Memories make old toys more than just plastic pieces

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This article was published 24/05/2022 (1614 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A few weeks ago, I gifted some of my kids’ large plastic backyard toys — including a tower slide and pool combo, a small picnic table, a Little Tikes playhouse and a water table — to friends who have smaller kids.

These toys have taken up so much space in our backyard — a heap of colourful plastic telling everyone in the neighbourhood that yes, we have a bunch of kids who live here.

These structures have been well-loved throughout the early summers of my kids’ lives, though less and less. They have been the setting for some of the most fun days outside in the sunshine, and the backdrop and stage for core memories they’ll take with them into adulthood.

I can’t tell you how many times my kids have had water fights in that old pool, or about the countless dance parties that took place on the top of the tower slide. The water table brought so much joy to my toddler, who grew up too fast.

Our kids have gotten a lot of use out of these toys, just like the kids — mostly cousins — who handed them down to us. Now, it’s our turn to pass them on to another family who can enjoy them. I love the idea of sharing, but there is a little piece of me that feels nostalgic and not quite ready to let go. It’s not about the t0ys. It feels like I am letting go of a time.

All of these items seemed to have my children’s younger touch all over them. It feels like the end of an era. My kids aren’t so little anymore.

I realize how silly this sounds. It’s just stuff. I often get a twang of nostalgia when I size up my kids’ clothes or give away certain toys. Why do I make a big deal out of it every time? I can tell you I’ve never once regretted giving away their stuff they no longer use, fit or need once it’s actually gone. I just wallow in that little window of time, overthinking about how fast my kids are growing up.

They are just toys that nobody plays with anymore, and they are taking up space. I often need to remind myself that my memories aren’t made up of things. Of course, we hang on to some of the special items we’ve enjoyed through life. But we can’t keep everything.

After we wiped down and packed up some of the big plastic toys for my friends and their sons, we got a text message saying their little guy (age three) is so excited for his new slide and picnic table. (The plastic pool hasn’t made its way to their house yet.)

It reminded me a little bit of the scene at the end of Toy Story 3, where the main character, Andy, is all grown up and going off to college. He packs up some of his old toys in a box and delivers them to Bonnie, a little girl in a pink tutu and rubber boots who will finish off the movie franchise. She takes the toys and gives new life to them by playing with them and really enjoying them. The moment is sweet and a little bit sad.

Wandering into a new stage of life and being able to grow older is a privilege. I know that some of the best things haven’t happened to us yet. Watching your kids grow up is such magic, filled with sorrow.

shelley.cook@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @ShelleyACook