August means fresh tomatoes, peaches, new backpacks, school clothes and oh yes, the ugliest chore of the summer: dejunking. We try and go on a deep dejunking expedition of kid bedrooms 3-4 times per year - spring cleaning, before school, before Christmas and sometimes before their birthdays. And yet, they still don't seem to grasp the concept of throwing wrappers in the garbage instead of under the dresser, or throwing away splintered pencils instead of tossing them back in a drawer. None the less, the point is to teach them the process of throwing away, donating and thinning things out so that hopefully when they have homes of their own, they don't end up on a hoarders-annonymous reality tv show.
Oscar Wilde said, "There are many things we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up."
I think the trick is to teach kids how to "throw-way" (or donate) with
the thought that others can "pick them up" or use them. Often that is
the way I get the kids to part with a loved, but out-grown toy, or
article of clothing - by tapping into their compassion.
One motivator for going through my kids stuff is that in my neighborhood they've started a tradition that every August, they have a kid's clothes swap night. The month or so prior, people can drop off their gently used kids clothes at a designated home, then that night it is all laid out by gender-specific or size, or clothing category. There is usually food or refreshments so even if you don't need anything it is still fun to come and visit. The remaining clothes are then donated to a local charity or second-hand store.
So the battle goes on - my kids rooms inevitably turn into pits-of-despair, but at least they are learning how to let go of things and practice a bit of unselfish sharing watching others "pick them up".
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