Sentimentality -what items do you keep?

I have pictures and things they made at school .
My most treasured item is my mums watch that she got for her 21st birthday that she passed on to me on my 21st .

Every card my husband has ever sent me and letters of thanks I had when I was an advisor as it made a sometimes difficult job worthwhile.x

Letters. My mum and nan kept every letter or card sent to them. I have weeded them out rigorously but there are still so many. I am lucky enough to have a note written from my great-gran to her boyfriend in 1898 (later my great grandpa). Makes me sad to think that people in the future will not have these precious correspondences. They are not heavy or difficult to store. I try to lift my spirit reading these, when I think of things that have been lost during many international moves, such as my paternal grandma's British passport from 1920. No photos, and a lovely if honest description of her (short, round, small nose, light brown hair etc.)

Having moved a few times I’ve downsized my memory box. I’ve kept a couple of cards from when my 3 were born, various cards they’ve sent me over the years, and of course all their wrist bands from the maternity home. I’ve also kept 3 beautiful dresses that my DD had as a toddler. My 2 granddaughters have since both worn them and the 1st one to have a daughter themselves will get them too !

I'm not sentimental in general, but for decades I kept a little pair of booties that were knitted for a baby I lost under traumatic circumstances. When my first grandchild was born I passed them on, but didn't tell anyone about their history.

Far too much. Things the girls made/painted at school, their reports, my reports, my Mum’s reports, baby clothes, first shoes, baby teeth, locks of hsir, letters my Dad wrote to my Mum when he was away during the War for 6 years, boxes & boxes of family photos dating back to the early 1900s to date, post cards from my Aunts who lived in Africa & Australia back in the 50s, my Dad’s old fountain pens, boxes of buttons, My collection if foreign dolls......I could go on & on. I just can’t bring myself to get rid of anything with family history

I have a button from a coat my Mum wore most days. I use it as my bidding counter at bridge. Mum played bridge too.

Also I've kept those little name tags from when our sons were born, plus a special note from OH when we were going through a bad patch. It kept me sane...

I have far too many including all the baby clothes my gran knitted for the boys, my wedding dress, tights and the garter I wore, mum's wedding dress that my gran made for her and the sewing machine she made it on.

It's beautiful with tiny buttons from the wrist all the way up the sleeve that she covered in the same fabric as the dress. A work of art.

Calendargirl Your GD's note made me well up.
Can't be cross with them for long can we.

Tags from when the children were born anti natal record cards and one satin shoe DD wore for her Christening, no idea where the other one is, also cards received.
My wedding cake topper, lucky horse shoes etc.
Mum's costume jewellery and a couple of ornaments. DH has his dad's wallet and some paper work.

I sent OH's passport to the Passport Office for cancellation after his death and ticked the box to have it returned to me afterwards. It arrived back this morning and I've carefully put it away in a drawer. Why? It's of no use to anybody but I couldn't bear to think of it being shredded.
I've come to the conclusion that we humans are, collectively, a bit odd!

I have masses of stuff, all filed or put into boxes and labelled ‘family tree’ hmmm, not entirely true.......

I have things that DDs made in school nearly 40 years ago, stuff my Mum made , GCs stuff, postcards, Christmas cards some hand made , others with drawings in them, about 35 photo albums, I darent go on.

Too many irrelevant things really. A few birthday cards my dad sent to my mum when courting in the 40’s. The most unromantic man, could hardly visualise him buying a card and writing a few words of love.
Also my grandma’s will. She died when I was 3, never knew this little, rather witch like figure. Had nothing of value to leave really, but left a daughter her feather bed and three jugs which I still have. (The jugs, not feather bed!)
Made me feel sad at the thought of such insignificant things to bequeath, but obviously of value to her.
And a little illustrated letter my GD sent to me when about 5. Had collected her from school, played up horribly for some reason, squared her up thoroughly, lots of tears and upset, but ok later. Then next day this note, picture of me and her holding hands, “I luv you Grany, sory I was norty, I like
cuming to yor hows. Luv....”

I have my three name tags from when my children where born and all their congratulation cards.
Also the gold horse shoe which adorned my grandmothers wedding cake it must have cost a fortune in those days it still has some icing stuck to the base,my DD has promised to care for it when I have gone.