I have twelve boxes and bags in my garage to take to DI, and I am not finished sorting through items yet. In the past few days I came across the following items that belonged to my children:
A blue boy scout shirt
A baptism dress
A class officer sweater
A state report on New Jersey
A spelling-bee study sheet
A jazz band shirt
A dress from the Junior Prom
A size 6-12 month boys swim suit (What? Why?)
A "Child of Light" costume from when Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics,
etc., etc.
My children did not save those items. I did. And I don't think the children have any interest in them. They are not hanging on to the memories, but I am.
Erma Bombeck said,
"Why do mothers hang onto all this stuff? We learn very early that childhood is on fast-forward. Each day goes by with a dazzling speed we can barely keep pace with."
I feel like being a mother was one of the most important things I did in life and perhaps I don't want to let that stage of life go. But being a mother to young children is over for me and our children have grown up. It is time to say goodbye to many of the objects that I have clung to.
The objects represent years of hard work, care, and love, and years of being needed and stretched.
I can identify with that! I feel like some of that stuff hanging around my home is now a part of me and if disposed of, I might forget that it contributed to who I am today! So crazy!
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