All of a sudden, my kids' regular length jeans have turned into capris. It's amazing how they have grown over a season. As they are trying (and tossing) their clothes—I am putting them in piles for donation. Fall cleaning for me is donation piles of gently used clothes, toys and even books. Kids' grow out of their stuff so fast...it seems a shame not to give it another life.
I am washing, folding and sorting those too-small-for-my-kids clothes. The stained ones go to the workroom to find another life as a rag. The gently used clothes are going to friends.
Our toy bin runneth over...and we just have too much. While the kids are at school, I am using nap time to sort toys and make a donate bin (yes, kids get final approval...but so far they've been ok with my donate choices).
The dvd cabinet got a look through. ME: "Do you guys still watch Barbie movies?" KIDS: "No way." Making the decision my toddler boy will probably not be too into Barbie movies...she's in the toy donate bin too.
My challenge is getting rid of books. I love books. How do you give them away?! My kids...well, they don't have my sentimental heart for the printed page...when my 12 year old was doing her weekly room cleaning (yes, we make them clean their rooms every week)...she brought out a STACK of books. "I'm never going to read these science books" she said. I cringed. I really wanted to go through them. Turn the pages. Talk her into keeping them.
But I got a bin and let her put them in. And I made myself not look.
She was ok to let them go, so why couldn't I do the same thing?
We teach our kids, through pop culture, that hoarding is a bad thing (I often wonder if hoarding reality T.V. shows are there to entertain or warn us). Growing out of our stuff...and giving it out...is a healthy...good thing.
Whether you donate to a friend, consignment shop, thrift store or family shelter. Make fall cleaning about giving away previously enjoyed things for others to enjoy. I'm taking the challenge myself and going through my closet...anything not worn in the last 5 years is going. And I won't look at it twice.
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