Downsizing Diaries: ‘Yes, I’m Giving Away My Kids’ Favorite Things’
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Downsizing looks different at different stages of life, and for my family, it is taking the shape of little girls becoming big girls. Over the past few weeks, my daughters (ages 7 and 9) have made the decision to move into separate “big girl” rooms. This move means our current guest room becomes my older daughter’s room, and the erstwhile playroom will become the new guest room. And that means all the clothes, toys, dress-up clothes, dolls, electronics, and sundries have to be sorted and reevaluated.
This would be a much easier process if left up to my husband and me alone. We have a pretty good idea of what’s in the current rotation and what hasn’t been touched in years. However, the girls feel differently — and of course, they have vastly different outlooks on downsizing.
Samantha, the oldest, is quite analytical, going through things quickly and without emotion. She is ready to toss more stuff than even her dad and I are, especially things like hand-me-downs from cousins that don’t fit yet.
“I’ll never wear that. Toss it.”
Zoe, on the other hand, wants to keep everything. That 2T-sized dress she hasn’t seen in 5 years?
“I love that! You can’t give that away!”
Any toy — no matter how battered, worn, or meant for a baby — has become her absolute favorite thing that she’s been looking for for ages.
Two Piles (and a few sub-piles)
Despite this, we’ve managed to sort the girls’ things into a few piles. The “Keep” pile includes items for their new rooms, clothes going into storage, and things that will find a new place somewhere else in the house.
The “Go” pile includes clothes for Buy Nothing, clothes and toys for Genesis Women’s Shelter, items for textile recycling, electronics for recycling, and a bit of trash. I’ll explain.
When you’re getting rid of a lot of children’s stuff, it’s always worth seeing if you can rehome anything that’s still in good condition instead of sending it to a landfill. There are plenty of ways to do that. A few of my favorites:
Buy Nothing
If you’re not familiar with the Buy Nothing Project, go to the website and find your local group — it’s truly the best thing ever. The idea is simple: within your neighborhood or area, people post things on Facebook they no longer need, and others in the group comment if they’d like to have them. The original poster randomly chooses a winner and leaves the item on their porch for pickup — free of charge.
I’ve gotten a bunk bed, a couch, a bicycle — all kinds of random things — through Buy Nothing. I’ve also given away plenty of items I no longer use and watched neighbors happily come pick them up.
Genesis Women’s Shelter Thrift Store
Whenever I have new or gently used home goods to give away, I try to take them to Genesis. The organization provides shelter and support to women and children in North Texas experiencing domestic violence.
Their amazing thrift store at Lemmon near Wycliff supports that mission, both by raising funds and by offering a place where clients can shop for free. They accept clothing, jewelry, toys, games, furniture, and home décor. Plus, the shopping there is pretty great, too.
Textile Recycling
For clothing, shoes, and cloth toys that are past their prime, textile recycling is the best option. Rather than donating items that can’t be resold or tossing them in the trash, look for a textile recycling bin from a company like World Wear Project or Green City Recycling. You’ll often find them in the parking lots of churches, schools, or local businesses — I use the one at my church.
If you don’t know where one is, you can schedule a home pick-up with Donate 2 Impact or Recycle 2 Support.
Electronic Recycling
For electronics, Dallas residents can recycle for free by visiting the McCommas Bluff Landfill or one of the city’s three transfer stations, where items are processed by URT, an e-Stewards–certified recycler. (No, they don’t go in the landfill!) You can also take most electronics to Staples or Best Buy, where they’ll recycle them for a small fee.
Other cities have similar programs. For example, Plano offers electronics recycling on the first and third Saturdays of the month at two local churches. Check your city’s website for details.
I’m hopeful that by the time we’re done, the trash pile will be the smallest one. I’m also hopeful that as we clean, organize, and decide what to keep, my girls will start to see their possessions differently — not just as things they use today, but as objects that have an impact in the world beyond our house. Maybe they’ll think twice before bringing home that little plastic doodad they don’t really need. Or maybe they’ll just appreciate what they already have a little more.
I can hope, anyway.
