Yesterday, we began our twice-annual toy rotation, reorganization, and reduction. We take out the toys that the kids have outgrown, and place them either in a give-away pile or store-for-grandchildren pile. (Yes, I’m a wee bit sentimental.) We find orphaned toy pieces and put them back where they belong. It is a daunting task for me — it takes a long time, and it always makes me *a little* sad.
But this time, I was able to view our kids’ personalities in action — observe what kind of approach they take to keeping vs. not.
I’ve seen Gardner grow more and more into a fastidious, orderly kid. He likes a clean, clear space and organized toys.
This toy cleaning process is a piece of cake with G. He doesn’t hold onto toys that are broken or outgrown. He says, “yep” or “nope” when I hold up each one.
“Mommy, you can put that one in the give-away pile. It’s too babyish,” he says.
Rainey, though, is a bit more sentimental about her belongings. She’s convinced that she still plays with every single piece of everything I pull out of her toybox or from underneath the bed….from the Dora the Explorer Insect-Eye Spy Scope to the dinosaur with a karate-chopping arm that came in a cereal box two years ago.
“Oh, but I love that one, Mommy! It’s so cute!” she exclaims.
I hold it up in question. “But….it’s a….strange animal-person-thingy made out of pipe cleaners and pompoms.”
“I know — isn’t she cute?”
Thirty minutes later, I only had one thing added to the give-away box, and it’s something I had to subtly sneak in there at best. Her toybox is not any lighter, but her face is beaming.
I’ve just uncovered all of these “brand new” toys (and other random trinkets) that she had forgotten she owned. She babbles happily, doting over her treasures as I drag the box out and into the hallway. And I realize….she’s a lot like her mommy.
Now, I enjoy a clean kitchen counter and office workspace like anybody else. But ask me to relinquish the tiny silk Chinese doll that fell off of a jewelry box I bought at an army exchange store in 1988? Never.
I have drawers and boxes and bags stowed here and there and everywhere, things I just can’t bear to part with. Not just my own, but the kids’ momentos. They’re only 3 and 5 but they both have a Rubbermaid tote packed full to the brim with what-nots…including a brown, dried, crusty ribbon tag that G chewed off his beloved lovey when he was just over a year old.
What about you? Are you an efficient clutter controller, or a sentimental “pack-rat?”
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Melissa (1 year ago)
I’m right there with you Meg! I am a sentimental mommy too! The kids have all their school stuff that I’ve saved since 2 year old preschool, baby toys, etc. I too am saving them for grandkids. With my 5 year old Emma, I have to go through her toybox when she’s not home. I’ll find something that she hasn’t seen in years and she’ll say, “Oh, that’s my favorite toy.” My rule is that if any part of the toy is broken, it gets trashed! But the kids have gotten better about donating to kids that are less fortunate than us. It helps them realize that not everyone in the world is lucky like them to have toys and a home.
Ashley B. Chandler (1 year ago)
I can definitely relate to this post. My daughter and I are both very sentimental about our stuff. We are moving soon so I’m hoping we can improve that!
SkylarKD (1 year ago)
Pack rat here!! We’ve been having storage space issues though, so I’m working on it. ;)
Vanessa (1 year ago)
Not a sentimental pack-rat at all. I actually have to make myself keep some stuff so I won’t regret it later. The idea of keeping toys for grand kids is fabulous! Michael’s parents did that and I love watching Matthan play with trucks that I know his daddy played with as well. Definitely something I will make myself do as we clean out toys.
Muses of Megret » UBP 2011! (10 months ago)
[...] ~ I love to organize and declutter, but I’m not always good at it. [...]
JDaniel4's Mom (10 months ago)
I have the same problem with my son. He seems to want to open an orphanage for his orphan toys.
Stoppin from the UBP’11!