Bella is going to be on Hoarders in about 20 years

ghm

OMG. I'm trying to throw things away/give things to goodwill, and she finds a use and a love for everything we own, down to a receipt. I'm not kidding. This is out of control, and she's in her bedroom screaming her head off that I'm trying to get rid of anything. "But that's my favorite thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Broken toys we haven't seen in 3 years? Yep

Random pieces of paper? Yes

The tag to her new PJ's? Yes

 

Seriously, WTF do I do about this, because what I ended up doing is scream at her about it. That's certainly not the right way to handle it, but I'm at a loss. 

DandelionMom

Give her limited space to keep those "treasures" and explain that whatever doesn't fit in the box (drawer, scrapbook, etc) gets thrown away.

Or just clean when she's not around. 

KrisBriMcBunny

I have the same problem with Michelle....I hide things from her for a couple of days & if she doesnt ask about it then I throw it away when she's not looking or is not here.  Its kind like a military maneuver in the way I have to go about doing it lol

JOEBunny

I off that stuff when DD isn't around.  I put some of it in a bag in the closet and if she doesn't ask for it, I throw it out or donate it.  It is too hard for her to part with stuff.

GinandTonic

Both my  kids are like this to some extent. 

 Do it when she's not home.

Or make a deal with her that she can keep one or two things out of the pile.

Or convince her that you're making room for new stuff.

Zenya

I also put things away and then throw them away when they aren't missed.  

ccm1203

We try to do our toy purges around holidays or birthdays, then we have the benefit of telling them we have to make room for more toys.

justEK

Emily is the same way. DH got pissed when I told her to stop hoarding crap in her room. She will keep anything! Even the wrappers to mcdonald's toys!

I go through her room and throw stuff away all the time by stuffing crap in my pockets. I then have to hide it in the bottom of the garbage can or in my can in the office because if she sees it, it's over.

ghm

Yes, Bella saw this envelope that was oh-so-special in the trash last night.

I usually do this when they're gone, but I got busy rearranging closets. Oh, well. I gave up and shoved it back where I found it and will deal with it later. 

DaiLyght

DS1 is like this too and has been for as long as I can remember. The most meaningless things have great value to him. The clothes tag made me laugh b/c it's exactly like him.

I do the same as the others said, I give him certain places he can keep his treasures (empty shoe boxes for example). But typically after a while they lose their value and I can throw them out (when he's not looking of course).

I talked to the pedi about it once and he said it was normal with some kids. He called them "collectors", and told me his own niece did the same thing, and one day carried around a random leaf for an entire day. On the one hand, I'm glad to know the pedi thinks it's normal, but to be perfectly honest, I have the same thoughts as you. To me, a child "collector" = adult hoarder.

ghm

DaiLyght:

I talked to the pedi about it once and he said it was normal with some kids. He called them "collectors", and told me his own niece did the same thing, and one day carried around a random leaf for an entire day. On the one hand, I'm glad to know the pedi thinks it's normal, but to be perfectly honest, I have the same thoughts as you. To me, a child "collector" = adult hoarder.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks/fears this. I don't dwell on it, but it worries me. It also worries me that perhaps I'm missing something "bigger picture" here that would be harder for her to deal with down the road. I wish I knew the answer. 

AnnapolisLari

I got rid of a pink plastic guitar that played Hannah Montana-ish music about 5 months ago.

DS asked me for it yesterday.

Andrewsgal

DD is a collector, always has been. Even my MIL commented on the fact that she hates to throw things away. One day I made the mistake of taking her to the dump to throw stuff away she literally got so upset she threw up, it was horrible I have never seen her like that since or before. It broke my heart. I do a combo of both that people have suggested. Before holidays or birthdays she must pick out 5 toys she does not want anymore and she takes them with me to donate them, it was really hard for her at first, but I just remained very firm and kind with lots of hugs, she is so much better now. I also throw away random paper, broken toys and art projects when she is not looking. It upsets her to throw stuff away and right now I don't think it is a battle worth fighting. 

true_norskie

DaiLyght:

To me, a child "collector" = adult hoarder.

I can honestly say this was not true for me.  I was totally a child "collector" but I am NOT a hoarder!  I remember keeping the most random sh * t.  My mom was good and saved a lot of it.  When I finally did a purge, as an adult, I could not figure out why the eff I'd hang onto the junk.

I'm sentimental for sure and have a harder time than DH parting with things, but I am far from a hoarder. 

Dougsgirl4ever

Same here ~ her favorite right now is cutting up magazines & she has to keep EVERYTHING she cuts out. She has a huge pile that I'm going to have to toss when she is asleep & put it the trash & put other stuff on top to hide it.

ilovemygirls

You have to do it when they're not looking.  My oldest would keep everything imaginable if I did not ream out periodically when they are otherwise engaged (or preferably- out of the house).  I put everything into black garbage bags, tie the tops & keep them put away until we can get to Goodwill or wherever.  The kids know they are NOT to get into them.  This is my now tried & true method.  If she's looking for something she can't find, I always just say "I don't know, those are your responsibility so I don't know where you put it!"