Stay-At-Home Dad: Bin there, saved that

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Updated: January 19, 2012 10:40AM

Every day after school, I empty my two sons’ backpacks. The end result is a stack of about a dozen art projects, worksheets and school fliers.

I place this pile of paperwork on the dining room table alongside our mail for The Wife to comb through at the end of the day. Both piles eventually disappear, which I assumed meant the contents were read and recycled.

But last week, I made a terrible discovery.

The junk mail and out-of-date fliers were being recycled. However, Bubba and Peter’s school papers and art projects were redirected into a pair of plastic storage bins in the basement.

My eyes swelled. Bubba is in kindergarten. Peter is in his first year of preschool. If this trend continues for the next 12 years, I’m going to be buried in bins.

Eventually, the producers of A&E’s television show “Hoarders” will be at my door. The Wife and I will take turns sobbing and arguing with workers as they move all of our belongings into the back yard. Finally, someone wearing a dust mask will find a mummified cat under our couch.

I called a bevy of professional organizers last week and learned I’m not alone. Parents often struggle to throw away children’s artwork and school papers. Heck, I didn’t want to do it, which is why I passed the responsibility on to The Wife.

“What I tell clients is, see what you can weed out,” said Tracey Hall, owner of Creative Spaces in Frankfort. She’s been featured on HGTV’s “Mission: Organization” and just finished three episodes of “Hoarders.”

Hall said it’s important to write the child’s name and the date on all school projects. Then, go through the pile of papers periodically. Save memorable items but keep in mind that in 20 years you’ll be handing this pile off to a young adult who may not have much storage space in his or her first apartment. They also may not feel much sentiment toward it.

“I personally don’t have a lot from my kindergarten-grade school years, and I don’t miss it,” Hall said.

Kristine Todd, of KAT Organizing Solutions in Homewood, stressed the importance of setting limits. She has an 11-year-old daughter and does her best to keep only as many school papers and artwork that fit into a single folder each year.

“If they are really attached to one (project), then that’s what you keep,” Todd said.

Both Todd and Jane Carroo, owner of Clutter Coach Co., suggested a pair of products. Dynamic Frames are picture frames specifically designed for kids’ artwork. Pictures can be easily swapped out and offer the artist a chance to display his or her work. Showcasing art in this manner may eliminate the need to keep it long term, Carroo said.

They also recommended Schoolfolio — a specialty storage bin designed for student artwork, tests and important papers. The bins look nice and feature a picture of the student on the front. The limited space also forces parents to curb what they save, Carroo said.

“When it is all said and done, they are grown-ups. And the reality is that most (art projects/school work) is not all that meaningful,” said Carroo, a Homewood native.

It’s important to note that none of the professionals I spoke with said parents should purge everything. After all, there’s a small window when children bring home cute artwork. Holding on to a few keepsakes is only natural.

But I also couldn’t find anyone who thought 12 plastic storage bins filled with worksheets that include Peter practicing the letter ‘D’ was a good idea either. At the end of the school year, it’ll be time to go comb through Bubba and Peter’s bins and decide what to keep and what to trash.

If nothing else, I better do it before we get a cat.

Howard A. Ludwig is a former business reporter who traded his reporter’s notebook for a diaper bag, becoming a stay-at-home dad.

He can be reached at howardaludwig@yahoo.com.