July 4, 2008
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Clothes I Can't Give Up
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Hey, I need your help with this. I was going through my daughter's closet and I'm wondering what I should do with the clothes she has grown out of. It's very hard for me to let them go. It might not be logical to keep them, but I imagine years from now when I'm an old lady living by myself–well, maybe with a cat–that I will be clutching Vivien's baby clothes. Smelling them and thinking of when she was my little, bitty girl. And hoping she comes to visit…or calls? Would it kill her to call her mom once in a while? Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself. Do other people have a hard time letting the baby clothes go?
At first I tried to keep them all as they were so tiny, cute and calling for so many sweet memories… But then when I found out that in our city there was a kindergarten group of 2-5 y.o. children who didn't have parents…. I brought almost all the clothes and toys there. And had never been sorry about doing so.
ok, i admit it, she is 19 and i still have a box of baby clothes in the attic that i REFUSE to give up. I am thinking that since I have not looked at them in a while there is a good chance there might be some squirrels in drag running around my neighborhood in the tie dyed onsie from her jerry garcia period!
I keep the little dresses that are one of a kind or have special meaning and have them in a keepsake box for when my daughters have children. The rest gets donated to a shelter.
Okay, so I had a box. Actually two boxes, then we had to move, so I went through them and moved one box. A few years later, we moved again and now have about three outfits that I don't think I'll ever be able to let go. She's nine now but when I look at them, I imagine her daughter coming over, I'll put that new baby in these outfits and then promptly change her back when she gets ready to leave.
I am glad I am not the only one! The flip side is I was recently given beautiful dresses from my brother in law's family. the dresses are from the '60's and I love dressing Vivien in them on special occasions. So, sometimes it pays to save.
I kept everything for a while… then decided if I kept it all I wouldn't have an excuse to buy NEW stuff for the next baby.
So I gave everything away that wasn't special (holiday outfits, first Halloween costume, baptism dresses, coming home from the hospital outfit and first blanket) These special outfits are stored in my Lane Cedar Chest. Hopefully one day the girls will appreciate them!
what about using some of the clothes/baby blankets to use in a quilt for her. a little memory quilt-that has stories and her history all worked into it. a corner of the blanket that was given to her from the hospital, maybe even print a copy of her footprint from birth-to fabric and have it sewn into it as well.
something she can use now, and keep forever.
but of course–keeping some special outfits for her, for when she is older-to look back on, or keep for her own children.
i like the quilt idea if I was handy. When I was teenager I attempted to do that with my own childhood clothes. still have the box of clothes squares. I didn't get far.
Take them to someone who will make a gorgeous memory quilt out of them. Or two! One for you and one for her. Lap quilts. I found it hard too but then I did get such joy out of passing them on to other people too. But kept my all time faves of course.
Wow, is this what your life has become………….. really bad ……….. Let yourself have a life. Get your husband to watch the kids every now and then and get out. These videos are really a wast of your time. I just happen to be looking for some good information for my wonderful wife and found these videos on itunes. I took a look and felt really sorry for what I can see has not been a very good life for you the last several years. Hope you get your life together and find a good use for it.
I realize I am a *tad* late on this…but I put my baby's clothes on a scanner…and scanned the colors, fabrics, patterns, whatever I liked best about that outfit into the computer. I'm a scrapbooker, so I have printed out a couple of sheets of something (not big, just onto 8×8 or so pieces)…and used them in the scrapbook. I am really sentimental, but I also hate to hold on to stuff. …I saved a few sturdy items for "the next one" (who wasn't even thought of yet)…but put the rest of it up on craigslist or did consignment.
I did save a handful of "special" items…cuz I know my mom saved things for me that I thought was neat when I was grown up…and I figure my girls might like that too. But it's really ONLY going to be a few things. I'm not holding on to that crap until they're adults!
I just read this one… I want to let you know that at my baby shower my MIL gave me a box of clothing that her kids (my husband, and 2 SILs) had worn when they were babies. Granted her mother had knitted most of them (and they're scratchy so aside from a dress and a few sweaters Sarah's not worn them) but almost FORTY years is a LOOOOOONG time to keep boxes and boxes of clothing.