|
Post by merrymaid on Jun 24, 2008 14:38:33 GMT -5
I've just found a big box of my dd's baby clothes hidden in my closet... I'm having a problem deciding what to do with them, so thought I'd bring it to you all.
There's probably 30 or so outfits, from size 0-2. maybe more. I'd planned to keep them for when I have another child (not going to happen.) Dd is 9 now... should I give them away? Keep them? What did you all do with cute clothes??
I'm giving 6 or 7 dresses I found to a friend.
Also, I have a box of chocolate molds (maybe 50 of them.) that someone gave me 7 years ago.... I've never used them, but keep thinking one day I might. Should I get rid of them??
Help!
Mary
|
|
|
Post by Script on Jun 24, 2008 14:55:54 GMT -5
I have a comment to make on the baby clothes issue:
right now there is a lot of hardship with unemployment and economic issues. If you give the babyclothes to any charity place (GoodWill, salvation army, St Vincent de Paul), you will be making some young mother VERY HAPPY. Especially if the clothes are NICE!
If you personally KNOW someone with a newborn, sure, pass them along. But if you don't, please give yourself the satisfaction of helping a stranger.
As for the chocolate molds, get rid of them too. If you haven't REALLY wanted to make chocs in 7 years, do you think that REALISTICALLY you might do this now?
I have friends who did the home-made chocs as Xmas gifts one year: they were nothing special (wooden tasting) and they told me it made a HUGE mess.
I have done home-made free-form chocolate truffles (also a huge mess, but easy and yummy).
|
|
|
Post by merrymaid on Jun 24, 2008 15:28:31 GMT -5
Hi Script,
Thank you so much for replying. I've decided to donate the chocolate molds. The baby clothes, I'm going to think on. I donate lots of stuff to the local charity shop, (they're great and help people who have been burned out, loss of job, new moms, ect.) I just can't make the decision about the clothes... I hear what you are saying though.
Take care, M.
|
|
|
Post by paperpiler on Jun 24, 2008 16:15:36 GMT -5
Merry, I agree with Script but it's your choice, of course.
I had two kids very close in age (both girls), and boy, did I buy some beautiful clothes back in those days...Nanette and Polly Flinders and all these clothes with ruffles and smocking and velvet and--oh my. I had maybe 6 or 7 dozen fancy dresses from when they were infants to 6x. I strung a clothesline across my driveway, and hung them arranged by size. And this woman came along with two little girls and bought every single one for a dollar each. I still remember her tears of joy. It had never been my intent to make a huge profit. It had been my intent to find JUST the right person who would fuss over their daughters in these clothes...and she came to the sale right off the bat and was sooooooooo happy. I don't think I'll forget her as long as I live. She brought ME such joy that day.
As far as the other everyday wear, I donated many dozens of items to someone in need at that time. I kept five pieces of clothing. I set my limit at five. They were five pieces that were extremely sentimental to me...first holiday dress, a sleeper that one wore all the time, the first bib someone handstiched with a multicolored duck on it, a few others. They were the things I placed particular sentimental value on. I'm glad I kept them. But I'm also glad I didn't keep every piece I owned.
They have been safely tucked away in tissue paper in a box, and they give me pleasure to look at in these horrible times lately. My "kids" are now 21 and 20.
|
|
|
Post by eaglesflight on Jun 24, 2008 16:49:31 GMT -5
I would choose 1 outfit in each size that has a specific memory attached to it...the coming-home-from-the-hospital outfit, that kind of thing. Give away the rest.
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jun 24, 2008 17:10:57 GMT -5
Agreeing with paperpiler and eaglesflight. Pick a couple to keep and give the rest to someone in need. It will attach another happy memory to them to know they went where they are needed, but without having to store them anywhere but in your heart.
messymimi
|
|
|
Post by minball on Jun 24, 2008 18:18:22 GMT -5
Eaglesflight, paperpiler and messymimi have really good advice, but I know I would find it very hard to follow. The things with big, important memories associated with them are easy to pick out, but there are also lots of little bitty memories attached to everything else, and it's these memories that are more in danger of disappearing if I throw something out or give the item away.
What works for me is to take pictures of the items so I know I won't forget them or the memories that are attached to them. Somethings I write a little bit about what the items in the pictures mean to me, but most of the time I don't need to. Then I can give the items themselves away and know that they're making someone else's life better, but still keep all the intangible things that made them precious to me.
I have a folder of photos of nothing but nasty, wretched old cat toys, for goodness sakes - but I don't have a house full of nasty, wretched old cat toys anymore.
This works for me because I find visual images to be very powerful - if I see something, I can instantly remember its smell and texture and all the other associations it has for me. For someone who needs to touch and handle an item in order to trigger associations in their mind, I don't think my idea would be very useful.
|
|
|
Post by dragonchilde on Jun 25, 2008 10:42:05 GMT -5
minball has a great idea. If there are lots of small memories, take pictures. I'm suffering from the masses of kids' clothes myself, right now. Clothes are my house's big problem. We've gotten a lot of handmedowns, and only recently have I started refusing them. In fact, I'm proud of the fact my MIL wanted to buy my toddler some clothes, but I refused because she has too many older things!
Are you unable to afford new clothes? If you can, then give yourself the joy of shopping for new ones, should you ever need them. Save a couple of the best outfits, but give the rest away (or have that yardsale we talked about in chat! That's what I'm going to do!)
|
|
|
Post by dragonchilde on Jun 25, 2008 10:42:53 GMT -5
Oh... and the chocolate molds go. "One day I might" is not a good reason to keep stuff.
|
|
|
Post by Alexandra on Jun 25, 2008 20:25:47 GMT -5
If there's a crisis pregnancy center/pregnancy care center nearby, take the clothes there. They always need donations...I got a sample can of formula in the mail (my baby is 6 YEARS old ), there's a CPC down the road, I took it to them--they said they can ALWAYS use things!
|
|
|
Post by merrymaid on Jun 26, 2008 17:47:15 GMT -5
Thank you all for your suggestions and help. I've decided to keep a few things, and donate the rest. I'll take a few pictures to keep of special things... that is a wonderful suggestion, Minball. Today, I gave away dd's pram and it was the hardest thing I've ever done... it felt like giving up on us ever having another baby. But that's okay, seasons and all that. I feel a bit better now and when these clothes are gone, I know I'll feel sad, but knowing they will bless someone else, will give me peace. Thanks again.
|
|