It’s Okay to Let Go: We Are a Family of Three

After our son was born we always thought we would have another child.  I secretly hoped for a boy because I just wasn’t sure I was equipped to handle a girl and because the thought of having to re-purchase and decorate everything in pink freaked me out.  So as time went by and Sam grew out of his clothes I donated about one third of his clothes. Mostly what I didn’t like, or was too itchy, too preppy, or too uncomfortable.  I gave a lot of clothes to friends because a lot of clothes were given to me.  I saved the other two thirds to pass down to our next child.  I kept up this system for a while, and then I just started saving everything because it was easier.  Now Sam is five and we have a crawlspace full of storage bins with clothes, baby toys and other things to pass down.  The only problem is it looks like we are not going to have another child. It was time to let go.

* Originally posted August 4, 2014

It’s Okay to Let Go

After two miscarriages involving surgery we don’t think we want to do it again.  We have become really content as a family of three.  God has turned my heart to where I am accepting this more every day.  Of course I still wonder how what having another child would be like.  It just doesn’t tear me up inside as much.

Now, what to do with all of these clothes?  For a while I associated them with longing, then failure, then excitement, longing and failure again, etc.  Now I see them as an emotional obstacle I need to get over.  I am actually ready to do this and tackle this project.  First, I thought I would sort them, and then put them all in lots to sell on eBay.  But I sort of feel guilty because so many were given to me.  Also, who really has time for selling five years of clothes?  So just the other day my neighbor and I were talking and they are going on their annual mission trip to the Navajo Nation.  All of a sudden I felt a clear sign of what I need to do with these clothes! It finally felt good to think about letting go!  My neighbor volunteered to take whatever I wanted to give down to the Navajo Nation.  Social workers will then deliver the items to the homes that need them.  I will also save some of the biggest items to donate to Grace Place Church LION Ministry in Berthoud, CO.  They specifically take items for children and mothers.

I know saving all of my only son’s clothes was a way to emotionally deal with the possibility of not having another child.  I know that it was only to hold onto these things until I was ready to let go.  I also wanted them to go to a special place.  Until now I just wasn’t sure where.  I also thought I needed someone to help me go through all of this and make decisions.  Now though I feel strong enough to do it on my own.  I believe I will even donate two thirds and only keep one third, you know, until at lease menopause is over. Just in case!

*2015: Here is an update since I wrote this blog in.  Once I finished sorting everything after donating I ended up selling tons more clothes and shoes to a consignment store and ended up making enough money to pay for my sons swimming lessons all summer!  That felt awesome!  I only kept one small bin of the items that tugged at my heart the most.  That of course doesn’t count things made or given to us by the grandparents and special friends.  I just sold the crib mattress to a friend today as I type this!  That leaves me with one thing left to donate and it’s the Pack N Play.  I can’t believe no one wants to buy it.  Did they go out of style or something?  That’s the last donation I have to make from the baby years.  Thank goodness!

What do you or did you have a hard time giving up from the “baby years?”