Letting Go

We always knew we wanted three children, so when Harrison and Alex grew out of their clothes and baby equipment, we carefully packed them away, knowing that at least some of the clothes would be worn again, even we had a girl.

Benjamin has grown out of his moses basket, and most of his 3-6 month clothes are packed up because they’re too small. Now we have the tough decision of what to do with them.

We know for sure that Benjamin is our last baby. We can’t afford to have anymore, and we don’t have the space.  I also know that three is the right number for us – I can give all of them the time and attention they need, and I can think about to returning to work in a few years when Benjamin is at school, whether that’s working for myself or outside of the house.

This doesn’t make it any easier to let go of the baby stuff. I do get a little bit emotional over each tiny vest and sleepsuit I put away, knowing that I will never see those on a child that belongs to me again. At the moment, we put it in the loft, but at some point we will need to do something with it.

The most obvious thing would be to sell it. For each age stage, there is at least one BIG box of clothes, plus lots of equipment, all in perfect condition.I can’t bring myself to do it though – nor could I give it all to charity. I know why – every single item of clothing has a memory attached to it. Each one of my boys has worn it. Their first sleepsuit, the outfit they came home in. The blue and white checked dungarees Harrison wore when I took him into work to how him off. The outfit they wore on their first birthdays and Christmases. They all have memories.

PicMonkey Collage
My favourite sleepsuit – they’ve all worn it!

I’ve been as ruthless as I can be for the time being and donated some items to the charity shop – things that I didn’t particularly like, or just not bothered about. That’s probably less than 10% of it!

We are lucky that we do have a loft to put it in, even if the loft hatch is the smallest one known to man (thank god Graham is slim!). I guess we will hold onto them for a bit longer. Maybe one of my brothers will want them if they have children – to see a future nephew or niece in an outfit that holds meaning in it would be amazing!

There are some things we will keep forever – some toys, the blankets and cot sheets. Possibly even the moses basket. The cot sheets were the ones me and my brothers slept on as babies, and they are things I’d love to pass to my own grandkids (If I have any!). My mum kept the carrycot that was on our pram, and both Harrison and Alex have slept in it.

There will be a time in the not so distant future that we won’t need baby clothes, bouncers, cot sheets, pushchair, sterilisers and everything else that is associated with a baby. There will be a time in the not so distant future that I’ll have to let go of it all.

What did you do with all the baby stuff?

3 thoughts on “Letting Go”

  1. Oh God it is very hard to let go 🙁
    Now imagine me with all 3 boys in high school almost ready to graduate and go to college
    I think I secretly cry a little everyday hahaha … seriously it’s not easy

  2. I’m in the process of making a memory quilt for Emily using her old baby grows. Maybe that is something you can do if you kept them? I know it sounds difficult, but its actually relatively easy. 🙂 give me a shout if you want some help or advise.
    Stephanie
    http://www.raisingemily.net

    1. That sounds fab Stephanie – I think I might do that!! 🙂

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