My parents keep sending me boxes of my childhood crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

It’s a bunch of trolls repeatedly posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

They divorced when I was 2 and have lived in their respective homes for minimum 15 years.

OP, it’s your stuff. Go find as much as you can and get rid of it. When they find more and send it to you, pitch it. Take responsibility and stop whining. This is on you.

It is, without question, not on me. I don’t know why my parents are doing this, but it is not due to anything I did.

[Anonymous]

You are a fool OP.

You are going to miss their junk mail when they are long gone and will look at this post with guilt.

Be thankful that they are around and simply up-cycle stuff you don’t want. Other kids may benefit, everyone wins.

At your age, some maturity is expected.

Enjoy your parents...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

****WE HEARD YOU WE JUST REALLY DON’T BELIEVE OP****

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

****WE HEARD YOU WE JUST REALLY DON’T BELIEVE OP****

But why? Why when it says in the OP that a lack of sentimentality was a source of conflict, would you stubbornly insist OP probably refused to throw stuff away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

****WE HEARD YOU WE JUST REALLY DON’T BELIEVE OP****

But why? Why when it says in the OP that a lack of sentimentality was a source of conflict, would you stubbornly insist OP probably refused to throw stuff away?

Because OP changed the narrative after everyone told her she was a jerk for keeping crap at her parents’ house this long anyway. First it was, maybe I told them to keep it, maybe they heard me wrong, then it was “they wanted to keep this stuff themselves all along” AFTER people told her she was in the wrong. Classic changing the story when people didn’t agree with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

****WE HEARD YOU WE JUST REALLY DON’T BELIEVE OP****

But why? Why when it says in the OP that a lack of sentimentality was a source of conflict, would you stubbornly insist OP probably refused to throw stuff away?

Because OP changed the narrative after everyone told her she was a jerk for keeping crap at her parents’ house this long anyway. First it was, maybe I told them to keep it, maybe they heard me wrong, then it was “they wanted to keep this stuff themselves all along” AFTER people told her she was in the wrong. Classic changing the story when people didn’t agree with her.

I don’t think that’s what happened here but I understand that would engender skepticism.

[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.

Just take the boxes of crap and toss them. Nobody wants old hair ties and lip gloss or whatever else it is that they saved.

I have saved some of my kids baby clothes, board books, matchbox cars, dinosaurs, nerf guns, Lincoln logs and legos. Legos are expensive and they don't go bad. It also seems that toys keep getting made of cheaper material so they may appreciate having some of their older, sturdier toys for their kids to play with.

This sounds like a ton of stuff but it's all neatly organized and they may get a kick out of seeing it again one day. We'll see.

[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?

Or you could be reasonable and proactive and say "Sorry mom, I didn't realize you had so much of my stuff still at the house. I know I emptied out my bedroom when I left, so next time I'm there you can show me where all the rest of the stuff is and I'd be happy to handle it so you don't need to waste money on postage."

[Anonymous]

OP, sounds like your mom is overly sentimental with stuff, and you are on the other end of the extreme. I would take the mailed items as a way of her sharing a memory with you, appreciate it, and then toss them as you receive them like you would a card or letter. This is her own way of letting go, just let her do it.

[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.

So this happened to me too- every time I went home I cleared out more boxes but they just kept appearing. Like a box with ALL of my worksheets, math tests, etc. from second grade! Then just when I thought everything was gone, when my daughter was born I received boxes of barrettes and Polly Flinders dresses, among other things.

Its truly amazing the amount of stuff my mom stashed in their unfinished basement. When they "downsized" she inisisted on another place with a basement so she could bring it all with her.

Its motivated me to purge as we go. My mom of course can't understand why I don't want to save my childrens' clothes and highchair for my future grandchildren, but whatever.

[Anonymous]

Just own it! Remind them that you are unsentimental and you do not value THINGS and STUFF the same way they do. Then ask them to please just toss anything else that is yours from their homes, instead of shipping it cross country.

But don't be offended when they call you unsentimental, instead, AGREE with them.

[Anonymous]

Why is Op making this an issue? So many ways to find fault with one's parents. Choosing to think the worst of parents. It's a small thing, deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is Op making this an issue? So many ways to find fault with one's parents. Choosing to think the worst of parents. It's a small thing, deal with it.

Her parents keep mailing her boxes full of stuff that Op really doesn't want. Yes, she could just toss the boxes as soon as they arrive but her parents probably ask her questions about them "I sent you your favorite barrette with the butterflies on it, did you see what else was in the box?!!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just own it! Remind them that you are unsentimental and you do not value THINGS and STUFF the same way they do. Then ask them to please just toss anything else that is yours from their homes, instead of shipping it cross country.

But don't be offended when they call you unsentimental, instead, AGREE with them.

They are ATTACHED to that stuff though. They can't just throw it out. They are spending $$$ sending it to Op because they do value it and can't bring themselves to get rid of it...it's like a connection to their past and to happier times maybe(?).

I recently *made* myself sit down and go through boxes of my own kids' preschool artwork, elementary school papers, standardized test results, report cards, various keepsakes from their many childhood activities and OMG it was a brutal process to pare down, weed out and only keep a small percentage of what was in those boxes. I had been saving it all to one day scrapbook it. Well, that day has come and I now have a separate stack for each kid that I am going to neatly scrapbook for them. I think they'll appreciate getting those memories. I do not think that they would one day appreciate getting boxes and boxes of old papers, artwork and random stuff from their childhood. I am so glad that I took the time now to sort through it all. Not everything needs to be kept or should be kept.