Gulp - just gave away 10+ bags of old toys & books

[FlyingPi]

I had a sort of mission for this summer, to clear out all my 7.5 year old's baby/toddler toys and books. Can't really explain why it suddenly seemed so important but I could feel him growing up and into a new phase. And I had this overwhelming feeling that if I didn't let go of this stuff now, I would have it around forever (like my mum did, she never gave away a single one of my toys even decades after I left home). So I have spent quite a lot of time over weeks going through everything with him, setting aside the absolute favourites to keep, putting some big items on eBay and finding new homes for things like bikes, toy kitchen etc.

Today we took about ten bags full to the charity shop, mostly books. See if you recognise any! I have read each and every single one of these (plus the dozens we have kept) OVER AND OVER. Every single damn train in Sodor had its own voice, I can still name them all now. All the Paw Patrol pups. Each page of That's Not My Panda had its own intonation. All gone, like raindrops!

And now I feel absolutely drained and really quite sad. I think I powered through it this summer because I'm trying to make myself comprehend this transition. He likes Minecraft and YouTube now, won't watch CBeebies, still loves cuddles and teddies but is growing up. Even six months ago I don't think he would have accepted most of this stuff being given away. My little boy is not so little, he's a child now for sure. I'm sure some of you will have felt this, like nostalgia for his childhood even though he's still in it!

(Meanwhile my husband is like, "Huh. Ok. Yes, good idea to clear things out." Totally non-plussed.)

Please tell me lots of lovely things about having an older (pre-tween) child! And tell me that I did the right thing in having this clear-out because I'm slightly freaking out that I went too fast!

Well done you! I'm back to work after my second mat leave in October and am on a similar mission to you to clear the house while I have some time! I'm being a bit more brutal though and once DD2 has outgrown it it's going! Been selling bits on FB Marketplace and so far haven't felt too sentimental as been using the cash to treat the girls to new bits. Could you do the same to focus energy on future big boy things rather than dwelling on all the cute toddler stuff?

Oh I know exactly what you mean op!

I kept a book that was read over and over.. for memories sake. Mines 10 now and it just hit me recently that my 2 will never be babies/toddlers again 😭

Don't get me wrong I don't want any more babies it was bloody hard work, but it's a bit sad saying goodbye to those days x

I did this last week with DD8's bedroom. I think I was more upset than her about getting rid of old books and toys. I still have the mountain of "artwork" from school to go through.

My parents are downsizing and having a major clear-out and it's rubbed off on me. I also like a bit of "Sort Your Life Out". Less clutter is definitely better.

I've recently had to start clearing the home of someone who was extremely sentimental about possessions (sounds like your mum) - it's a mammoth, emotionally difficult task and it's obvious most of it was gathering dust for years, if not decades. While I totally understand why it's hard to let things go, it just seems so pointless that this person kept all these items untouched just for me to be throwing them all out years and years later. You've done the right thing, let someone else make use of them.