Childhood, baby things and grandparents: Decluttering the hard stuff

How do you decluttering sentimental things? CAN you actually declutter ANY sentimental things? It can be so hard to let go of things, but I tackle things from my childhood, grandparents, and my babies. Let's see how I do!
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Hey! I'm Robyn and I'm alllll about simplifying life, embracing your potential and creating an incredible life.
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[@JaneH3675]

I am so relieved I don't decorate for seasons or holidays. I don't have to store any of that stuff, nor do I waste money on it. It's how I like to live. 👌

[@MinimalistHome]

That’s great Jean!

[@audrey7650]

Love that! I recently converted to Islam and we don't celebrate many holidays I grew up being accustomed to so I had every reason to declutter my holiday decor and hopefully pass it on to someone who values it!

[@melaniecastillo9786]

Amen. I was feeling bad because I dont decorate either. And it's less stress so that's a plus@

[@Shelley-cj9sb]

My mother made it known that she was insulted that my brother and I didn’t want her collectibles when she passed. She held a grudge about this and mentioned from time to time that many people she knew were more appreciative than my brother and I were. 5,000 beanie babies, 300 ceramic bells from The Franklin mint, hundreds of seasonal decorations by Lenox, a hundred collectible dolls from QVC, seasonal ceramic pieces she made over many years; the list goes on and on. When she passed, family members took some of those things. My brother took what he wanted. The rest was deposited in my garage and what didn’t fit there was selectively reduced and donated by family members who knew I was tormented about the situation. To this day, I feel she would be disappointed in me for not keeping these things. Flight, fight or freeze? I’ve been frozen for three years.

[@rosmarieecharren8172]

Shelley, I feel your pain. Been in the same situation after having had to clear out my Mom‘s apartment of 60 years. Lots of things I knew she held dear I had to trash, which makes me have a bad conscience to this day. Some of her things are cluttering up my cellar now and it has been 3 years (2 years since she passed). I think that is enough time now to honor her feelings, however, it is my life that gets cluttered up, my remaining lifetime that gets wasted having to manage stuff that has no meaning for me. It is not fair to burden children with a guilt trip about anything. You have to do what you gotta do to maintain your health and sanity. You owe it to yourself and your health. That is your first duty, keeping healthy. So 3 years of being in a frozen state is enough. Tell your Mom that your are sorry, but it is time to let go. It is your life after all. She had hers and spent it any way she wanted (collecting things). I wish you all the best. Watch some more of those declutter videos, it helps and the messages ring true. You need peace.

[@rosmarieecharren8172]

Definitely fight!

[@janakase6319]

I know the situation. Sometimes nature kind of helps us. I.e. if one stores stuff and then finds out mice have made their nest out of it! Makes a lot of easier to make decisions NOW! 🙂

[@priscillagarcia7755]

3 YEARS for both Mom and dad they died in the same week. But now I think I'm ready and it's not doing good for my mental health, I cannot move forward with my life and I know it 😢. It's time

[@hopespringseternal2769]

Why not sell those items, that are in good condition, on FB marketplace or on eBay or Etsy?

[@lesleyhollinshead3714]

I kept my son's first shoes. He's 32 now and he got me into minimalism.

[@MinimalistHome]

That's great Lesley!

[@HaloReachMaster11]

I LOVE your energy and enthusiasm! You make letting things go seem so easy and natural, like, why wouldn’t you? I look forward to ALL of your videos!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thank you! I practice!

[@charmingintrovert3240]

So grateful I found your channel today, I am watching many of your past videos. Just yesterday I sold my grandmother's vintage cut crystal liquor decanter that has been sitting unused in my dining room cabinet for 26 years. I was feeling guilty about letting it go, but ultimately knew I would rather have something useful that I enjoy using in it's place. I loved when you said, 'not all old things are sentimental'. Your simple message blessed me, thank you! 🤗

[@kellyl7610]

OMG!! My husband and I also eloped 3 months after we first met!! Been married 24 years so the gamble paid off!!

[@MinimalistHome]

Hey hey! Another crazy couple! Yes, gamble for sure!

