Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: A Method of Judging Whether Your Child's Artwork Should Be Kept

This week I'd like to introduce my talented, funny, and just generally wonderful sister, Weatherly Landry. I hope Weatherly will become a regular contributor as she is incredibly creative and has learned so many valuable lessons with having 2 young boys. Today's lesson - basic filing. Here it goes!

I get rid of things. My husband jokes that if he is missing something important, it’s in the trash. I am sentimental but my tolerance for “stuff” is low.

My children’s baby books are spotty at best. I did keep their umbilical chord piece when it fell off but I digress…

What I am getting around to is that I DO have something to brag about in the ways of keeping sentimentality alive and well. It is revolutionary. It will change the way your countertops look. Papers be gone! I wish I could copywrite it.

I call it, “My Filing System.” I know, brilliant.

So, in my kitchen, I have these 2 simple magazine boxes. When they bring home their folders after school and there is something cute in it (there usually is), I slide it into the box. The boxes fill up over the course of the year.

During the summer, I pull the boxes out and then pick out what should go in their file. At this point, I have perspective and can separate the real winners. I mark the file with their name and grade, slide the good stuff into it, and toss out the other stuff.

I keep this simple box with files in my closet under all the winter coats that are never worn. Out of sight, nice and neat.

An example of a winner would be this. No brainer. Beautiful.

As pretty as rainbows are, this one was on the cusp. Didn’t cut it.

This, not so much. Weak effort. ;)

When going through the boxes, which takes about 15 minutes, you will wonder why you kept many of the things in the first place. You will also get a chance to laugh at some of the gems they brought home. This for example:

When I got my son to translate it for me, he said he does not like “chores” and that brown thing he is holding is a shirt he has to fold. I could have sworn it was “church” and those were wooden crosses. Amen to his translation.

So there you have it. No frills. No fuss. And when they get older, move away and get married, they will have less to take with them and less to throw in the trash when I am out of view. But, they may just like it. At least a couple of things.

Weatherly Landry