Desert Twins

Everyone talks about how much having twins costs and how much time twins takes.  No one talks about how much space twins take up.  There is the obvious need for two cribs and two highchairs, but there is so much more.  Twins need twice as much clothes (and this does mean four times as much laundry), twice as many strollers (in my case, we have 5 strollers.  A double, a jogging double, two umbrella, and a single), and twice as many baby gear items.  They also need twice as many toys.  Anyone who has been to my house can attest to how much space twins take up.

I have been working on organizing my house for the last two months.  I have been looking at all the baby stuff I have that my girls no longer use and started getting rid of some of it.  Luckily, I have a friend with a daughter who is a year younger than my girls, so all the clothes go straight to her.  I took a few things to a consignment store and was shocked at how little money they were willing to give for items. The consignment store offered $6.00 for a walker the girls received for Christmas last year, it originally cost $160.

As consignment stores seem to be not worth it for me, I have decided to donate the used items to local women’s shelters.  Regina Leeds offered up this suggestion about some furniture, but I am sure women’s shelters also need toys and baby gear.  I am sure that at this age my girls won’t understand the importance of donating their unused items, however, if it becomes a habit now hopefully they will understand later.

Last night we as a family went through their thousands of toys and decided what to donate.  The girls watched us and even picked a few toys to throw in the donate box.  This weekend we plan on taking these toys to a shelter.

Having the girls help in the sorting of their toys helps them learn a few important lessons.  They are learning to be more organized and to be helpful to those that are in need.