This months e-tip is for all those Moms who have school age children, and the issue of what to do with all the school papers they bring home.

If you have been collecting all the art work and homework for the past school year, now is a great time to make the decision of what stays and what goes. You can do this alone or involve your child, but only if they are able to make a decision, and don't insist that you hold on to everything.

I recommend keeping only the most important papers. Such as: the hand prints, the first written words, awards, or the art work made for special occasions.

 One important tip before storing them in a permanent memory box, is to place the following information on the papers; the date, the childs name, teachers name, the year and grade the child is in. You could also put each years papers in a folder or zip lock bag, within the memory box.

The container you emptied is now ready to use for the new school year.

 If you have more then one child the chore of going through these papers during Christmas break may be an option.

Now what do you do with the papers in the memory box?

Here is what I did, I made a "This is your Life" book for my son and gave it to him when he graduated from college.

It included the first hand print, special art work, awards, sports letters, spring break memories, diplomas and much more. This is when having the papers separated by year really helps.

Have a great time with this, it will definitely make you smile and you will probably even shed a few tears. I know I did.

Live Simply
Joan

 Keep this in mind when cleaning out the papers, if you keep 5 things per year and have two children, you will have 160 items by the time they are 16.

WHOA! Multiply that with everything else they own.