As parents, we often find ourselves wondering why we keep so many items from our children’s early years. Are we preserving these memories for occasional nostalgia, or do we intend to pass them down to our kids when they are older? If you lean toward the latter, consider this scenario:
Years down the line, you present your adult daughter with a box filled with her cherished childhood keepsakes. You anticipate a joyful reaction as she explores the contents. Instead, she gasps in horror and shuts the box abruptly, exclaiming, “Ew! Are those my baby teeth? That’s so creepy! Why would you keep those?” Suddenly, your heart sinks as you realize she won’t appreciate the umbilical cord encased in a frame either.
A friend recently shared a similar experience (sans the umbilical cord) after her father handed her an envelope containing her baby teeth from 45 years ago. This got me thinking: If we’re saving these items for our children’s future, shouldn’t we consider what they might actually want decades later?
I decided to declutter my home, examining every item through the lens of what my children might find valuable. During this process, I stumbled upon several items I’m sure they won’t miss:
- An unused newborn diaper, probably saved to prove my child was once that small.
- A staggering 27 toddler-sized shirts. At the time, nostalgia kept me from letting go, but now I can’t recall who wore which.
- Standardized test results from grades 4-8. What was I thinking? Did I believe they’d need these for college applications?
- Two recorders from 4th grade. I didn’t enjoy hearing them practice back then, so why keep them?
- Report cards from kindergarten through high school. I admit I got lost in the earlier ones, especially the ones that praised my child, but the rest are going in the recycling bin.
- Artwork. I haven’t documented our kids’ creations in an album, and I doubt I’ll start now.
That said, I’m not entirely heartless. There are numerous treasured items I’ll keep regardless of whether my kids want them: photos, performance playbills, newspaper clippings, a lock of hair, heartfelt cards, beloved books, and selected toys. I refuse to discard all their toys.
When I was in college, my mother gave away my entire collection of Barbie dolls, and I was heartbroken. Despite my dramatic protests about losing my childhood memories, the reality was that the one Barbie I managed to keep was quickly destroyed by my boys.
To ensure my sons have some say in what stays, I let them sift through the items I planned to discard. Surprisingly, they showed little interest—especially in their baby teeth. “Why would I want those? That’s so creepy!” my youngest exclaimed.
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In summary, while it’s natural for parents to cherish their children’s memorabilia, it’s crucial to reflect on what will genuinely hold meaning for them in the future. As we navigate through these sentimental items, let’s strive to keep only those that will truly resonate with our children.