The Seasonal Job
I boxed up some of Hazel's size 5 clothes today to make room for the size 6 ones. It is never a job I like, because it involves too many decisions: Is this too worn out? Does this one still fit? Should I put it away anyway, since all the others will be away? Will this be out of style when I have another daughter? Will I have another daughter? (so you can see what I mean). Then, I'm always leaving things out like jackets or pajamas, socks or underwear that never seem to make it to the right box. But each season the job creeps up on me again, demanding my very soul.
The worst part of this seasonal job is the emotional catastrophe it is for Hazel's heart and mind. I swear to you, I never do anything as hurtful as I do when I pack her clothing away.
"But Mom I just like this one so much! Mom these still fit! I just really really really love these Mom."
"Dearie, I'm not getting rid of them, they'll still be in this box, they're just a little small."
"But I still want to wear them! They're good! I just love these sooooooo much Mom! I just want to wear them still!"
And no matter what I say, and how nicely I say it, and how many times I show her the great new things she'll also fall in love with, I have still (and will every six months or so) broken her heart by packing those funny clothes away for the next (maybe) daughter who will (maybe) wear them. Ahh, resourcefulness.
9 comments:
My problem is that I can never seem to hide the box of too small clothes well enough and Maggie always seems to find it and before I know it she has pulled last year's swim suit on over today's dress and accessorized with some hand me down cowboy boots from another box of clothes that are too big.
Is it bad that I let her go out like that?
I had fun talking to katie at our high school reunion--we talked about your blog and how adorable you are (even though I don't really know you in real life I still think you're adorable, if that's okay). And Katie was wearing the most amazing skirt she made. SHE SEWED IT. I'm sure you know she does stuff like that, but I kind of had hoped that she forgot everything she learned in Miss Porter's class like the rest of us did. Why does she have to be so smart!?
Sounds oh so familiar! The only thing that changed this year was the drama associated with the parting of her clothes. She was excited to pack them all away so she could get some new ones. Not sure how I feel about that...
OH! This was supposed to be my chore the last 3 weeks. If I just leave them out long enough, they just go to the next sister....convenient, no?
You need someone there as a support. This year, Paige kept saying, "Mom, she can't wear those! They are an inch too short." You can borrow her next time.
I remember opening up the boxes of summer clothes each year and being sooooo excited. But then being devestated when they didn't FIT ME ANYMORE! And my sisters got to wear them instead. Sob!
Haley is the same way! I have to be sneeky and do that when she is not in the house! Out of sight, out of mind, right!?
Remember when I would just move your "too small" clothes over to Katie's closet?? I was just trying to be casual about it and hope that you didn't notice, but alas, you have told me that it was pretty traumatic for you. I guess it wasn't really a very good idea to put them in Katie's closet and have her excitedly walk into the room wearing them. Sorry Jayne! I did it to Chuck too, darn it!
Its hard to win as a mom though, because the "hand me down kids" feel like they didn't get as many new clothes sometimes.
Luckily you kids always got great, "like new", hand me downs from Lindsey and Russell. Now Hazel has it made with Serena's cute clothes!
With my kids...they are just enough apart in age that the ones Annie grows out of aren't quite the right size for Gracie but I don't want to box them up because before I know it I will be unboxing so unfortunately for me it seems we have clothes coming out our EARS ALL THE TIME!!! Luckily for me, my mother in law has a garage sale at least once a summer (and sometimes twice), and with her incredible location (right off the Alpine Highway) we get tons of traffic I just sell off clothes every year after Gracie has grown out of the clothes all together. It is a crazy tactic but the only way it seems to work around here. Thank heavens for large closets!! And seeing as Annie will now be going into Kindergarten I guess I should probably go and organize her bedroom and get all her clothes in line! Thanks for reminding me...I think.
Wow, this is the chore that I've been dreading, and putting off, week after week. I'm proud of you for getting it done!
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