The Great Clothing Purge of 2013

The other day I had this major meltdown over the grocery budget and trying to figure out how to buy diapers and paper towels and toilet paper and actual food with the amount we take out in cash every week.  And then when I had calmed down and was headed to the backyard for some reason or another, I had to pause and move aside the boxes of hand me downs blocking the door.

And I realized if there’s one way God has provided for us in excess, it’s in my children’s closets.

We’re often gifted hand me downs, love that, and I can rock a clearance or a consignment with the best of the money saving moms.  So if you look at how my kids dress, I wouldn’t imagine someone would think we ever struggle.

There are shirts from Justice and jeans from Gap and dresses from Children’s Place in that pile.  There are brand new winter boots and three winter coats and complete Gymboree outfits down to the hairbow. There are clothes to cover Amelia until first grade.  (fyi, she’s only three.)

When I finally got motivated to start sorting and purging, I was amazed at how much there was, and how something as simple as hand me downs could multiply into such a blessing.

I know I keep more than we need because I play the “what if” game in my mind.  What if one of them suddenly grows and nothing fits?  What if there’s a fire and all we have left is what’s been put in storage? What if we actually take a family vacation and I don’t want to do laundry?

What if I’m a hoarder of God’s blessings?

What if He wants me to bless someone else who struggles with day-to-day expenses but would be relieved to know clothing their baby girl can be crossed off that list?

I’ve got some others in mind to pass on to, and I’m sure I’ll consign a good bit and be grateful for the extra cash that puts in our pockets to offset the back-to-school expenses that will soon be upon us.

But, this fall I won’t have to buy jeans or long sleeve shirts or sweaters for any of them.  I can concentrate on new school shoes for the big girls, a raincoat for Madelynne since hers will pass to Annabelle, and they might get some new socks and underwear.  (Because, you know, some things don’t get passed.)

There’s relief in the simple realization that I don’t have to worry about where their next pair of jeans is coming from because the great God who paints skies and swirls fingerprints has already taken care of that one trite need for me.

Motivated by this post from The Purposeful Mom.  So how many clothes do you think kids really need?