‘I should never have thrown out my daughter’s Christmas presents’

This is a sad tale of Christmas presents past. A story of lots and lots and lots of past-their-used-by-dates Christmas presents thrown carelessly into the local dump; graciously good-willed into Salvation Army bins; given to cousins after each clear-out; or surreptitiously green-garbage bagged from the back of wardrobes. Once-treasured treasures excitedly unwrapped Christmas morning, played with a few times then replaced thoughtlessly and unfaithfully for the next big fad; by some, not all.

I have a 40-year-old daughter whom I love dearly. She has many fine qualities. As a young girl, one not-so-fine quality (in my misguided opinion) was that of her penchant toward a bowerbird obsession of never throwing anything out. Her bedroom fairly bulged with all manner of junk. Lordy, did we have some loud arguments as the command of “Clean up your room!” fell on deaf ears.

To relieve this toy over-crowding slum I will now admit to deception. I would slyly wait until she was on a school trip or visiting relatives and purge the heck out of her bedroom. I did, so I’ve only got myself to blame as I cry the tears of someone who got it wrong and should have encouraged her love of collections.

Recently I read, with complete and utter disbelief, the current value of some of the her toys, circa 1980s, I nonchalantly binned without a flicker of conscience.

Her Strawberry Shortcake dolls could now be worth $500 each. Her My Little Ponies could fetch up to $900 each. That Teddy Ruxpin she had could now be worth $1,700. Her Cabbage Patch Kids would be able to pay for their own education, with some valued at $3,000. And Pez Dispensers can bring in up to $30,000!

Just to add salt to my already stinging wounds, I am mentally adding up just how many of these said items I ditched. Strawberry Shortcakes, my daughter had possibly 15; My Little Ponies, approximately 20; just the one Teddy Ruxpin (so, pfft). However, here’s where I fall to my knees. Cabbage Patch Kids — she had probably no less than 17 of them, with one set of twins! Words… Fail… Me!

She didn’t collect Pez Dispensers so I never threw any out. I just wanted to add them to the list to make myself feel better.

Of course, if you really want a guilt-trip and admit you parted unceremoniously with your boy’s stuff, read ‘em and weep.

Luke Skywalker action figures can be valued up to $25,000. A Hot Wheels car (original price of 59 cents) could earn you anywhere in the vicinity of $20,000 to $125,000. GI Joe is valued at between $10,000 and $200,000!

I am not for one minute suggesting all these toys attract such monumental price tags, but it fair takes my breath away thinking about the fact that some I dispatched as dust collectors may indeed fall into this category. So… shouda, coulda, wouda.

May I suggest you dismiss the hoarder tag, encourage that child with magpie tendencies and find storage for this year’s Christmas presents? Your great-great-grandbabies will thank you for the extra loot and will save you the embarrassment of a public apology to your offspring.

Sorry and mea culpa.

Did you collect any toys growing up? Have you been amazed to find that a toy you used to play with is now worth a lot of money?

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