[@jacoblawrence6580]

Thank you so much for this video. I am 27 and still live with my parents for the moment. My grandparents passed several years ago and we have been going through their things and cleaning out their house. They were born in the 20's and lived during the great depression and saved everything!!! And I mean everything!!! They saved every card, letter, wedding and graduation announcements, church bulletins, funeral cards, newspapers, etc. My grandfather inherited all of his parents pictures and my grandmother did with hers as well. I also discovered that after my grandmother's sister passed, her family sent my grandmother back whatever she had sent her sister (photos, announcements etc.) so it is quite a lot of stuff. Over 65 photo albums (that I know of so far). It is really hard to decide what to keep and get rid of so I am basically tossing any card that only has a few words written and trying to keep really special ones. I will continue to watch more of your videos so that I can slowly get rid of my own personal belongings that are causing stress in my life. Thank you again.

[@TeaRose9]

My dad and his second wife had saved everything like this also. I think it was how many people from their era were.

[@jacoblawrence6580]

@@TeaRose9 It's awesome but overwhelming at the same time. My grandmother had made scrapbooks for my older Uncles. She never got around to making one for my Dad and Aunts since they were younger. She had saved every card, valentines card, school paper. I have found report cards for each child, as well as my grandparents dating back to the 1930's. I will keep what I can (especially the older ones) but I will probably be giving a lot away or tossing too.

[@lucillejerome5511]

Some libraries will take any items that might have even minimal historical value for the region in general or the community in particular. Some ethnic groups collect memorabilia. Newspapers are easy to toss since most are now on microfiche. It's too emotional for me to have gone through their stuff so it was done piecemeal.

[@victoriajohnson3034]

Its crazy how excited i am for you that you have a beautiful empty space!

[@MinimalistHome]

It is LOVELY!

[@oliviasommerville4733]

I completely agree about the baby clothes. I just helped my mom go through my baby clothes she had kept and we got rid of most of them. The ones we kept were outfits I remember seeing in a lot of my baby photos or my Easter dress, stuff like that. I assured my mom that when I have kids, they will *not* be wearing my old clothes!

[@MinimalistHome]

Right?

[@raincloud1581]

I am SHOCKED at how easily you can let things go. Sentimental items are so hard for me. I wish they weren't! I've had so many regrets about things I've gotten rid of. I want to be able to touch, feel, and smell things. ☺

[@MinimalistHome]

Aw, I'm sure that it's very hard. I hate for you to have regrets! You do what works for you.

[@raincloud1581]

@@MinimalistHome Awe, thanks! I hope you know that comment was meant as a good thing. I love your videos! Keep em' coming!

[@MinimalistHome]

@@raincloud1581 Oh thank you! Yes, I did!

[@lisafairclough8122]

Me too!! X it's just our make up I think ?!

[@theynot4u]

I bought a nice scanner to scan old photos. I decided I'd dedicate time every day for a month scanning and sorting them into files. In that month I completed two years worth, and I never want to look at that scanner again, despite having about 18 more years of photos to go! Now I have boxes of photos and a scanner. So much for decluttering! 😖

[@MinimalistHome]

Wow!! Well done!! That is impressive!

[@jigglyjojo]

This was such a satisfying video! Seeing the project from start to finish with lots of funny and super relatable things in between. I know there’s a lot of work that goes into these videos but for us watching it is just so much fun, so thank you tons!

[@MinimalistHome]

Wow!! Thank you so much, it is a lot of work, so thanks for the nice comment!

[@denisegirmer4550]

I was a prepper for 10-12 yrs ( organized prepper) Now moving within couple yrs and boy do I have serious stuff to donate!

[@KlingonPrincess]

Ahhh, I resonate with this! I have buckets of prep food I'm moving to my daughter's empty shed as I live in a studio apt and want to enjoy my living space more. I don't see me decluttering my grain mill... Preps are a source of security for me. My other Achilles heel is sentimental items. Be well 💜

[@laura6796]

I have such a hard time decluttering sentimental things. Thank you for the advice!

[@chriswixtrom6514]

This was so relatable! I really appreciate you making this helpful video! I am determined to do something to reduce my zillions of "mementos" and also to get rid of paper files of the grown kids' stuff.

[@beachprints]

I declutter for us, but also so that my grown son does not have to go over all the stuff we have when we pass. I am 63 and he is 32.

[@MinimalistHome]

That's very kind of you

[@heidimartin6711]

Love this!!! Subdivision garage sale coming up and flea market set up weather ❤

[@suzierice9730]

Great video as always 🙂! Love that storage spot under the stairs.

[@MinimalistHome]

Ooh! Thanks Suzie!

