Since there’s no “factual” answer to this, it’s not going in GQ…
My pelvic affiliate of nine months has two (wonderful) kids, aged 6 & 8. They’re both very generous, and enjoy giving me trinkets and gifts. Last night, we traded solstice presents–what they got me was cute, but…
A bit of plastic with rice in it, covered with tinfoil, and
a brown clay “snowman” what looks kinda like Mister Hanky, if you know what I mean.
I’ll probably keep them for awhile, but even though I love these kids dearly, and don’t want to hurt their feelings–how long am I obligated to hang on to every little thing they’ve given me? (including painted rocks, 1"sq. paper with unidentifiable drawings, flower petals, marbles, walnut shells, tied bits of grass, magnolia pods, and so on and so on…)
Is there anyone who has had to make this sort of choice and has some advice? Or perhaps there’s a Miss Manners standard “crap-keeping” schedule?
Creative suggestion, if I may? Tell the tots you want to create a time capsule, and put all their special gifts in them. Invite them over, have a little ceremony. Include some other items, maybe newspaper clippings or photos. Find a quiet spot in your yard (if you have one) or some other area and bury your capsule. The trinkets are out of your hair and in time maybe the kids will even enjoy getting their gifts back when you decide to dig up the capsule.
I don’t keep every little scribble my kids lay on me. Yes, yes, I know I’ll regret that when I’m old or something, but right now I’m buried up to my neck in the clutter! Now, since you’re asking about a gift given on a holiday, I’m afraid you’re going to be stuck with it quite a while, at least as long as you’re stuck with your “pelvic affiliate”(Ha!). I’d display them for a while, then box them up and put them out in the garage. Maybe by the next time you run across that box again, you’ll be able to decide if you can throw it out without getting caught.
both very good suggestions…unfortunately, I’m in an apartment which, although it is’t cluttered, I can see it becoming so in the near future (at this rate, anyway). But I don’t have a garage, or a yard–though when my p.a. moves to her own place, the time capsule might be an option.
Dreadful accidents do happen to knick-knacks sometimes…
As the parent of 4 kids, here is my suggestion:
Get two boxes. As you get the trinkets, make a decision whether this particular item is typical of the age, or perhaps has some sentimental value to you. (Believe, me, if you care about these kids you will want to have something from each age) The keepsake stuff goes in box #1. The rest goes into box #2. After a while (6 months or so) box #2 gets emptied. If they have not asked about it in that time period then it is pretty much forgotten.
YMMV, but it works so far.