” to let go of things, or the fear of getting rid of something you might need, her journey will resonate with you.
How Sarah Potter Found Motherhood Simplified
Sarah didn’t go looking for decluttering. She was searching for organization tips—the kind you find all over Pinterest promising that a new set of bins will solve all your problems. But deep down, she knew organizing wasn’t the answer.
She and her husband had been in their home for six years—a rare situation for military families who typically move often. With the possibility of a move on the horizon, they found themselves debating what kind of house they wanted next.
➡️ Her husband wanted a bigger house to fit all of their stuff.
➡️ She wanted a smaller house with less stuff to manage.
The conversation was going in circles. Then, in September, her husband received surprise orders for deployment, and suddenly, Sarah had time and space to take a hard look at their home.
While scrolling Pinterest, she stumbled into a military moms’ Facebook group where someone mentioned Motherhood Simplified. Curious, she joined—and from there, everything changed.
Why Organization Wasn’t Working
Like many moms, Sarah originally thought the answer to her clutter problem was better organization. But the advice she kept finding was impractical.
More cube storage? She had nowhere to put it.
New furniture? Their house was already packed.
Pretty storage bins? They wouldn’t solve the real issue.
Her husband loved big, heavy furniture, the kind that made every room feel full. And yet, their home still felt overstuffed. Sarah realized she didn’t need more storage—she needed less stuff.
That’s when she made a bold decision: She was going to take authority over her home and declutter while her husband was away.
Decluttering During Deployment: How Sarah Got Started
Sarah jumped in headfirst. She joined the Purge-a-Thon, a free decluttering challenge in the Motherhood Simplified community, and started tackling her clutter one space at a time.
First, she decluttered her junk drawers. Four of them. Gone.
Next, she tackled the laundry room. She couldn’t even open doors before, and now it was a functional space.
Then, she started decluttering every day—room by room, item by item.
Sarah initially planned to declutter in secret, so her husband wouldn’t notice when he returned. But she quickly realized that she was getting rid of so much stuff that hiding it was impossible.
When she FaceTimed her husband from the laundry room, his reaction surprised her:
💬 “I’m so glad you did that! That was driving me crazy.”
That was the validation she needed. She kept going.
What About Her Husband’s Stuff?
Sarah’s story highlights an important decluttering lesson: You don’t need your partner’s permission to declutter your own things.
A lot of moms feel stuck because their husband doesn’t want to declutter. But Sarah didn’t let that stop her.
Instead of touching his stuff, she focused on her own things and the shared household clutter—items that affected her ability to manage the home.
She…
Decluttered without touching a single one of her husband’s belongings.
Threw things out the second-story window to speed up the process (yes, really!).
Made so many thrift store donation trips that the workers recognized her.
Her husband came home to a lighter house, and instead of being upset, he started decluttering his own closet.
💬 “He started with two trash bags of clothes—on his own! He saw the difference and wanted to be part of it.”
The Realization That Changed Everything
One of the biggest mindset shifts Sarah had during this process was recognizing her own authority in the home.
For years, she didn’t feel like she could just get rid of things—she felt like she needed her family’s approval.
But here’s the truth:
➡️ If you’re the one managing the home, you have a say in what stays and what goes.
➡️ If you’re the one drowning in clutter, you’re allowed to clear space for yourself.
Once she took ownership of her home, decluttering became easier.
She…
Stopped waiting for permission.
Made decisions based on what made her life easier.
Took back control of her space—and her mental energy.
What Happened After Decluttering?
When Sarah’s husband returned from deployment, he noticed the change. Their home felt lighter, calmer, and easier to manage.
Less time spent cleaning
More space for what mattered
Fewer arguments about clutter
He even started decluttering his own things—a process Sarah never forced but simply inspired through action.
And as for that bigger house debate? It wasn’t even necessary anymore.
💬 “I wanted a smaller house with less stuff. He wanted a bigger house to fit everything. But after decluttering, we realized we didn’t need more space—we just needed fewer things.”
Final Thoughts: What Sarah Wants You to Know
Sarah’s story is a testament to the fact that decluttering is about so much more than just getting rid of stuff. It’s about taking control of your home, your time, and your mental load.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you don’t have permission to declutter, her advice is simple:
Just start. You won’t regret it.
Focus on your own stuff first. You don’t need to declutter for your husband.
Take back your authority in the home. If it’s too much for you to manage, you have a right to change it.
If Sarah could do it—during deployment, as a military wife, with no permission from her husband—so can you.
