What to do with Teddy?

Both of our kids are nearing teenagehood. Like many households, they are growing up quickly and deciding what things are important to keep in their lives, and what things they want to get rid of forever. One option, of course, is to put things in storage tubs and then garage or attic storage to review another day. However, another option is to celebrate it, honor it, and then say goodbye. I wanted to create a way to honor one aspect of their lives: their stuffies!

Every stuffed animal our children own joined our home for a reason. They each have their own story to tell in the lives of our children. We decided we wanted to share the stories that brought all of the lovely critters into our home, so we decided to start by taking pictures of each of them. We also found pictures of these treasured fluffy critters from their childhood. Then we started putting the pictures into a book! Now that all of their furry stuffed friends have been honored, they can more easily pass them on to someone else who could love them just as much. One extra way we honored them is to have the kids write stories about how their critters came to be a part of their lives. The book is still in progress, but it's so exciting to see what they remember and the stories they tell.

By honoring their fluffy friends, each of them can now decide where their friends want to go next as a new forever home. Donating the best of the best to the police department, area shelters that allow them or dropping them off at any center that may use them is the next step for our children. Making their memories last forever by creating a book has allowed them to pass on their treasured friends, yet also allowed them to treasure these memories.

Let us know if we can help you create this special book! It could be a holiday surprise they can use as a journal of memories. You can then say bye bye to those special fluffy friends when the time comes! #myfotopal #makememorieslastforever