Works For Me: Not a Thing

I'm taking a bit of a break from Works-For-Me Wednesday today, because I am up to my ears in a particularly unpopular task around here: switching over the kids' clothes from one season to the next.

And while I generally try to keep a positive attitude regarding unpleasant household tasks, I have to tell you that this one does me in every time.  I would rather put my eye out with a fork.

My boys consider trying on last year's clothes the most vile punishment imaginable, and HAVE MERCY ON US ALL if we actually have to go shop for something new. 

So you all just post your clever links below, and if you need me, I'll be upstairs, buried under a pile of boys' size 8 and 10 slims.  And keeping a fork nearby.

WFMW guidelines can be found here.  (By the way, feel free to grab the new WFMW logo off my post, if you'd like.)

Comments

[An Ordinary Mom]

I despise going through old clothes!

[MicheMichelle at Scribbit]

Enjoy the break--if only going through old clothes were as fun as getting new ones.

[Michelle at Scribbit]

Enjoy the break--if only going through old clothes were as fun as getting new ones.

[Dana]

Hmm...good thing you don't live around here. My husband has this thing about pulling out the clothes and refolding them. Regularly. It drives me nuts.

But that is perhaps more laundry than I need air in your comment box.

Have fun!

[Anne Glamore]

We made it through the pants, handed from Finn to Porter and from Porter to Drew, but I forgot the part where I was supposed to buy pants for Finn. Dang! Hope you have more success than I did!

[Myfriendconnie@SmockityFrocks]

Ugggh! I blogged about hating that chore a while back. It always looks like several dressers exploded in my living room.

Thanks for WFMW!

[MomOnTheGo]

Do you subscribe to the theory that if it goes on the kids, then it fits enough for one more wearing? If so, you could maybe avoid the trauma of making them try on pants all at once.

[Amy]

It's not even midnight and I'm #39? Getting in the top ten on WFMW is harder than getting an A pass on Southwest Airlines!!

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

[Ma]

Love the new logo!
Hate switching clothes!

[Liz C]

We do it one kid at a time... I make a limitations decision (2 weeks worth of clothes), and the oldest goes and clears all her drawers and hangers. We do the sort/try-on/choose, get the donation pile started, fill the trash bag with the trashed stuff, and then make a list of fill-in pieces she'll need to avoid being naked all winter.

Then, roll on down to #2, and so on. Since mine are mixed sex, opposite seasons, and very different body styles, we actually end up with very, very few hand-me-downs, but we do end up with LARGE donation sacks.

Have fun... put on music, eat chocolate, bribe the little beggars to wear the clothes for 30 seconds.

I also have a bin of size 5 clothes (that vary widely in actual physical size, of course) in the hall waiting to be tried upon a 4 year old boy who is somewhere between sizes and none too thrilled about trying things on... He considers it a huge imposition to have to stop to dress every morning, so the clothing bin thing? Not popular.

We're thankful for kids and clothes both,right? But, together... ugh!

[Megan]

When we lived in Colorado we never changed out the clothes - clothes for all seasons hung in the closets year round and it was a beautiful thing. Now that we're back in the Midwest I've been reintroduced to this unpleasant task. Our basement explodes twice a year (more than that really), with all these goofy clothes.

And then my big problem? When I finally got them all up I realized my 4 year old had no less than 25 pairs of pants. 25. So today I had to go through again and pull about half of those out for goodwill.

Because I really like handling childrens clothes over and over and over and over and over...

[Heather - loving our homeschool]

Ahhh...I hate the clothing sort too! Thankfully I finished ours up about a month ago. Hang in there!

[LeeAnn]

Keeping dried herbs and spices fresh tasting

[LeeAnn]

Argh! Sorry- I messed up my first post on WFMW... It took me two tries to figure it out- that's what I get for blogging at midnight!

Sorry again!

[Naomi]

Yes...clothes-sorting has to be one of the most detested of my household chores too!!

To quote Dana "My husband has this thing about pulling out the clothes and refolding them. Regularly. It drives me nuts."

WOW!!!! That is amazing that he does that Dana. My husband's favorite place for his clothes is beside the bed ON THE FLOOR!

[Laane]

Oh my dear, I hate it too.

I make piles for everyone, and when they don't want to fit I just wash the clothes when they reach the laundry and don't return them. In time they have almost nothing left and want to have the winterclothes. So they get them, one by one.
Thet have to ask, because I won't return the winterclothes that fit untill they have tried them all.
Makes a bit of a mess in the house, but it works.

[Ornery's Wife]

One day your children will be grown up and gone and you'll only have to switch your own. I have so few clothes they all hang together--no mess, no fuss!

I should have taken a break from WFMW too; I'm having a hard time thinking of anything that works for me that anyone would want to know about!

[Sarah @ Real Life]

That was my problem, Ornery's Wife! So mine is "Real Life Cleaning Tips," some funny ideas for cleaning.

