Yesterday's Bins

These are not just my babies' clothes

These are memories

These are love

These are tears when I thought I couldn't do it

These are lessons I learned when I didn't think I needed to be taught

These are the clothes of the first giggles. The first crawls. The first teeth. The first walks. The first 'I love you's. The scary first ER trip or the first mortifying mom moments - the time a lady in the grocery aisle was told to stop picking her nose by one of my kids. The time we told the older two they would be big brothers or when we went to pick up our puppy…the PJs that all 3 wore…

While you may see a shirt with a stain on it, I promise it wasn't overlooked or put there because I'm a mess. Yes, I am a mess of a human but it was left in that bin because it carried some memory that I could not throw away. I kept a few for their memory bin but 72 shredded onesies just won't fit. After all, they are moments only I'd remember…but it was a memory I only entrust to you to throw out❤️

I will claim it is a play shirt or a shirt to wear for arts and crafts but know that I get it. I understand some (maybe most) will be thrown out; however I need you to do it.

I trust you to do it- when I cannot.

I give these bins to you *not* because I wish for you to keep them all. *Not* because I expect to see them in your family pictures but because I can't bear to hold on to them any longer. And truthfully, neither can my basement as it's busting from the seems.

The weight of love they carry from the past is more than I can carry while loving on my present.

They're weighing me down. They're creepily and obnoxiously calling me from the depths of the basement. It's time to let go.

To those who pass or have passed me their bags or bins- I get it now. I hope I have done my duty in the past. I hope I have shown love and gratitude. I hope I sent the random text to say I appreciate you and all your memories. I hope you know as your past and my present collide that my past is now meeting another's present…I'm in it now.

The real circle of motherhood.

The circle of motherhood that understands past the days of parallel convos on baby woes. The circle that sees another's present and allows them to have their moment even when they've experienced already.

The circle of understanding that this isn't about saving money or being practical by wearing hand me downs. This isn't about borrowing and sharing any longer. This is about relinquishing and letting go in order to better embrace your present.

Allowing another mother to take your place and doing so with a genuine smile.

Because that's what's it's all about…moving on to the next stage just as you feel quite comfy in the past.

This damn being a mother thing. It's weird.

To all the fellow sappy moms who also admit their kids drive them absolutely insane-

Embrace today's "bins" because tomorrow they will be your yesterday's bins❤️

and hopefully, someone else's today's

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