im having the same problem, but a thing my mother in law is doing is sorting the things out and giving them to their kids. they are also a memory for them and you both benifit in the giving. you because you don't just throw them out and you free up space, and them because they are gaining a little of their childhood back. my problem is I do this and then the kids move back in with me...therefore it all comes back again....

I have a hard time getting rid of memories also. Presently, I have three or four charity organizations that come to my home on a regular basis. I label bags and boxes with their name on them and set them on my front porch. This sure beats loading up the car and driving in to deliver them to nearest drop off. Also, it encourages me to keep working on my over crowded closets.

I know a woman who has "memories" from back to her great grandmother because no one was able to move them on. They are a burden to her, and her own children are not interested, nor does she want to burden them with guilt as she feels burdened.
Here's one suggestion you might find helpful. Mostly, the sight of these beloved items brings us back to cherished times. Why not use your camera, take pictures of the items you have in the boxes, move the items out to thriftstores or whatever, and save the pictures to go through at some later time. The picture is enough to bring back the memories and your house can hold that much fewer boxes. It has become even easier to do this now with the use of digital cameras. Hope this helps.

I made a "memory" box of some favorite things and gave the rest away. The memory box is a shadow box and if you take the things to a good framing store, they will arrange them nicely and they will be sealed and can hang on a wall.;)

Beth, I too have somewhat the same trouble - I have things from when my children were in school - in activities - some from my own childhood - my biggest trouble is - that my Mother is a hoarder and she has so much more than I do - that it truely makes me aware of that these are just things - I have taken pictures and made some shadow boxes of most of my important items and feel pretty good about it so far - but have not the nerve to totally toss it as of yet. I have been able to let go of more and more as the days pass and we realize that these are things - they do bring back memories - we only need something to spark that memory from time to time and now I am seeing that the pictures and the shadow boxes do help with that. GB! Shirlene

I have the same problem. When my mom passed away, my siblings and I took the things that meant something to us, and let the grandkids do the same. Whatever was left we gave away, which was a lot considering she had a tiny apartment. So now when I look at some of the things I have, I say "who will want this when I'm gone" If the answer is nobody, then out it goes. Some things I've passed along, others I'll cherish until I'm gone. I'm terrible about old Christmas ornaments, most of them were made with love by my kids and grandkids when they were very little. This Christmas when my 2 oldest grandaughters (15 & 16) helped me decorate the tree, they went through the ornaments saying "I remember making this" and other sentiments. How do you part with those no matter how tattered? I hope when they get their first homes, they will take some of them. Good Luck!

My children are asking us on a regular basis if we started getting rid of their memories. They would hire a large container, shove everything in without looking and have it dumped. On the same regular basis we sort out one or two boxes, go through the contents, spend so much time we leave it at that. But I would be horrified if we had to or wanted to downsize.. I could do with a few good tips, so thanks for the question.

Ah, memories. It is so hard to get rid of something that someone who has passed on had! Our kids (adults) aren't TOO interested in "things." BUT as they get older, they find they DO want some of those things! So guess I'll just hang on to them & let them sort it out when I'm gone! I did find one of my mom's quilts in a plastic tub in the barn last week! Goodness! It's all hand done & DOES have some worn spots where you can see the cotton batting. BUT I would NEVER throw it away & neither would any of my kids. It's now on the foot of the guest room bed with the worn spot hidden!

Here is a shadow box. You can put anything you want in there; booties, christening gown, anything! It is 2-4 inches deep depending on your need and can be any size.

In the past I would have had a great answer for this. I was not getting rid of anything and told my 4 children that if the garage still looks the way it does by the time I die it would be my revenge for their teenage years. However it kind of backfired on me, since I just recently moved. When you have to make the choice between packing it all up and letting go, you part with things a little easier. I still hauled way too much with me, but then I can start a new garage for the revenge part. We as crafters and most of us have more than one craft hobby seem to accumulate more than the average person anyway and then add all the sentimental stuff. I am still hanging on to items that I will never use, but my husband used too. I think my craft room is the nightmare of my children and I am not giving up anything right now. I also found as they are getting older that things from the past that they had no interest in are becoming items they now want.

My whole house is like that...My mom made us take the box of "memories" when we moved out...so you can take pics and give the momentos to your kids and IF they get rid out it then it is an them!