April 18, 2009 12:10 PM
Winter/summer clothes switch - anyone there yet?
Okay, I have a pressing issue:
Who has brought out their summer clothes? This was a ritual I didn't have to go through for 30 years when we lived in California, but now . . .
Oh, boy. those of you who live in climes with actual seasons and with more than a couple of kids will know what I mean when I say that this is something to be approached with fear and trembling.
Mostly because you KNOW that as soon as you complete making the switch, we will be in for lots more cold weather.
But, gee, April 19 seems kinda late, isn't it?
Today is soooo beautiful here. Our windows and doors are open and the air feels so healthy. My guys have their first Challenger Little League game this afternoon. Tripp has been the coach of their team for years but cannot go today, so Matt is going with us.
This is so not my thing. But the past seven months have been all about my dealing with this kind of stuff so I'm mentally prepared.
Matt brought up all the boxes of summer clothes this morning and they're lining the hall, waiting for me to make my move.
Flash: just checked the weather and we will be back down in the 50s and even 40s in the days ahead, so forget it.
Off to the ballgame.
Comments
Oh yes! I can relate. I only have two kids, so they each have their summer tubs in their room and we are pulling out of them as needed. I don't have enough hangers in their closets to hang both, so we keep the summer stuff in tubs until I can be sure we won't need the winter stuff - which is so hard to predict!!
Posted by: Chanse | April 18, 2009 12:30 PM
Ugh and double ugh! We're in NE Georgia and have probably less severe winters than you do, but it is still a difficult thing to know when to do the switch. I often just keep some of both available so we're covered. But it would be nice if there could be a distinct separation of the seasons!
So while the summer shorts and dresses are out, so are the long pants and coats!
Posted by: Kim | April 18, 2009 1:06 PM
We actually did that today! I hesitated because we had snow two weeks ago. But I don't have room in our drawers for both sets of clothes. I left a few long pants and long sleeves out, but hopefully I can put those away shortly.
Posted by: Margaret | April 18, 2009 3:57 PM
Oh my! Haven't done that yet, but it's a big deal for me too!
Posted by: Lisa | April 18, 2009 8:44 PM
Ah, yes. With 4 and trying to keep up with hand-me-downs, it is quite a hassle. I always pick one pair of pants, one long leeve shirt and one sweatshirt to leave in with the summer clothes in case of a cold day. Then I leave one summer outit in the closet with the winter stuff. That way I'm covered for those crazy weather days.
Posted by: Shannon Miller | April 19, 2009 1:48 PM
Oy! We live in Texas which means its usually hot. However, "spring" ranges from 40 to 90 and you never know which you'll get. Today my son wore shorts to the park, two days ago he needed his winter coat.
I just keep all the clothes out during this time, though I will say it is probably much easier to do that now with only 2 little ones than it will be when our family grows.
Posted by: Lauren | April 19, 2009 7:25 PM
I feel your pain! I don't have as many kids, but I suspect we have much less space per person. Here in Japan, the "changing of the clothes" is a big deal, probably because everyone is nearly equally cramped! With 6 of us in 880 sq. ft. there is not much storage space. We have to use every nook and cranny. That means getting everything out is a big ordeal.
One thing that helps the transition for us is to keep a couple off season outfits out all the time. That way when we get a sudden chill when it was supposed to be spring we aren't scrambling around looking for appropriate clothing.
Posted by: SueInJapan | April 19, 2009 10:43 PM
Oh. This is interesting. Your commenters all do the same thing. I keep all my clothes in the wardrobe all year long. I don't really have anywhere else to put them.
Where do you store them when you put them away?
Posted by: Clare | April 20, 2009 4:22 AM
My "seasonal clothes swap" has changed from using 3-4 huge tubs that I had to go through 2 times a year and move clothes around to only 1 tub for my youngest (and this is only "in case" there is one more...) and 1 tub that stores in the boys closet (all 4 boys are in the same room) for the clothes that "almost fit".
All the clothes that no longer work for my 4 1/2 year, go into a bag that I keep next to his dresser for my Godson and/or Goodwill.
Other than that I go through the 10 year olds dresser/closet and pass down to the 8 and then do the same with the 8 year old to the 6 year old then on to the 4 year old. If there are clothes (usually from the 10 year old) that don't fit the next size down they go into the closet tub so they are available in case of growth spurts. Also as I go through each childs clothes I purge out the clothes that have holes or stains(stopped saving them for "play clothes" since they were never worn when they were playing!) I now keep all season clothes out year round. The 4 year old & 6 year old share a 6 drawer dresser (that is in the guest room). They each have a pant drawer, short sleeve shirt drawer and shorts drawer. All long sleeves get hung up (I bought one of those rods that you can hang in the guest room closet to make it a double rod). The 10 & 8 year olds dressers are in their room along with a small dresser that keeps the pj's, undies & socks of the 6 & 4 year old. The 10 year old has his own dresser that houses all his clothes for the year, with the exception of his collared shirts which are hung up. The 8 year old has all his shirts (short and long sleeved) hung up and everything else in a dresser.
I have found with doing this, I hold onto less and donate more. Oh and SPACEBAGS are the best things EVER!! Winter coats and hats/gloves/scarves all get spaced bag and then slid under a bed. Runner up for the best things are the long rectangular under bed totes that hold swim suits year round for our crew.
It all sounds chaotic now that I've written it down, but it works for us ;)
Posted by: Margaret | April 20, 2009 7:38 AM
