June 4, 2012

The Clothes That Make the Man Cry

There are some things I hate about being a stay at home dad.  Organizing just happens to be one of them, and it's not for the reasons you might think.

Today I decided that I needed to move out all of the old clothes in Carter's closet.  A lot of these clothes have been with us since Tyler was his age, which means they have been with us for almost five years.  As you can imagine, there are a lot of memories wrapped up in these old duds, and since Carter is most likely our last child, these clothes will never be seen again.

Part of what I struggle with now is the fact that HE WILL be our last kid.  When my wife and I first decided to have kids we always assumed that we would have three.  We each come from families of five so it would only make sense that we would continue that trend.  But Carter is five now and the idea of adding another child to the mix some six years after giving birth to him just doesn't see likely.  A family of four works just works for right now, and it looks as though life will move forward the way it is.

Which brings me today and putting the clothes away.  

There are a lot of memories here in this closet.  With every shirt I can picture a different part of our lives, whether it was trips that we have made or weekends that we have spent as a family.  Some of them haven't been worn in years, and part of the reason is that I just wasn't ready to close that chapter of my life.  Once they go into storage, that's it, five years packed away, just like that.


This was Tyler's shirt.  He wore it everywhere.  I can remember him wearing it to Niagara Falls and Disney World just to name a couple of  places, but the place I remember it most is Point Pleasant Beach and his second birthday.  Tyler turns eight in a little over a month, but this shirts reminds me of that little diaper wearing kid walking on the beach almost six years ago.  It really is unbelievable to me how quickly that time has gone.  


Then there is Carter.  This was his fancy shirt for almost four years.  Yeah I know it's ridiculous that he could wear the same shirt for that long, but when he first started wearing it around his first birthday it was pretty big on him.  Since he is smaller than most kids his age it still fit him when he decided himself to wear it this past Thanksgiving.  This shirt has been all over the world including trips to France and Italy.  Quick side note, Carter thinks that any shirt with a button is fancy.

I only got through the closet today.  I couldn't bear going through his drawers.  He has the cutest little butt and the thought that he might need bigger underwear is just too much to take. We'll save that for another day.



John Willey - Daddy's in Charge?

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25 comments:

  1. I hope you're saving some of those. Do be sure to donate a bunch of those clothes, though. Plenty of charities need quality children's clothes.

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  2. I will be keeping some... most likely Shadowbox these two shirts to hang somewhere. Maybe on each kids bedroom door

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  3. I just started my collection of 30-gallon bins in the garage. Considering she wants 2 more kids, I guess I'll see all those outfits again...great post.

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  4. We got bins on top of bins on top of bins. Weve been fortunate to inherit a bunch of really good clothes. But man they have way too many clothes.

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  5. I can relate.  We are also only having 2 kids and a couple weekends ago we had a garage sale it was sad to see the stuff go even though it needed to go.  Bittersweet.

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  6. Did you smell them too? I smell the kids clothing before we give it away. Something about the smell helps to bring back those memories too.

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  7. It really is tough... I don't want to turn into a hoarder. There are just so many good memories though.

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  8. The smaller clothes had that smell.  Back when we used Dreft on everything.  The smells have faded, but the memories linger.

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  9. Melissa_FillingOurBucketJune 5, 2012 at 12:11 PM

    Our son will be our only, and his closet is packed with baby clothes. I cannot bear the thought of going through them, as I know I will be a basket case as I do it. Those two pictures of your boys are adorable. 

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  10. You're almost better off hiring someone to come in and do it for you.  Some of them I will never get rid of. 

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  11. Well,have you ever thought of letting someone turn them into a quilt for yourself, or two smaller ones to give the boys for their children someday?

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  12. Haven't thought about a quilt, but we'll definitely do something with our favorite things.

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  13. There are places that will make blankets out of old t-shirts and clothes...or you could do it, but let me say I still have a bag of my daughter's old t-shirts.  Some day!!  Another sweet post, John. 

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  14. gramma_bettie_mae_turleyJune 5, 2012 at 5:35 PM

    that is jest sooo sweet!!!

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  15. I cried, I laughed. Perfect.  Damn you John Wiley and your clever ways.

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  16. I love this post! I thought I was the only one who hates to let go of their kids tiny clothes. It is so hard! I watch a couple episodes of Clean Sweep or Hoarders to inspire my "let it go" before tackling kid stuff.

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  17. *ugh*... I feel your pain! I just went through my daughter's closet last week, & had to donate an entire garbage bag of stuff that no longer fits. Then went through a box given to us by my sister, & was amazed to find that my 1st grader now fits into my sister's oldest daughter's clothes from way back. My sis & I are very close, so to look at some shirts & remember my niece at various events was rough. Although, don't get me wrong --- I'm super grateful she was kind enough to pass them down! I'm just not ready for my little one to be "big" yet! And I can't have any more babies, so everything is always "the last time ever". :(

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  18. Great post. I like your shadow box idea. You know I'm a sucker for nostalgia. Carter makes me laugh with his "fancy shirt" theory. He's very classy.

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  19. Clever?! Huh never thought of that

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  20. I would hate hot my kids room to turn into a fire hazard with rats all over the place. That could be an issue, great idea.

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  21. Very classy when he mixes his fancy shirts with his sweat pants.

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  22. I know what you mean. We have passed down clothes from C1 to C2 and now C4. Some of them have such special meaning.  Save some. Always have those memories.

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  23. I can so relate to this post!!  My youngest will be 4 years old next month, and for the first time in many, many years there is no little one following the "youngest"  (we have nine children, one right after the other, and so the baby clothes and the crib has never been put away -- until now)   Anyway, I am having a very hard time getting rid of her outgrown clothes, many of which were worn by her older sisters as well. With all the others, putting away their outgrown baby clothes never bothered me because I always had another "bun in the oven" and so I knew I'd use the clothes again. But that isn't the case anymore, and I hate that this chapter in my life is coming to an end.  I have bins and bins of baby and small child clothing, all that hold a special memory.  I have donated a lot, but I also keep a lot. I plan on making a quilt (or two, or three) out of the clothes one day.  

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  24. Oh this happens to me A LOT!  Twice a year I gather things around the house to sell in my twins club sale.  There is a box of "keepers" that stays in a closet... housing things I just can't let go of.  Maybe ever.

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  25. We're at the other end of the scale. Putting clothes away in the hope that we will get them out again. There is still a lump in my throat with certain item though.

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