Sentimental items- can you bring yourself to get rid of them?

I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to sentimental things - OH is the exact opposite! We've just been having a bit of a clear-out, so lots of stuff has gone in the bin. I think it stems from having to clear out my inlaws' house last year after they both went into care, and finding the amount of stuff they had held onto over the years. We decided we didn't want our children to have to face the same, so I'm learning to 'let go' of a great deal of stuff.

I’ve got quite a lot of things I’ve inherited. I’m in the process of having furniture and pictures that I love and want to keep restored, and it’s really very satisfying to see them as lovely as they used to be, I think my grandparents would be pleased. The things I don’t love I’ve offered to my children then to my large wider family (9 nieces and nephews), and so far everything has found a home, which I prefer to selling it. I’m glad I never collected or inherited china or ornaments though, as that must be a real headache.

I have a teacup and saucer from both my paternal great grandmothers - they will never be got rid of. I have jewellery from mum which will be passed down.

My beloved dog died on Monday, and apart from photos, I have kept his first toy which he played with for nearly 15 years. I will also keep a card sent to me by his vet showing a heart of paw prints - so appropriate and this will be framed.

Actually thinking about it, I have quite a bit of inherited stuff- from art to silver to China etc. All will be left to the children to do with as they wish.

Whitewavemark2

I have a teacup and saucer from both my paternal great grandmothers - they will never be got rid of. I have jewellery from mum which will be passed down.

My beloved dog died on Monday, and apart from photos, I have kept his first toy which he played with for nearly 15 years. I will also keep a card sent to me by his vet showing a heart of paw prints - so appropriate and this will be framed.

I’m so sorry to hear about your darling dog. They really do leave a huge hole in your life . Sending hugs

My advice would be to keep both items. (At least for now). Are they going to take up important space? If not, then keep. If, in, say 6 months time, you look again at them and decide the best place is the rubbish bin, then so be it. At the moment, though, I don’t think, in your heart, that’s where you want them to go, and I think you will regret binning them.
The idea of a previous poster to use the mug as a container to put a small plant in, is a good idea. (As the outer pot, that is).

I have about a 20 small things that came from either my grandmother or my parents. There are perhaps 6 things from my ma in laws home. They all have a space in our home, no need to dispose of them. I’ve put photos of them all in a little album with an explanation of what they are, where they came from and why they have been kept. The family can decide in future whether they want them.

A huge sadness is having just two photos of Mr C’s father and just one of Mr C as a child. Why? Because without consultation his brother had the family home cleared after their mothers death. It made a sad time so much worse.

Old photos of my family have been sorted and split into three. I made albums for our sons and have the rest, annotated, in a file. I’ve not even thought of disposing of our third.

Whitewavemark2

Actually thinking about it, I have quite a bit of inherited stuff- from art to silver to China etc. All will be left to the children to do with as they wish.

I just wish they'd take it now.

Parsley3

I am in the process of decluttering and when I come across an item that I am swithering over I ask my self what the fhildren will do with it. If the answer involves the bin, then I dispose of it. This approach works for most things but I recently found a little container with my son's baby teeth. I couldn't ditch that.

This is my attitude too. I ask myself what will happen to this jug/dish/picture when I die. If nobody seems likely to care, I bin it or give it to charity. (And I buried the baby teeth in the garden, couldn’t think what else to do with them!!)

Whitewavemark, I'm so sorry to hear about your darling dog. I still have my old boy's collar, tag, bowl and adoption papers after 21 years. It doesn't seem that long ago. These are precious to me.

Other things I would never get rid of whilst I'm alive are my (not very expensive) but very pretty engagement ring which I can no longer wear. A commemorative mug from a long ago rugby match in Aberavon which I went to with late DH. The whole day was worthy of a British comedy film.

Then there's a Capodimonte porcelain flower that was given to me by an Italian photographer when I was young and living in Italy.

I also inherited a gorgeous handmade Christening robe which had been worn by My Aunt and Mother, then myself and sister, and both my daughters. My 2 granddaughters did not have christenings but wore the gown for their Baby naming and tree planting ceremonies. My DD is an Independent Celebrant who performs Baby Naming along with funeral and Renewal of vows ceremonies. The gown is featured on her advertising materials and has been worn by several other babies (all girls as my Grandson and most boy babies are too big to fit in

All I have to say is take PHOTOGRAPHS of everything nostalgic before you get rid of them. That way you have a permanent record and have not lost the item entirely. That is the very purpose of photographs.

I am sorting photos at this very minute - yet another insomniac night - destroying photos that will mean nothing to the children- photos of places we visited, even I can’t remember

Oh! Dee1012
😭😭😭

Hugs.

Thanks for all the responses, especially those who have commented on my actual items. I guess the baby plate will have to go back in the cupboard but the mug is too faded to survive even as a plant container.

One day when I have managed to clear the remaining items of my late husband’s stuff I will have to start again on my own stuff. The thought of what will my children eventually do with it is a helpful tool.
I have still got my plaits! I showed them, plus my school beret with prefect tassel to my oldest grandson and to my surprise he said You can’t possibly throw them out! I didn’t think he had an ounce of sentiment in him.

Sorry to hear about your dog WWM. I know how heartbreaking it is.

DM was totally unsentimental and there was little to clear when she died. We have given the GC books which belonged to their Great-great grandma and labelled them so they know why they have them. Very little has been passed down in the family but I do use my grand mother’s candlesticks every Friday night.

I am also in the process of sorting through photos. Boxes and boxes going back two generations from two families. I have spent hours with a bin bag beside me but it's like the magic porridge pot as there is seemingly no end to it. I have already given the children boxes of their photos and their spouses were delighted to have them.
Burying the baby teeth in the garden may well be the solution, Dempie55. I can do that. Ever onwards.

I am not a masochist . And it would hurt my feelings to get rid of symbols of past happiness. These small inanimate objects are dear to me, and I'd try hard to find a safe place to store them.

I feel with you, WWM. This sad occasion will happen to me too and I fear it. The grief takes its own time .

Growstuff, is the lace large enough to sew on an item, such as a t shirt, round the neck for example? I love small amounts of lace on clothes

A long time ago, I bought a secondhand purse.

When I opened it, it was obvious that it had belonged to someone who had died.

It contained the old style 5 pound notes, and other bits and pieces.
.
There was a rosary (I presume, or think it was) in there, too, so now I'm sort of stuck with that, looking after it for the lady who went before.

I still have my spoon and pusher that is a relic of my childhood . When I cleared my mother's house I found a tiny little dress which must have been mine plus a very fancy lacy dressing gown that I think she had bought for her honeymoon . I had never seen her wear it .

What about taking a photo of the item instead

My sister cleared my mother's home when she died, she threw everything without conferring with me. All my certificates. a and O level, those won for various competions and eisteddfod. My Pa's Merchant Navy Uniforms too.
I have just one treasure from my childhood home - it's my grandpa's shaving mug. I was so cross but did not make a song and dance.