“Why did you give my shoes to Kayden?!” my 3-year-old demanded to know about 30 minutes after I handed over a bag of shoes she had outgrown to my sister for my niece. “Because those shoes don’t fit you anymore
“Why did you give my shoes to Kayden?!” my 3-year-old demanded to know about 30 minutes after I handed over a bag of shoes she had outgrown to my sister for my niece.
“Because those shoes don’t fit you anymore and it’s nice to share,” I replied.
“They do fit me!” she exclaimed, with the stomp of her foot. “You go get my shoes back.”
It was hard not to laugh at her dramatics, especially because she gets her love of shoes from her mother. But as I reasoned with her, reminding her of the new shoes we bought to replace the ones I had given away, she became more and more upset. And I became more and more frustrated.
“Those did not fit. I am not asking for them back. That’s the end of it,” I finally told her.
She wasn’t happy.
What is with children and hanging on to everything?
My sons want me to keep every single drawing and every single school paper and project they’ve ever brought home. I don’t think they realize how much of the basement storage area that would take up. And for what?
I do keep really incredible drawings, difficult worksheets or tests that they aced, stories they’ve written and all their report cards. But I don’t think it’s necessary to store every math worksheet and preschool art projects that are falling apart.
I’ll toss them later, if I can get away with it.
“Mom! Why is my spelling test in the garbage?” the 8-year-old will demand to know. “Take that out right now.”
Sure, just let me wipe the coffee grounds and mashed banana off it. Then I’ll find the perfect spot for it — which is usually back in the garbage can after they’ve gone to sleep.
It’s also not uncommon in my house to find my kids have taken all the old clothing out of a cupboard where I keep things they’ve outgrown. My 7-year-old, in particular, loves to walk into the room wearing highwater jogging pants and a tiny, tight T-shirt that hasn’t fit for two years. He struts around, belly sticking out.
“I’m not taking you anywhere in that,” I tell him.
Could they possibly be nostalgic at ages 8, 7 and 3? Does my 7-year-old wish for the days when he was in preschool and didn’t have homework? Is that why he absolutely refuses to let go of the itty-bitty Spider-Man T-shirt and blue jogging pants?
I tend to think they inherited the pack- rat gene from my parents, who keep absolutely everything. Now I’m not suggesting they belong on an episode of “Hoarders” or anything, but they keep lots of crap. There’s just two of them in their house now and they have every closet and storage area completely filled.
The shelves are lined with canning jars, VHS tapes, clothes from 30 years ago, a gazillion sets of sheets and, of course, all the stuff my sisters, brother and I left behind because we didn’t want it anymore when we moved out.
Every once in a while my parents will bring over a bunch of old stuff to see if I want it, or to sell if we’re having a rummage sale. A few years ago, they brought over a rusty orange tricycle and a motorcycle helmet from the 1970s to put in a sale. At the end of the day — surprise, surprise — no one had bought these treasures.
“Keep it for the kids,” my dad says of the helmet.
“I want it!” yells my oldest son.
I let him keep it.
Maybe I’ll hang on to it.
And bring it to his house for his children in 20 years.
• Mommy Talk is written by Racine, Wis. Journal-Times reporters Marci Laehr Tenuta and Janine Anderson. Reporter Mike Moore writes Daddy Talk. Their columns run in a three-week rotation and can be found online at www.journaltimes.com/mom.
