Preserving Memories without turning into a Hoarder

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  • Soccermom
    Senior Member
    • Nov 2008
    • 4063
    #1

    Preserving Memories without turning into a Hoarder

    I was looking around my loft this morning, picking up toys in the office, family room, stairs, kitchen, dining room table. . and I decided we have too much stuff. So I started dejunking. Then I got to the Star Wars toys. My boys don't play with their ships any longer, or the little mini figures (though they both still play with their Legos) but for some reason some of their toys (Star Wars and American Girl stuff) is hard for me to part with. I think it is because my mom gave away everything of mine growing up, even sometimes before I would actually outgrow it. But also, in the back of my mind I am planning for grandkids in the distant future, and how fun it would be to share these toys with them. So I'm torn. And then I think about the kids who could be enjoying those Star Wars toys NOW.

    So what things, if any, from your kids' childhood do you save? I am mostly of the take a picture it lasts longer camp. . . but these Star Wars toys! IDK.
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    • dabrockster
      Senior Member
      • Aug 2009
      • 10910
      #2
      Originally posted by Soccermom View Post
      I was looking around my loft this morning, picking up toys in the office, family room, stairs, kitchen, dining room table. . and I decided we have too much stuff. So I started dejunking. Then I got to the Star Wars toys. My boys don't play with their ships any longer, or the little mini figures (though they both still play with their Legos) but for some reason some of their toys (Star Wars and American Girl stuff) is hard for me to part with. I think it is because my mom gave away everything of mine growing up, even sometimes before I would actually outgrow it. But also, in the back of my mind I am planning for grandkids in the distant future, and how fun it would be to share these toys with them. So I'm torn. And then I think about the kids who could be enjoying those Star Wars toys NOW.

      So what things, if any, from your kids' childhood do you save? I am mostly of the take a picture it lasts longer camp. . . but these Star Wars toys! IDK.
      We get rid of most of the toys, but the Star Wars ones we keep.. Mainly for the same reason. I had the original Millenium Falcon as a kid and we got rid of it.. Looking back now I should have kept it...

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        • Paperback Writer
          Signature won a Pulitzer
          • Nov 2010
          • 5211
          #3
          Originally posted by Soccermom View Post
          I was looking around my loft this morning, picking up toys in the office, family room, stairs, kitchen, dining room table. . and I decided we have too much stuff. So I started dejunking. Then I got to the Star Wars toys. My boys don't play with their ships any longer, or the little mini figures (though they both still play with their Legos) but for some reason some of their toys (Star Wars and American Girl stuff) is hard for me to part with. I think it is because my mom gave away everything of mine growing up, even sometimes before I would actually outgrow it. But also, in the back of my mind I am planning for grandkids in the distant future, and how fun it would be to share these toys with them. So I'm torn. And then I think about the kids who could be enjoying those Star Wars toys NOW.

          So what things, if any, from your kids' childhood do you save? I am mostly of the take a picture it lasts longer camp. . . but these Star Wars toys! IDK.
          In our attic we've got a tub of star wars action figures along with several spaceships. Also decided to keep the Fisher Price pirate guys and their ship. Have a larger tub of legos. Can't remember if the matchbox cars made the cut. Also keep about a dozen of the kids' favorite story books. Don't know if that makes me a hoarder or not.

          The favorite weekend at our house was always "cardboard box" weekend. Since I lived a great distance from parents and siblings, we always accumulated a lot of shipping boxes. We'd also do our Christmas shopping early for our kids and would assemble stuff and stash it at work or someplace and have the empty boxes available. So at some point there would be a lot of boxes and we'd let the kids build forts and stuff in the living room. We had to draw the line at one weekend; otherwise, we'd lose our family room indefinitely. Kids would play all weekend and even sleep in their box creations. Helpful tip: Have a lot of duct tape on hand. My spouse and I would always joke that the kids got a lot more mileage out of the boxes than whatever it was that came in the boxes.
          “Not the victory but the action. Not the goal but the game. In the deed the glory.”
          "All things are measured against Nebraska." falafel

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            • Moliere
              One man.....one pie
              • Oct 2009
              • 27822
              #4
              We give away all the toys once our kids have grown out of them. I'm a fan of nostalgia, but MJ definitely is not so she has no problem with giving that stuff away. Plus, we get a lot of toys from ward members. It's just nice to know they are passed on to someone that can use them.

              Chances are your grandkids will want to play with toys other than what you are saving.
              "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf

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                • marsupial
                  Mississippi Queen
                  • Nov 2008
                  • 3678
                  #5
                  I have the same dilemma. My mom got rid of everything. Now that I am a mom, I can't blame her. I love getting rid of stuff. But then I see one of my friend's kids wearing some adorable outfit that belonged to the mom or dad when they were kids... Or I see them playing with some old school action figures the grandma kept and I feel regret for all that I throw out and longing for my old stuff.
                  What's to explain? It's a bunch of people, most of whom you've never met, who are just as likely to be homicidal maniacs as they are to be normal everyday people, with whom you share the minutiae of your everyday life. It's totally normal, and everyone would understand.
                  -Teenage Dirtbag

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                    • creekster
                      It is NOT a monkey!
                      • Nov 2008
                      • 22661
                      #6
                      Originally posted by marsupial View Post
                      I have the same dilemma. My mom got rid of everything. Now that I am a mom, I can't blame her. I love getting rid of stuff. But then I see one of my friend's kids wearing some adorable outfit that belonged to the mom or dad when they were kids... Or I see them playing with some old school action figures the grandma kept and I feel regret for all that I throw out and longing for my old stuff.
                      My wife is just like you. I am sentimental and would prefer to keep things. WHile I have become annoyed with her penchant for getting rid of anything that hasnt been used in the last 18 months (once finding my skis and boots taged for the Salvation Army pick up on my front curb!), I have come to realize that it is a very nice thing to get rid of stuff you dont need.
                      PLesa excuse the tpyos.

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