How to organize children's memories - The Washington Post

From the moment you bring home a new baby, the amount of stuff in your house seems to increase tenfold. And many of these objects are associated with memories or emotions, making them difficult to let go of, even if they've outgrown or been forgotten. At some point you think about keeping your baby's first hat and shoes; then one wonders whether it is worth keeping a book of painted pottery or an animal for the next 25 years.

Figuring out what cards, photos, certificates, uniforms, artwork, trophies, and assignments to keep and making those decisions without knowing what your child will consider special and cherish as an adult is mentally draining. However, if you don't stick to these decisions, your house will be raided.

But who should decide what is remarkable and memorable?

Many parents and their adult children struggle with these problems. Here's how to sort all of those things and the emotions that come with them.

less is more

If you are the parent of a young child, take the time now to find out and anticipate the problem. Identify a plastic container or several sturdy boxes for keepsakes, and then label them. Articles don't have to be perfectly arranged, let alone in chronological order. Resist the urge to toss every piece of paper your child brings home into the box. Set parameters for what you hold on to, and if you're undecided about something, make the mistake of throwing it away.

Some people keep an organized collection of artwork and schoolwork from their children's elementary years. Others keep report cards, school photos, and their favorite toys or stuffed animals. And still others may only keep elements of Special events and family outings. Label everything you keep with your child's name and age. However, there is no rule for the number of acceptable storage boxes per person Be realistic about what is a tolerable amount when it comes time to give items to your child.

Rerate and delete

Figuring out what to keep and what to throw away isn't a one-time thing. Keep the boxes in an accessible place so you can easily add items or revise them to further reduce them. A piece of art your child made in kindergarten may not seem that extraordinary compared to the works they created in fifth grade.

After a while, you may also decide to take a photo of an object instead of keeping the original. Reviewing the items you've saved will remind you of people and places you may have forgotten and might inspire ideas for a special gift or project. It's also fun to look for souvenirs with your kids when they're a little bigger.

to show creativity

There are many ways to preserve, transform, and organize memories. Turning a t-shirt collection into a cozy quilt has been a popular idea lately. The jerseys or medals can be mounted and framed and then displayed. Important letters or postcards can be processed into a scrapbook. And when well chosen, high school and college prom dresses, stationery, or hoodies can end up being something that the next generation of teenagers may find vintage or cool.

There are specialty products for organizing and protecting ticket stubs and posters, and there are companies that turn children's artwork into adorable framed books or mosaics. Not only does the finished product take up much less space than the originals, but the book is something for family members to enjoy. Photos can be scanned and sent electronically to family members, eliminating the need to store bulky boxes and photo albums.

Speak early and often

When your adult child moves out of the house, remind them of the items you have saved for them. Assess your interest in keeping memorabilia and other special possessions, family heirlooms, or valuables before you intend to give them up.

People are often reluctant to think about or talk about big life changes, and it's difficult to make those plans years in advance. Regular communication is essential. If parents are sure their child would like the childhood piano but are not interested in it then it is good to let everyone know so the piano can be moved rather than taking up space. Likewise, if parents know their daughter wants to keep a dollhouse she got when she was 8 years old, they will not give it to a neighbor's child.

Agree what and when

Above all, stay flexible. Rarely does everything go according to plan or do parents and children agree on what to keep and when to return the pieces.

Parents may need to downsize or have a medical condition that requires relocation. Adult children may also decide to take a break from work to travel, or they may not have the space to store the keepsake boxes and furniture they were hoping to inherit.

In the end, it's about compromising and accepting the imperfect reality of everyone's life. But try to remind yourself that important memories will live on whether you have physical memories of them or not.

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