This is the Face of a Hoarder

We've all seen the shows on TV lately revolving around "Hoarders" - people who are incapable of ever giving away or throwing anything out, to the point that there is barely any space to walk through their rooms, never mind a place to sit, or floors or walls that can be seen.

Sure it's entertaining to watch these shows; they are simultaneously interesting, disgusting, and funny.

But friends, I will have you know that it is one thing to watch these shows, and another thing entirely to live with a person who is afflicted with Hoarder's disease.

I live with a Hoarder.

Ryan. 

He hoards everything - mainly during meals. It's like he is afraid that once I have given him his food, I might take it back, so he holds as much of it as he can in his little clenched fists. Then he sits there - not eating any of it - just desperately attempting to contain his entire meal within his palms.

Green Beans

String Cheese

Gummy Vitamins

Pop Tart

M&M's

Cheese

Saltines

Pretzels

Then there is his toy box. He puts everything in here. EVERYTHING. From bouncy balls, to stuffed animals, to trucks and cars, to books, to blankets, even his sippy cups. It's like he is hoarding all of his belongings in the event of an emergency. I imagine that if Ryan had been an adult during the whole Y2K scare, he would have been one of those people who built a bomb shelter and then stocked it with every item you might possibly need. 

Protecting his treasures

His bomb shelter.

Even Ryan's bed cannot escape his compulsive need to hoard items. I guess he uses it when his toy box is completely full to the max. In fact, I have to clean out his crib about three times a week, just to ensure that there is room for him to sleep at night.

So, the next time you are watching your Hoarder shows, and smirking at the quirky actions of others, I want you to think of this face.

This is the face of a Hoarder.