[@stephanieyoung4772]

I just recently went through all the kids and baby stuff. I made duo tangs books with plastic sleeves per year. They each have a basket and that is the limit of space. All supplies grabbed from Dollar store :) It was a lot as they’re 15 & 13.

[@crystalfolse3208]

Agree cutest hat ever

[@KlingonPrincess]

Under the stairs looks amazing! I have a small attic space that I've been decluttering. It is the new home for my electric heater, fan, one box of Christmas, my sentimental items tote, and one box of curtain sheers that I will use. It is not the home of my 32 year old daughter's finger paintings and school things, two bins of Christmas, two bins of partially finished quilts... 😁

[@crybebebunny]

WoW. You are very much a minimalist. I just will never be there but, thanks to you I will eventually have half my stuff. Saying this is a whole lot less than any of my children would ever hope for. My most minimalist child doesn't want me to worry about getting rid of anything. I believe that I need to before the child that is a hoarder will keep all my stuff as her own.

[@MinimalistHome]

Yes, that is a consideration for sure.

[@carolynhiscock9457]

You make it look so easy.

[@MinimalistHome]

Practice, but it sometimes is hard

[@christiS907]

Love this

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Cristi!!

[@jeannebowes2898]

My cat has to be there, too! Everything is her business…. Erica Lucas vid prompted me to let go of five very nice framed prints that I have not had up for decades….

[@MinimalistHome]

That's great! Yes, Plumpkin is hilarious. He is very curious

[@lesleyatcofo]

Oh my gosh! I had a very similar Pound Puppy, but it had a blue dress and ear bows!

[@MinimalistHome]

I love those pound puppies! so snuggly!

[@JulieBoyer]

I kept some letters I had received and also sent a few letters back to my sister and a few friends. And I have a magazine from when Kate and William were married!

[@MinimalistHome]

Oh cute! Yes, letters are nice to keep

[@melaniecastillo9786]

I dont think I remember one cluttering tip but I do love your energy!! Thanks. Ill watch it again and again until I get a box to donate!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks!

[@MaloneysDigest]

Very helpful. Thank you. I’m after moving with kids and there’s tons of stuff I need to rinse.

[@MinimalistHome]

Oh good!!

[@megan2176]

I still have my Wrinkles dog too (not actually a Pound Puppy) :) They're such good quality, still looks new though it's over 30 years old! And I totally agree, kids journals are the best. I got rid of a few of my son's school journals when he was younger, and I really regret it because the ones that came later were hilarious. Definitley keeping all of them from now on. :)

[@MinimalistHome]

Oh that's right Winkles!! Such good quality! Yes, I have a special spot for the journals now

[@HylianNecessary]

Omg I remember Encounters with Canada!

[@MinimalistHome]

Right?? It was a fun time!

[@marthaadams4126]

Love your cat!! I miss mine, we only have dogs now. Hubs is super allergic. Thank you for the inspo!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thank you Martha! I'm allergic too, so I don't touch him too much!

[@mrsblondback]

I love your content! I'm a new subscriber!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Laura!! I'm glad to have you here!

[@ddcjenn]

Great video 👌

[@MinimalistHome]

Thank you so much DDC Jenn!! Thanks for watching!

[@muffincamp]

Thank you for your video! Sentimental stuff is my last frontier… watching you actually go through your stuff gives me courage to do the same thing for my things.

[@MinimalistHome]

That's great! Good luck Muffin Camp!

[@pnwflipper2089]

I agree that kids’ writing or artwork that makes you laugh is the best to keep! Maybe a few pieces of artwork they worked particularly hard on. I am thinking one 1” binder per kid?

[@MinimalistHome]

That's a GREAT idea!

[@LadyGreyBlack]

Your dad sounds like my dad-the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning is a Herculean task . Also, you might want to frame the letter from your little friend. I have found all the written things I want to frame.

[@deborahlee7975]

Love your videos so much - they really help put me in the right frame of mind for decluttering! Gotta say, you're so speedy! I think it would take me 45 mins. just to go through one bin. 😂

[@sunnyshowers7007]

I agree! Every time I watch one of these videos I get up and clean something! lol - it's been very good for my motivation!

[@MinimalistHome]

I think I ended up coming back, so it was more like 1 hour for the whole under the stairs. I just have to make a decision and move on!

[@deborahlee7975]

@@MinimalistHome Just an hour?! Impressive!! I wish I could insert a bowing emoji here. ;)

[@MinimalistHome]

@@deborahlee7975 hahaha, thanks!

