[UUMom]

My 15 yr old dd just brought me a pile of clothes. "Time to pass these along. Some of these things are too small, and some just don't feel like me". <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"> She gets that its ok to sort through things and decide they shouldn't be taking up space in your life if they do not work. She gets that others may need/want them.

 

[mamaveggie]

She is so lucky to have a mom that taught her this at a young age! That is so much better than passing down the pack rat gene.

 

[doubledutch]

that's awesome! now you have a decluttering partner!

 

[UUMom]

Thanks!<br><br>
This is the child who once said, at age 5, as I tried to clean her room (and declutter) "Why are you trying to get rid of pieces of my childhood?" So I totally backed off...and let her keep all the stuff she needed. It kept the dust mites happy too. 10 years later, she is able to part with things. My patience and respect has payed off. She also cleaned out a bunch of old toys and stuffies from her room right before Christmas. If you build it, they will come. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/treehugger.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Treehugger">:

 

[Mommy2anangel]

That's awesome!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"> Way to go mama for teaching her from young!

 

[nascarbebe]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>UUMom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10319920"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Thanks!<br><br>
This is the child who once said, at age 5, as I tried to clean her room (and declutter) "Why are you trying to get rid of pieces of my childhood?" So I totally backed off...and let her keep all the stuff she needed. It kept the dust mites happy too. 10 years later, she is able to part with things. My patience and respect has payed off. She also cleaned out a bunch of old toys and stuffies from her room right before Christmas. If you build it, they will come. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/treehugger.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Treehugger">:</div>
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Oh my, so it just takes 10 years, huh?

 

[UUMom]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>nascarbebe</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10320805"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Oh my, so it just takes 10 years, huh?</div>
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lol Maybe not. She lightened up considerably about 2 years ago. For years, we'd clear the items together...I would hold them up and say "Keep?" or "Give away?" and she would decide. If she said 'keep' we kept it, often talking about why it was special. Sometimes she would say "That was a lovely day. I remember we were on vacation when I got that" or "My godfather gave me that. Would he mind if we passed it along?"<br><br>
So, about 8 years. lol She is a very sentimental person and I respect that. We talked a lot over the years about memories, gifts, what makes something meaningful, how people store memories-- emotionally and physically- etc etc. When she's ready, she's ready.