Saturday 11 October 2014

Out with the old...


This is not so much items in my cupboard I'm embarrassed by (as requested by I Must Confess), but more a nostalgic sentiment I'm a little embarrassed of. I was culling the kids clothes - somehow my 6 year old was still wearing a size 1 tee-shirt. She and I were both reluctant to let go of it...You wouldn't like her when she's angry...






I got this jacket when my eldest was 3 - over a decade ago. I was flooded with emotions as I looked at it, and filled with an inexplicable sadness as I folded it up and bagged it.

 
There was a myriad of more items I was tempted to keep, rather than share them with others in need. But I didn't. I took a few photos and ruthlessly packed them up and sent them off. Hopefully to be used and loved, rather than sit in a draw for sentimentality. I was, however, very sad to be folding a lot of those outfits for the last time, never to see them again.

What is it with us, parents, and our kids, who are still around, still in our house, in our lives, sharing OUR life and experiences, that we hold on to these tangible memories of when they were small, as if they were a different person? I know, they actually were a different person, and our relationship was different and we were different. Our whole experience of them, and with them, was different.

As I looked at these clothes, I was definitely mourning something, but I'm not sure exactly what, as the feeling seems to have become attached to the clothing rather than an actual memory or realisation. Is it my lost youth, their youth or just life passing by in general?

We were talking about aging on Facebook and a father I know said the only thing he'd do differently was have more time with the kids when they were little. But the kids are there now, he could have time with them now. It's harder, it's maybe not as much fun as it was (because we have to start including their wishes into the equation), but you can find the thing that can be your 'glue', brief as your time with them is. Revel in those moments. They're equally special and in five years time you'll be missing those just as much.

If your own parents are still alive, maybe share these feelings with them, as they probably feel the same way, but at the same time get the joy of seeing you a successful adult, and the grandchildren starting the cycle all over again.

So I'm sharing my sentimentality, with #TimelessThursdays - the memories attached to some items of clothing I adore, and am embarrassed by the strength of my affection for a shirt or jacket. 


Do you keep your babies clothes? If so, why?

PS I put this one back in the cupboard for a bit, then almost with tears welling in my eyes, decided I was being silly and sent it off with the others. That shirt has been proudly worn by all three kids, until they decide they aren't Bombers anymore and go to the dark side (Swans).

19 comments:

  1. I am the same as you. I have boxes and boxes of baby clothes which I just can't part with. I know I will have to at some stage, but I can't just yet. It's not just baby clothes though, it's clothes of mine that bring back memories when I look at them. The entire top of our wardrobe is filled with clothes I will no longer wear, but just can't part with. I think I need an intervention :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did that with one of my dresses - mainly because I love the memory associated with it

      Delete
  2. I wish that I had kept at least one of his baby outfits. I'm not sure if it's out of sentimental value or because the person I passed them on to wasn't particularly grateful for them (Some of the outfits were given back to us as 'rags', she no longer got anything from us).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ouch! That's harsh! Conversely, my kids are in clothes I don't deem 'good enough' for the charity bin, but we're so fond of them, they keep wearing them, paint, holes and all...

      Delete
  3. I've kept milestone kind of things; wondersuit worn home from hospital, first pair of baby shoes, first pair of ballet shoes. And every now and then I get them out and have a good remember.
    How cute is that Hulk T-shirt?? Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Definitely, some clothes are very hard to let go of for sentimental reasons! I haven't had to cull my daughters' clothes yet, as the little one still wears her big sister's clothes. Handy having two of the same! Thanks for linking up! x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Because I have three boys I tend to hang onto stuff to use as 'hand me downs'. This can save money but does lead to a fair amount of hoarding. It is sad when you have to throw all the 'baby' stuff out, especially when you know there will be no more babies. I couldn't even deal with another baby yet I still feel sad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I really relate to this Lydia. I'm not sure why we hold onto it all either. I guess it's a tangible link to our memories although we should be looking forward not back. I kept an item or two for each of my kids as babies and have given the rest to those in need. I think I had the biggest pang for my maternity clothes, knowing they would not be needed again... x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Moving so often (22 times all up) means I've had to be fairly ruthless with culling things we didn't need and I have only kept one or two items from when the girls were little. If only I could apply the same degree of willpower with my own wardrobe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I kept the outfits they came home from hospital in, and what they wore to their christening/baby dedications and that's about it. Miss 17 had a gorgeous dress with matching hat she wore to my sister's wedding when she was 3, it cost a bomb so after she outgrew it I sold it on Ebay and she has never forgiven me! Needless to say, the dress I bought for her to wear to another family wedding when she was 7, is still hanging in one of our cupboards!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is hard to give away some of over children's clothing. Some items I've kept and hoped to frame cause they are so special, yet years later, they are still stuffed hidden in a cupboard. It is time to move on.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  12. There is a sense of liberation when you get rid of stuff, but sometimes it can be hard to let things go. I also found it hard to gave some of my boys things away. I think there are so many happy memories attached to them, perhaps we afraid we will loose those. Thanks for linking with Mummy Mondays #team MM

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a bit of a keeper, just the real special things!!
    My 3 trash most of their things so it is impossible to do anything but throw it out!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Naaaaw, that is really sweet. I am the opposite. I brutally cull everything the second one of my children have outgrown them. I have literally taken an item off my child's body and thrown it in a garbage bag full of clothes to donate to Vinnies. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

    ReplyDelete
  15. We have the same heart when it comes to old clothes dearest Lydia. But I am happy you overcome it and surely, the stories about those clothes will never fade away even if they do from our sight :)

    Thank you so much for sharing this to Timeless Thursdays Lydia.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This could be a covid post as so many people (myself included) are doing tis cleaning now. Good for you, but it is hard to get rid of certain things. They have so much meaning in our lives, don't they?

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's hard to part with things that have some meaning to us.
    I actually kept a few clothes from my kids who are now in their 30's and have given them to my son and daughter in law so the grandkids can now wear them. And I still have a box with the long Christening dress both my kids wore, but my daughter in law didn't want it for her kids, as she wanted something more modern. Sadly I have no idea what to do with it yet.

    ReplyDelete