As I write this our house is in a state of chaos - boxes, artwork, skateboards, and other miscellany are everywhere due to the newest addition to our family moving in last weekend. As a result, this week's column is going to be a little different. Art imitates life, and writing imitates my overbearing state of mind, better known as OH MY GAWD WHERE DID ALL THIS STUFF COME FROM!?

Time for a family project in which I hope some of you will find value, especially as summer winds down. This is the perfect time to get organized, rid the house of old things, turn a new leaf, whatever cliche you want to throw in here. I'm not suggesting color-coordinating your closet (but if you really want to do that, hey, it's your life). Instead, I'm talking about having a family yard sale.

Getting children at any age to part with their things can be a chore. Ask any kid who is making the step from fifth grade into middle school and they'll tell you: they're not babies anymore. In fact, they're so grown up now that what was cool last school year is so two-thousand-and-late. But there may be sentimental attachments to items that need severing. What's worked in our house is to ask for an explanation of why the item is still needed. Sometimes the decision to sell will be reached easily, and sometimes a surprisingly convincing case will be made for keeping something that should be yard sale fodder. Be prepared to be painted as evil incarnate when insisting that the Power Ranger toy missing an arm does not qualify as the Best Toy Ever. A short explanation of the relationship between earning cold hard cash and buying new stuff sometimes elicits a better response.

For parents, this is the also the perfect time to get rid of those roller blades that have never seen pavement. Your kid is 14: do you really still need the baby monitors? And really, how many Anne Rice books do you still need to hang onto?

On sale day, kids can transform what could be a chore into a fun time. Sorting and pricing involves writing and stickers. Laying things out can use coordination and is best turned into a game. Of course, a lemonade stand is a must. If approached constructively, kids can learn valuable lessons about money and organization. An ancillary perk (and curse) is the discovery of long-lost toys that haven't seen the light of day since Xbox was born. The best lesson, however, is how much more sweet a Seabreeze trip is when paid for from yard sale earnings.