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Why Do We Hold Onto Our Kids’ Stuff?
As parents, we often find ourselves wondering why we keep our children’s childhood items. Are we saving them for nostalgic trips down memory lane, or do we envision passing them on to our kids when they’re older? If you lean towards the latter, picture this scenario:
Years from now, you present your grown daughter with a box filled with her treasured childhood keepsakes, anticipating a joyful reaction as she explores the contents. Instead, she gasps and hastily shuts the box, exclaiming, “Ew! Are those my baby teeth? That’s so gross! Why would you keep those?!” Not quite the heartfelt moment you imagined, right?
A friend of mine had a similar experience—thankfully, sans any baby teeth—when her father handed her a package containing her 45-year-old baby teeth. It made me think: if we’re saving these mementos for our kids, shouldn’t we be more mindful about what they might actually want to see decades later?
So, I embarked on a mission to declutter my home of random sentimental items. I examined each piece through the lens of “Will my kids want this someday?” Here are some of the things I unearthed that I’m sure won’t be missed:
- An unused newborn diaper (for some reason, I thought it showcased how tiny they once were)
- 27 toddler-sized shirts—yes, 27! I was clearly too sentimental back then to part with them.
- Standardized test results from grades 4-8. Seriously, did I think they would need them for college applications?
- Two recorders from 4th grade. It was bad enough hearing them play then; why would I want to relive that?
- Report cards from kindergarten through high school. I’ll admit, I kept some for the sweet comments, but most went straight to recycling.
- A mountain of artwork. I never got around to taking photos or making an album, so out they go!
Now, don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of things I’ll hold onto, whether my kids want them or not—photos, playbills, newspaper clippings, a lock of hair, heartfelt handmade cards, and of course, a few cherished toys.
I refuse to part with all their toys. My mom gave away my beloved Barbie dolls when I left for college, and I was heartbroken. Sure, my boys gleefully dismembered the one Barbie I saved, but still…
To get a sense of what my boys actually wanted to keep, I let them sift through the stuff I was ready to toss. Surprisingly, they didn’t want much, especially not their baby teeth. “Why would I want those? That’s just creepy!” my youngest said, echoing my earlier sentiments.
If you’re intrigued by more parenting insights, check out this post about other topics related to home insemination and fertility. It’s essential to reflect on what we keep and why, especially when it comes to our children’s memories.
Summary
Many parents hold onto their children’s mementos with the intention of sharing them as keepsakes when they grow up. However, it’s worth considering whether these items will genuinely resonate with our kids later on. In the quest to declutter, we often find ourselves questioning the sentimental value of certain things and realizing that not everything needs to be preserved.