In the ongoing attempt to rid the house of excess baggage, I attacked Josie's art cupboard and a closet and a chest with lots of her toys stored therein.
In the art cupboard I recycled old, used coloring books, trashed an assortment of broken bits and bobs and generally tidied. Some of her jigsaw puzzles are going to a thrift store, as are some unused workbooks and flash cards she no longer needs. I don't think she'll miss any of my removals.
Her toy chest though is full of stuffies and a few baby dolls (Margo and Dolly and all their clothes,) I felt I needed her permission, even though she hasn't played with any of them in a long time. So, on the way home from school, I asked about the dolls and the stuffies.
She was excited to get home as a friend with a daughter almost Josie's age was coming for the weekend and Josie had a mandate from her dad to clean up her room.
So she thought a a few seconds and then said the dolls and stuffies could go. Of course I mentioned how much some little girls would love them and she agreed. "How about the doctor kit?' I asked.
'Keep that,' she said. And then, 'No, it can go too.'
'How about the big building blocks in the living room closet?' I asked.
'They can go.'
I was amazed. And a little sad. (Not Margo and Dolly!) But pleased. I'd expected her to want to hang on to most of this stuff, even though she no longer plays with it, as books and podcasts, videos and art projects have filled the gap. And we still have the puppets and the dress-up box, as well as the amazing crocheted Octalia Octopus and the dolly llama from her Aunt Aileen.
Our little girl is a big girl now--almost nine, going on twenty-seven.
Ay, law!
