My parents keep sending me boxes of my childhood crap.

[Anonymous]

Please don't blame OP!
I had one kid and saved stuff and still have a LOT but have gradually weaned myself without dumping it on the kid.

Not her fault if her mom saved her hair scrunchies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best way to handle it is to visit their houses and clear out all your stuff. Why does a grown woman have stuff at her parents' houses anyway and why do you think it's on them to clear out your junk?

When I moved out after college I threw away everything I had stored there. These are things they apparently were storing themselves.

Wtf does this mean? Go on long weekends to each place and clean out your crap.

[Anonymous]

OP, nevermind the postage if you’re not paying it it! I have lived long enough to be on both ends of this continuum and it really surprised me how it hurt to have my adult child enthusiastically throw out most of his stuff in front of me. I finally had to leave the room and tell him to bag up anything he didn’t want that wasn’t diplomas, yearbooks, photos, valuable collectibles and awards and take them out of the house ASAP without me seeing. Your mother is probably letting go of your stuff gradually for her sentimental reasons. Just thank her for sending the boxes and dispose of everything as you see fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best way to handle it is to visit their houses and clear out all your stuff. Why does a grown woman have stuff at her parents' houses anyway and why do you think it's on them to clear out your junk?

When I moved out after college I threw away everything I had stored there. These are things they apparently were storing themselves.

Wtf does this mean? Go on long weekends to each place and clean out your crap.

First of all, they live on the other coast, and not by airports. It takes 8+ hours to get to either of their homes. Second, as I have said several times, my items are not in a childhood bedroom or closet or corner of the garage. These aren’t things I set aside or left behind. I was not keeping hair ties from elementary school in my room through middle school and high school. Apparently my mom was keeping them somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, nevermind the postage if you’re not paying it it! I have lived long enough to be on both ends of this continuum and it really surprised me how it hurt to have my adult child enthusiastically throw out most of his stuff in front of me. I finally had to leave the room and tell him to bag up anything he didn’t want that wasn’t diplomas, yearbooks, photos, valuable collectibles and awards and take them out of the house ASAP without me seeing. Your mother is probably letting go of your stuff gradually for her sentimental reasons. Just thank her for sending the boxes and dispose of everything as you see fit.

Okay, thank you. These are the experiences I had moving out—parents being really upset I was willing to let go of stuff I didn’t care to move with me. If it is for some reason their preference for me to do it now, I don’t have a problem with it. I don’t get it, but I don’t need to.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think I ever said ...

You never said. Don't speak ill of your parent. Speak it. Speak what you want. You owe them that, authenticity. Oh and some class. If they ignore your wishes, trash it all if you want.

Now, why is it YOU haven't gone over to their house and cleaned out YOUR STUFF from their house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don’t think I ever said ...

You never said. Don't speak ill of your parent. Speak it. Speak what you want. You owe them that, authenticity. Oh and some class. If they ignore your wishes, trash it all if you want.

Now, why is it YOU haven't gone over to their house and cleaned out YOUR STUFF from their house?

Well, if you read the thread...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 7 yr old DD and a toddler DS. My parents (divorced) each separately keep sending (or bringing when visiting) old childhood stuff that I do not want, under the guise of giving these things to my daughter. Most recently it was a box of scrunchies and hair ties—truly things that should have been thrown away long long ago. DD opened it, made a confused face, and went back on about her day.

Do I encourage them to just toss anything they don’t want to keep around? I don’t think I ever said I wanted them to keep these things for me but in my 35 years on this planet who knows what I told them (or what they heard). Family has actually accused me of being unsentimental to the point it hurts feelings so I want to be respectful but I would love it if this stopped.

Go toss it yourself next time you visit their home or storage unit. Be an adult and clean out your stuff already.

[Anonymous]

If it fits into a mailing box t will fit nicely in a trash can. Do your parents a favor and remove your heavy stuff from their house.
Older people hurt their backs and wrists sling your old crap to the curb.

[Anonymous]

Apparently not many actually read the thread.

***** THIS IS STUFF OP'S PARENTS KEPT ON THEIR OWN****

Op, tell them you kept everything you wanted to, so they can donate/throw out whatever they have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best way to handle it is to visit their houses and clear out all your stuff. Why does a grown woman have stuff at her parents' houses anyway and why do you think it's on them to clear out your junk?

This. Go visit and clear out your stuff and take what you want and donate what you don’t

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Can you guys imagine if I actually took the advice in this thread

Sorry mom I need to inspect your crawl space for things of mine you may be holding onto. And what is under your bed?

[Anonymous]

if they recently divorced and never remarried they prob both downsized into a condo or apartment, so no, they don't have room for your K-12 memories, clothes, bathroom stuff, toys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you guys imagine if I actually took the advice in this thread

Sorry mom I need to inspect your crawl space for things of mine you may be holding onto. And what is under your bed?

I'd say get to it!