[Sarah @ Real Life]

BTW, Shannon, I LOVE that new graphic!

[Amy A]

What worked for me was paying my 6 year old 10 cents per item of clothing he tried on. It wasn't more than a couple of dollars, but it kept him focused. Good luck!

[Melissa]

I don't mind going through old clothes. My son hates it, but we only have to do it a couple of times a year. And My daughter loves it!

[Tickled Pink]

On my gratitude list I would include all the Works for Me Wednesday posters and bloggers who are so generous sharing their tips and their lives. I have learned so, so much. And many, many thanks to Shannon for building a community of positive women and moms. Your blog has been a shot of empowerment so many times when I've needed it. God's blessings to everyone!

[Christine]

Going through old clothes would be great ... if I only had one kid ... that never grew!!

[Amy]

Luckily so far I just switch the clothes without trying anything on; my girls pretty much are true-to-size right now, but I'm sure that's going to change soon.

A cake baking idea on my blog!

[Marni]

I wish I had some tip for you on this Shannon, BUT I DON'T. I hate it too and it takes me 2 wks+ to do it. If I could, each child would have a huge dresser that would fit all seasons of clothes, but that aint never gonna happen.

[T with Honey]

Nothings working for me too right now. The change of season, colds and viruses going around and the holidays right around the corner. Maybe we need to come up with a name for this time of the year like we have for that time of the month.

Good luck with the closets!

[Molly]

Oh, man, my girls and I dread this task every time, too!

[jubilee]

Just cleaned out the kids closet a couple of days ago. It's a loathsome job, but somebody's gotta do it! At the end, though, sure does feel good to have it all finished.

[susiej]

That is a heart-wrenching task. I feel for you. I did mine last month -- however, I now have a huge mess in my attic from the kid going back up to pull out more stuff. Awful.

[Mrs. Troop]

I'm SO sorry you are sorting clothes.
I wait until the frost is on the ground to put up the shorts and T-shirts.
Try doing it for eight kids - 7 months to 12 years old. Half boys, half girls.
It's a nightmare. Really.
Hope it goes quickly!

[Amy]

Hmmm . . . you may have just given me a new WFMW idea to blog about . . .

[Pieces]

Oh, Shannon, I feel your pain. There is nothing worse than getting my son to go through his clothes. And you have been doing WFMW for a long time--I'm amazed everytime you come up with a tip.

Love the new graphic!

[Heather]

Love the new graphic.

Although not my favorite thing to do, my girls and I like going through and seeing what will fit, what we can give away and what we need to buy. And because there is 6 years between my girls, it's fun to see my youngest daughter in classic style clothes that my oldest wore.

I also love a big bag of give away clothes! Purging the house of unwanted/unneeded items is a happiness of mine.

All of that to say, if I was your neighbor, I'd come give you a hand. Hang in there, you can do it! :)

[Kimiharris]

Tnanks for hosting this yet another week! Good luck on your project today!

[Erin]

Oh I hate this task and I don't even have kids yet. Just between me and my husband is enough for me at this time. Good luck!

[Deb - Mom of 3 Girls]

Oh yes, I hate that job too. Except ours dragged out forever this year since the weather keeps changing so every time I pack away the warm weather clothes, it gets warm out! Hmmmm.... ;)

[Tamara Cosby]

I was thinking, not having a wfmw is really a wfmw...if you think about it, knowing when to say when is a wfmw!!! :) Good luck with your house, that is my goal for the weekend...its bad!!

[Jenni]

ROTFL! I'm doing the old clothing switcheroo today as well!!

[Lisa]

Try doing this for a family with 11 children.... We make a party of it, and have a sock matching extravaganza with popcorn and a movie afterward!

[Scott]

I'm letting you peak at the "daBlogi Code" my kids will be enjoying.
Just a series of daily clues for the kiddos to solve and then figure out the "centuries-old" message.
Fun for adults, too!

[Andrea]

Cleaning under the kids beds is also fork-in-your eye worthy. Have fun!

[lomagirl]

the clothes thing is the bane. It's not just seasonal but when they grow. Help! And it's worse when you live in Texas and the seasons are so contrary. It's fall, it's summer, it's fall, it's summer, WINTER!!!, summer again- hi!- WINTER, WINTER, WINTER.
HELPPPPPPpppp....

[lomagirl]

Oops. Sorry. I did a post but I didn't link to it properly. It's also about something that kind of isn't working for me.
I'm glad I found you!

[Margo]

So glad to hear so many people confessing they hate this job of switching clothes! I thought it was just me (sheesh, don't my girlfriends and I TALK??). I got the clothes switched, but the boxes of giveaways are still sitting around. . . sighhh

[Rechelle]

Hi - Rechelle here - Country Docs wife. Thanks for the link.

[mumo3]

I'm currently in the middle of a complete overhaul/ organization of things- all things. This will also include switching seasonal items. It's an all-consuming job, but so durn satisfying when it's done!