Need advice... attention Moms

I want Walker to stay the age he is forever. I get those genuine hugs that you wish you could bottle up and keep forever.

Aww, both mine still come up and hug me all the time. I hope it doesn't stop. I do really miss holding his hand when we are out together though. He told me sometime last year that he was too old for that!

We got rid of a bunch of stuff the summer before our daughter left for college, but we still have hundreds of stuffed animals and other toys. Even at 21, she is never without her Nala stuffed animal (Lion King). Nala has been with her to Europe many times, as well as Asia, Bermuda, etc. She laughs and says that Nala will be with her on her honeymoon. I have no doubt about that.

We need to sort through it all again before she gets married (which I predict will be next summer). I don't want to throw out something she's attached to, like some of her bunnies.

I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think it's my right to throw out her stuff without her permission.

Thanks for your advice. I have been wanting to do the same thing for my 13 yr. old daughter that Ocean Lover is doing for hers. Not to just clean out (but lord knows it needs it) but just to give her a wonderful surprise. I mean do the whole "while she was out" thing - add a little less girly and a little more sophistication, but I have been thinking the same as you. Do I really have the right to throw things out without her permission or choose her colors, furnishings and fabrics without her input. She actually has very good taste (sometimes too good for my budget). After all, she is going to be living in it.

No offense Ocean Lover. For all we know, your daughter could have asked you to do this.

But....Beach Lover you have helped me make my decision. She and I will do it together.

Well, you could just box up the things that you think she is done with, go ahead and decorate "While you were out style" (you know she'll love it) and then if there is anything you removed from her room that she truly is not ready to give up then at least you still have it handy.

Well, you could just box up the things that you think she is done with, go ahead and decorate "While you were out style" (you know she'll love it) and then if there is anything you removed from her room that she truly is not ready to give up then at least you still have it handy.

That may work...and I could indirectly start getting her input on specifics that she likes (pretend we're looking for another reason or room) in fabrics, etc...and surprise her one weekend. She would probably be delighted. She has already pointed out her bed choice in the August issue of Veranda (even at wholesale it would be a small fortune) and she said, "Oh, look Mommy, that bed would look gorgeous on a hardwood floor (her room is currently carpeted) Maybe I should go with your idea, or there may be nothing left for college tuition. Thanks.

I want Walker to stay the age he is forever. I get those genuine hugs that you wish you could bottle up and keep forever.

Evan just turned 8 and he still holds my hand when I walk him to school and blows me kisses if I drop him off. Wonder how much longer it will last?

Evan just turned 8 and he still holds my hand when I walk him to school and blows me kisses if I drop him off. Wonder how much longer it will last?

Oh how I wish it could last forever for you and all of us!

sorry guys no advice here, no kids in this house (yay !). my mom saved things like report cards, art projects, etc. i was and am a pack rat so i saved everything. i was also attached to my books, so we saved those, everything else she pitched. i wasn't into the collectible things, of course there wasn't that much to collect when i was a kid, except barbies. as i was growing out of them, my sis was born, so she played with and destroyed a lot of my old toys, so they got pitched anyway. good luck everyone with the room cleaning - and when you get done, come to my house and start in. i still won't throw anything away !

I want Walker to stay the age he is forever. I get those genuine hugs that you wish you could bottle up and keep forever.

enjoy those hugs now - i looooved getting those from my nephew. now that he is 3 1/2 he has decided hugging and kissing is yucky, so you are lucky if you can convince him to give you one. i saw him last weekend and got one of each as i was leaving and and i just melted.

Can I just cry some more???

I like the respect part. At camp, he will be respected for man-size burps and farts. He will come home standing tall and proud about this.

hee hee - i got my mom's digestive system. i can burp and fart as well as if not better than any man ! and yes, i am proud ;-) our favorite activity when my sis was young was standing next to her at a store and tooting, then saying, gosh sarah, did you have to do that here - it really smells ! :clap_1: mom and i caused her hours of embarassment !

hee hee - i got my mom's digestive system. i can burp and fart as well as if not better than any man ! and yes, i am proud ;-) our favorite activity when my sis was young was standing next to her at a store and tooting, then saying, gosh sarah, did you have to do that here - it really smells ! :clap_1: mom and i caused her hours of embarassment !

tmi audie, tmi

Evan just turned 8 and he still holds my hand when I walk him to school and blows me kisses if I drop him off. Wonder how much longer it will last?

So sweet! My son held my hand in public until he was probably 11 or so. Even now, he still gives me real big bear hugs and even hops on my lap once in a while (& he's 15 and about 6' tall).

Thanks for your advice. I have been wanting to do the same thing for my 13 yr. old daughter that Ocean Lover is doing for hers. Not to just clean out (but lord knows it needs it) but just to give her a wonderful surprise. I mean do the whole "while she was out" thing - add a little less girly and a little more sophistication, but I have been thinking the same as you. Do I really have the right to throw things out without her permission or choose her colors, furnishings and fabrics without her input. She actually has very good taste (sometimes too good for my budget). After all, she is going to be living in it.

No offense Ocean Lover. For all we know, your daughter could have asked you to do this.

But....Beach Lover you have helped me make my decision. She and I will do it together.

I told Sam when she left that her room would not look the same when she returned! She was excited. It's nothing that drastic...it will just be really clean!!!! I thought about buying a new comforter set but I'm going to let her pick it out.

So sweet! My son held my hand in public until he was probably 11 or so. Even now, he still gives me real big bear hugs and even hops on my lap once in a while (& he's 15 and about 6' tall).

I think you were/are really lucky! Linda bob, hold that hand tight. I think Dylan was 9 when he decided he was too old. He still gives great hugs tho.

tmi audie, tmi

nah - i am proud of my talents ! ask mr audie. i am no longer allowed to drink coke from the can in his presence.

My 12 and 5 year old sons have received a Hess truck (whatever they push that year for christmas). Problem, is my 5 year old actually wants to play with them. My mother in law had a fit because "they are for show and you have to keep the box intact so it will be worth money a million years from now". what is the point of giving a child a gift he can't play with. I see how those Beanie Babies really panned out! That was a waste of money.

My husband, however has a huge box of baseball cards from the 60's and 70's that we don't know what to do with. cash them in somewhere? give them to the kids? are they really worth money?

My 12 and 5 year old sons have received a Hess truck (whatever they push that year for christmas). Problem, is my 5 year old actually wants to play with them. My mother in law had a fit because "they are for show and you have to keep the box intact so it will be worth money a million years from now". what is the point of giving a child a gift he can't play with. I see how those Beanie Babies really panned out! That was a waste of money.

My husband, however has a huge box of baseball cards from the 60's and 70's that we don't know what to do with. cash them in somewhere? give them to the kids? are they really worth money?

My mom has given my kids collector type stuff too. Holiday Barbies, Star Wars collectables etc...this happens mostly at C'mas when they have many other things to play with so they aren't tempted to open them. We have them stacked in the closet. :roll:

As for the baseball cards, you could have some valuable cards! Check them out on Ebay before selling to see if they're worth anything.

Oh by the way, my daughter LOVED her room. She was soooo happy with everything. She's a sweetie...a big slob but a sweetie.

Oh...I am so glad she loved it. Good for you. That must have been really exciting for her to come home to and to know that her Mommy did it just for her. Special Times!