Sorthing Clothes (as opposed to the Sorting Hat)

Over the years as Alyssa outgrew clothes, I’d set them aside (sometimes in boxes, sometimes in…piles) for Olivia to grow into.

And then, when O would outgrow those very clothes, I’d box them up for Tom’s oldest granddaughter, Hope.

Both of Tom’s sons have three kids each. The oldest had boy, girl, boy and the youngest had boy, boy, girl. The youngest grandchild/daughter (Ella) is five. Hope turned 11 this month.

All of Tom’s grandkids are on the small side. His sons are small and they had children with small women, so these clothes can sometimes sit for up to six months after I’ve boxed them up and there is still a good chance they’ll fit Hope.

I’ve already told Hope’s mom that if something doesn’t work for them, they are free to do what they will with the clothes. Once they’re out of our house, they are no longer my problem concern.

Recently there was a big pile of clothes in Olivia’s room. It has been accumulating for a couple of months.

Feeling motivated and not wanting to lose that sense of momentum, I asked Tom for some boxes into which I could neatly fold these clothes.

He is the keep of the boxes in our house since he’s the one who packs items to be shipped after selling them on Ebay.

He agreed to scrounge up some boxes. As he walked away he said, “This might be the last clothes we send to Hope, right?”

He suggested that at her age, Olivia will more than likely stop outgrowing her clothes soon and whatever we buy her from this point forward should continue to fit her until she either wears it out or hates it and refuses to wear it anymore.

I agreed that that was a definite possibility.

Olivia is about 5’4” tall these days and weighs the appropriate amount for that height.

Sorry, Hope and Hope’s parents, the days of surprise boxes of clothes from Grandpa Tom are almost over.