Packing the Bottomless Pit

I don’t think anyone really enjoys packing for a move, but I have at least tried to make it somewhat positive.

I have passed that whole sentimental stage where one is inclined to keep every little memento and have thrown myself body and soul into the “Trash It” stage where anything and everything is getting thrown away.

Then there is my 12 year old. You have to understand, that first of all, he was only 5 when we first moved into our current residence. He has a whole seven years worth of accumulation in his tiny shoe-box of a bedroom and he adores each and every bit of it.

Yes, over the years I have attempted to weed through his stuff and get rid of much of the “Little Kid” things. But somehow, some of these toys found their way mysteriously back into his room.

My husband just shook his head the other day, as he was carrying out one of Bregon’s storage drawers that had a Pooh-Bear something or other inside it.

My child has very stoically announced that he has decided to save much of his stuff to bequeath to his little brothers when they are old enough to have it. In the meantime, I am expected to store all of this stuff where???

Husband was one of the last people to have attempted to downsize that room while I was on bed-rest, so he now completely understands the severity of our seemingly dire situation.

You have to understand that this move has been slowly going on for nearly three weeks now. We really have made a lot of progress, too. It’s just that one room that doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere. It just doesn’t show any signs of progress.

I know that I have seen box after box after bag come out of my son’s room. It just seems that every time I go in there to check on the progress, that things have multiplied and his shelves and closet get even more cluttered.

To combat this, I decided to tackle it myself yesterday afternoon while the babies were napping (cutting me off from finishing cleaning out my own closets, of course!)

I bravely picked my way into Bregon’s bedroom, box of garbage bags and box in tow. I spent only about an hour in there, but I came out with two full garbage bags (more full than I really thought that the plastic could handle) and one filled box of army vehicles, aircraft carriers and various helicopters and planes.

I found all sorts of scary and frightening things in there and I had only tackled the shelf behind his door. I had thought that I would do the one task keeping anyone from getting the currently cleared furniture out of the room.

As it turns out, I ran across puzzles and papers from Bregon’s discovery program from the first grade. I found bits of action figure’s accessories from figures long gone. I ran across the snow-globe that he made in boy scouts in the third grade.

I got rid of most of what was living on those shelves is the frightening part. Yes, there were toys involved, casualties of the move, I suppose. I was a good mum, and did keep all of the medals and ribbons and patches that he has earned over the years.

I know that I should have packed them off to Goodwill or Providence House. It’s just that I figured that those kids might like toys that were actually whole and functioning, as opposed to bits and pieces that don’t really go together.

Nobody should have to play with remote control cars without the remote. A castle toy can be fun, if it stays together while one is trying to play with it. If it continuously insists on falling down during playtime, then it’s time to be retired!

I left that room yesterday thinking that maybe I had managed to accomplish something. Today, I had thoughts on going in there again and taking yet another plunge.

I peered in, garbage bags in hand, and just couldn’t bring myself to do it today. It looked like the stuff had multiplied yet again. The way I figure, it’s husband’s turn to try it out.

Bregon will be home soon, and he will start packing again once his homework is finished. This time, maybe husband can entice him to move a bit faster and actually throw a few things away!

Thankfully, Bregon has decided to either try and have a toy sale or give the surplus toys away, once we can sort through them all, of course!

I have even told him that he can have a small party and invite some of his friends over to help him go through it all. I hope their Mom’s won’t mind them coming home with new booty!

Of course this plan all hinges on the idea that by Saturday, Bregon will have actually managed to pack his room completely up so that we can move it all to the new house (garage!) I suppose only time will tell!