[@tendogsandme]

Don't feel bad about the cheque - I found a refund from the gas company that was way too old to cash... Just one of those things that happens when you live in clutter!

[@sunnyshowers7007]

That cup at the beginning with your name on it - I have Andrew's on the counter beside the fridge with pens in it!

[@MinimalistHome]

Oh cute! Mine is gone! Some other Robyn will be SO happy!

[@xander423]

This is awesome, you are very funny and it really IS like that! lol the whole process is comical to be honest! Omg can you imagine if we could eaves drop on each other …. lmao !!!! wonderful , you are great! Thankyou for being freaking normal!!! xoxoxox ( im a mom and working on this all the time , cant stick to ONE method , but making steady progress) my fave is when older adult kids want ME to hild on to their stuff!!! Im attacking that this week!

[@MinimalistHome]

Hahaha, how many times have you said "what even IS this??"

[@brittanytucker8867]

I'm two minutes in but i have to comment and say I LOVE YOUR WEST COAST TEES "WET COAST" shirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wet Coast Representtttt!

[@MinimalistHome]

Wooohooo Brittany! I love West Coast Tees!

[@karinmontessori]

Hello. I really love you videos and your style of me witnessing how to de clutter and reorganise. I think thanks to you I am actually able to do life again with a calm mind! So here my problem area: Can you make a video on how to decide what BOOKS to de-clutter, and what to put on a shelf in the living room or bedroom or how to organise the whole book Department?

[@MinimalistHome]

Hello Karin! I did make a video books last summer, but I might make another one soon. Here’s the link from summer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKunZ6auYqxqiJo

[@beachprints]

We have stuff from both sets of parents that has passed.

[@andydogdixon1]

I saw you reach in the closet and a pretty black kitty jumped in your box of clutter. Please tell me you did not throw the kitty out as well with the clutter that’s going to far! Lol thank you for your video. Very helpful!

[@ArtistCreek]

I just went through 3 big totes of sentimental things. I set up 3 empty totes and sorted it in about 2 hours. I dont save birthday cards to ME but i apparently saved ALLLLLLL the cards my kids got over the years. I just put each childs school report cards, cards, anything that was theits went into their box. I looked througb every single piece of paper. I was able to throw out some weird stuff that i had no idea why i saved it. Then i went theough each of my kids hatbox of newborn baby things. I purged the pregnancy magazines and pamplets from the hospitals and that kind of junk. I pulled down the tshirts i saved from my kids important school events and put them all in their respective totes. I think there are still 2 totes in the garage but once i locate the rest of their stuff i will label them and put them up in the guest room closet. I was pretty happy there is plenty of room in those totes I was pretty worried that I had saved too much stuff. If i find more i will cull it and keep it to one tote for each.

[@MinimalistHome]

Amazing 🤩

[@JulieBoyer]

Did you check on the Cabbage Patch kids?? Classic ones are worth something

[@MinimalistHome]

Not yet, but I still have them!

[@ArtistCreek]

You can take your old negatives to Sam's and they will out them on disc for you. I did ALL mine and ended up with 16 discs every one filled. I immediatley made copies and a set is un my parents firesafe just in case.

[@MinimalistHome]

👍🏼🌟

[@marthasalter405]

I have trouble with sentimental items and what has helped me was to take photos of some items and then let the physical thing go

[@MinimalistHome]

me too!! Thanks for the comment Martha!

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

When I went through my 3 son’s baby things I tried to keep clothes that I had a picture of them wearing it - which I put with it. Of course any photos please write names of who is in them with an archival pen - if you don’t know who they are I first check with older family members to see if they know who they are - otherwise, chuck them. Re-gift the wine bottle holders. 😁👍🏻

[@MinimalistHome]

I love this Susan!! Great tips!

[@astraviil3043]

Dear parents! When Your kids are very good behaviour all the time and always taking good care of their things, keeping their rooms very clean, loving their favorite things and want to make nice childhood collections of their things: books, clothes, toys, video games, clothes, DVDs and etc, then donataing is very wrong thing to do. If You have few space then storage boxes and shelves will help You out and Your kids will be very happy and thankful then, if they can keep their favourite things. Childhood things are very valuable and it is very sad, if they won’t see them anymore in their life. Every child should have the right to keep their things, if they can take good care of them all the time!!! Respectfully, Astra Viil

[@MinimalistHome]

I agree. In this video I was decluttering my own childhood things.

