Emotionally attached to items VS Hoarding

[ladybird11]

So we've just had bub #3 - and logistically I know 3 'must' be our limit for a few reasons. The thought of going through another pregnancy actually scares me (seriously) now .

BUT

For some reason I am still mentally having trouble parting with baby items (clothes / nursery items etc). I mean, I have 2 large storage tubs of boy clothing my DS will never fit into again, but I feel somewhat attached to them; I mean - they were the clothes my little boy used to wear when he was a bubba . And I know everything can easily be bought again should I go ahead and get rid of the clothes, but I just can't and I don't know why.

I have always had issues getting rid of stuff, and I'd keep t-shirts with small holes in them 'just in case' or because it was an expensive brand name shirt, or gee 'that'd be a good shirt for painting in' - yet 99.9% of the time I'd never wear the clothes again. Lately I've found it easier to get rid of these other items (yesterday I bought 2 pairs of shoes, yet threw away 3 pairs that were fairly trashed - after I'd kept them for a long time 'just in case') - so that's something...

But these baby clothes I just seem attached too. Am I a hoarder??

[Winter]

yes!! sorry lees, get rid of them & make space in your life / home for other things. Why not dig out your favourite little outfit of B's and put it in his memory box & that way you have something, but you don't have to hang on to everything.

(I'm a chucker, so I'm probably no real help!! )

[AnyDream]

It took me ages to relinquish my youngest DD's baby things. I think it was because we wanted another baby for so long and it was all over so quickly, that's it for us now, that door has slammed shut. In the end I pulled out some of my favorite things, and put them into a special box, one for each DD, and then I packed up everything else that was lovely and gave it to a friend. It helped knowing it was going to a happy home where it would be valued (even just temporarily) and not just the vinnies box LOL.

In the end the purge was done in stages because that's all I could withstand. It gave me time to feel my feelings gradually instead of in one big hit.

If this doesn't help, read Corinne Grant's book. That'll get you de-hoarding in no time .

[Fleur]

Leesa can you bear the thought of having his clothes cut up? Make them (or get them made) into a quilt for him.

[Arcadia]

I love that idea fleur, but I would struggle to cut into the clothing! Leesa I have everything dd has ever worn...in fact I have crates of my own clothes in the shed. I'm not a hoarder, but clothes can be really sentimental for me...I suppose I think of myself as a collector! Shoes, books etc I have no trouble rehoming...but clothes mean a lot to me.

[emc2]

I live in a small unit so I find making special memory boxes or albums helps me, and then I am limited to that box or album.

[Nai]

I kept a couple of my favourite items and the outfits the girls came home in. For me anything else is hoarding - DP is a hoarder and I am a chucker so I have to be brutal with him or we would be living in one of those homes you see on ACA

[zap]

Love the idea of a quilt!

[Phteven]

I think that you should keep a couple of small things and then pass the rest on to a friend or family member to use.
I kept more than I meant to and then passed it on a few years later when my brother was having a baby. It was easier to get it out of the house then than it was when they were tiny.

BTW - I do think it's great that you keep old clothes. I've been reading To Die For in last week and the way that clothing has become disposable is kind of scary.

[misty]

Hello. My name is Melissa and I am a hoarder.


I don't have any suggestions, but am ineteresting in hearing any ideas from others on how to beat that attachment. I have some serious problems with it. And my DH's hoards stuff too. Problem is, he hoards stuff I would chuck and vice versa. So between us, our very small house is even smaller.

[RhiChiChi]

Hello, that would be me too. We have been ttc # 2 for a while now but I have kept most of DD better clothes just in case I fall pg & it is a girl.... Unfortunately we have a large shed, so I can't use the excuse that I have no room............

[kass]

I come from a family of hoarders and it's something I have to work at to stop myself Do you know someone else who would appreciate them? It might be easier to part with them if they're 'going to a good home' Good luck!

[Astrid]

Hoarder/Collector here and slowly getting better. Sometimes you just have to get to a point where you are fed up with it all yourself, when you find you can't put anything anywhere or it makes cleaning etc get harder.

I also found in the early days it was harder to get rid of the girls baby clothes, whereas now, if I could get an charity truck to come out here and take the stuff it would be gone!

Like some of the others I have kept a few select items for the girls. I just have to remember how weighed down I was by all the nostalgic stuff my mum kept for me and it is enough to get me culling. I don't want to leave that legacy for the girls.

[Fleur]

One thing I have found helpful (major hoarder, I am ) is to go back & cull after a while. I have found each box of 'special stuff' dwindling as the years go by.

Although come to think of it,that's not that helpful, since as the years go by I also tend to put more stuff away...I don't think it's getting any less...

[ladybird11]

Thanks ladies, I really like the idea of holding onto some of the clothes as a keep sake, why didn't I think of that lol!!!!

And every now and then hubby and I go thru the shed where it is all stored, so next time we de clutter I'll go thru the boys clothes.....promise

[Gigi]

i think hoarding is a problem when it impacts on your life e.g not being able to clean a room due to "stuff", or not being able to walk in a room. when you can't get to the things you need to get to.

i thought i was a hoarder, until i saw that tv show called HOARDERS on GEM. Now i think i have issues with clutter, but am not a hoarder.

i find it hard to let go of trashed shoes, as it's so stressful, coming up with the money to buy new shoes.