Natasha  🇪🇺Oct 27
Show threadFish Id Wardrobe ⁂

@Natasha_Jay I'm torn here.

This is good advice that will help poor kids.

But at the same time: who is it that chucks out old toys they gave to their kids? those don't belong to you! you gave them to your children!

Christmas would have had a *very* different meaning for me if I understood it as "you can play with these for a while, but they're not yours. we can take them any time we want."

Oct 27 at 1:52pmWeb
Show threadCyberPunkerOct 27
@fishidwardrobe @Natasha_Jay Maybe asking the kids to clear out older toys before Christmas so other kids can get some toys for Christmas too?
You don't have to take them away of the kids without them have something to say about that. I'm sure many kids would gladly give some toys to others knowing that there will be new ones at Christmas.
(Maybe even without the Christmas part)
Show threadFish Id Wardrobe ⁂Oct 27
@CyberPunker @Natasha_Jay sure, that's different.
Show threadTakiro 🎨Oct 27
@fishidwardrobe @Natasha_Jay
My parents did take away toys from me regularly, either as punishment or any other reason. I pretty quickly understood that I didn't own anything and nothing was really mine. I still have this mindset over 30 years later, as an adult.
Show threadFish Id Wardrobe ⁂Oct 27

@Takiro @Natasha_Jay right. I was lucky in this regard, but I've observed that a *lot* of parents don't think their kids have anything they can't take away. even apparently nice parents.

If the kids are consenting and helping you pick what to give away, that's a whole other story.

But.

Show threadTakiro 🎨Oct 27
@fishidwardrobe @Natasha_Jay
Until now I thought it was the same for everyone else.
Show threadsuzanneOct 27

@fishidwardrobe @Takiro @Natasha_Jay
This certainly doesn't preclude getting the kids to help pick out toys they decide they're ready to get rid of. But also, you end up with closets full of toys kids have outgrown and never play with. The parents I know who "clear out" toys are usually getting rid of things their kids have put away years before.

I always mean to do this before the holidays. But it can be overwhelming until you've run out of shelves and have no choice. Which is usually after.

Show threadMolly in MissouriOct 27
@Takiro @fishidwardrobe @Natasha_Jay  i think some people experience that & gradually train themselves to accept that more powerful people will always control everything, will always be able to take everything away from you and from everyone else not innately powerful, so why bother. It's a tough call. I think gift mostly used items, let the kids initiate toy donations (they will as they get comfortable with the flow of mutual aid & community) teach kids evolution because it's all connected.