[@ArtistCreek]

It's good for them to save SOME things but giving a 25 yr old 25 totes of crap is no gift. I have my favorite Barbie, my teddy bear, some of my favorite books. That is honestly the only things I would want..

[@victor9501]

Just a small point- if you DO throw out any certificates, I'd definitely scan them forst, just in case...

[@beachprints]

I need to go through medical records who was medically complicated since 5 1/2 weeks old. His medical records tell a big part of his story. I do think I will never need them. It is not a fun memory. Hard to get rid of.

[@MinimalistHome]

Oh, I bet it is hard to get rid of, but do you need them. He's 32 now?

[@luna7453]

👌🙏✨☺

[@victor9501]

Don't talk to me about coins! I inherited a box of old coins weighing 10 kilos (22 pounds) from my dad! I'm still sorting through them...

[@victoriajohnson3034]

The more i think about purging sentimental stuff i think i need a therapist! Too many deep issues i don't know what to do with in my heart and my head.

[@MinimalistHome]

You might and that's ok! Therapists are great!

[@KlingonPrincess]

Victoria, I showed my 32 year old daughter her baby teeth and the notes she wrote to the tooth fairy. She was kinda grossed out. I threw them away then two nights later woke in a panic wondering if the garbage had been collected and should I go down at 2 am to dig through. Reason prevailed and I didn't. The next day she and I walked on the beach. (She recently moved back after 14 years.) It was such a great time together. After, a lot of feelings of guilt and sorrow came up. I to may need therapy. But... I realized it was the feelings not the teeth that I needed to honor. Be blessed 💜

[@victoriajohnson3034]

Update! Learned that letting it go was best gift i could have given myself. Had no idea the amount of sadness attached to the items. I finally sat down with it all. If it made me filled with joy when i picked it up and held for a moment, i kept it! If i felt sad,regret, or angry, it went into the garbage can! I allowed myself to cry thru the process and openly feel all the emotions! Best therapy ever. I have felt an enormous weight lifted off my soul all year since this purge!!!

[@KlingonPrincess]

@@victoriajohnson3034 I love this report from the other side of letting go. You are such an encouragement!

[@cdeipoli1]

how do you come to be so ruthless?

[@MinimalistHome]

Practice I guess

[@sunnyshowers7007]

uh oh am I going to have feelings?? hahahaha

[@MinimalistHome]

Haha! Just a few! I was a bit worried

[@JulieBoyer]

Please tell me you got rid of the CDs lol

[@MinimalistHome]

Sure did!

[@debramccafferty2918]

I still have cassettes and vcr tapes! Occasionally I listen or watch one.

[@JaneH3675]

@@debramccafferty2918 My husband still has cassettes. And he listens to them. I also have CDs. Not giving them up, have a boom box and stereo that plays them. Lol

[@lisafairclough8122]

What if all this technology goes bang,? If you have a REAL photograph it will always be there.I am 63 so maybe I think differently.

[@MinimalistHome]

Perhaps

[@susandowdy3151]

Please say again "don't keep baby clothes". I have 5 (FIVE) bins of my 34 years old daughter. She only want the dresses that are still good. It is so say that most of the clothes are in bad shape.

[@pnwflipper2089]

After my mom’s basement flooded she dropped boxes and boxes of my childhood clothes and artwork and things off and I had to decide what was worth keeping (and drying) and what needed to get tossed. I ended up tossing most of it. I felt bad that my mom had held on to so much for so long and I just tossed it, but really I wish she had just passed the clothes on to people who could have used them back when they still had elastic and weren’t yellowed.

[@MinimalistHome]

Yes, you need to declutter the baby clothes. Keep one or two. Especially when things aren't in good shape.

[@victor9501]

Wow, did you ask your bank if you could still pay in that cheque?

[@Onurtime]

This video title is kind of misleading, doesn't seem like she has a hard time decluttering stuff at all

[@MinimalistHome]

I just have lots of practice. Definitely hard to go through the sentimental things 🙂

[@tiaryan1350]

Man, getting rid of sentimental things is HARD. I'm ADD, and even my own DNA suggests I have a hoarding problem 😆 I just managed to get rid of some baby items recently. Even got rid of baby shower balloons from 11 years ago. Lol. Still more to go. 💔 I cry when I sell baby clothes. 🥲

[@MinimalistHome]

Awww, it can be hard for sure Tia.