H's work friend is lending us kid clothes

[demelza]

Her sister finished up with the 18-24 month stuff so we are getting to borrow them soon.  

What is the best way to keep track of what I've borrowed?  I'm guessing take photos of everything and make an inventory of what she gave me?  

[cville]

Not borrowing them at all.

[shamrockshake]

does she mind if you mark the tags? a friend lent me a bunch of stuff I put her initial on the back of the tags (with her ok) so I knew what went back to her.

[themysteriouswife]

I would decline. This seems like a lot of work for kids clothing. They destroy and stain everything.

[looksgood]

This has future hard feelings written all over it.

[dana2006]

Sounds like a good idea.

[demelza]

I am really tempted to decline. If the stuff has been through 2 boys it probably isn't going to be that great. It does seem like a big hassle but it is a very kind gesture.

[pantsparty]

Will you be worried about staining them?

IDK. Seems like a bad idea.

[themysteriouswife]

By the time she gets them back they will be useless. Say no.

[cville]

Mar 31, 2015 14:28:05 GMT -5 demelza said:

I am really tempted to decline. If the stuff has been through 2 boys it probably isn't going to be that great. It does seem like a big hassle but it is a very kind gesture.

No, it isn't really.  A kind gesture is to give you the clothes.  This is indentured servitude so that she can feel benevolent.

JUST.SAY.NO.

[McGavin]

Hard pass.

[margotmacomber]

lol at borrowing kid clothes.  That's not how it works.

[MixedBerryJam]

In a million years I wouldn't borrow kids' clothes that the lender actually wants back. My kids wrecked clothes, by which I mean, they wore them and proceeded to behave like perfectly normal kids. No good can come from this.

[ninjabridemom]

I don't understand lending a bunch of clothes.

Like, an outfit or something specific, with a specific event/reason for lending, sure. But not an entire wardrobe. That's confusing.

[VeryViolet]

Mar 31, 2015 14:28:05 GMT -5 demelza said:

I am really tempted to decline. If the stuff has been through 2 boys it probably isn't going to be that great. It does seem like a big hassle but it is a very kind gesture.

Yes and after your child the clothes are going to be threadbare. Honestly, if you can't politely decline and you have the storage, I would just put them in the attic and give them back at the end of the season. 

I have a friend who is obsessive about second hand kids clothes but she wants EVERYTHING back. I have just had to tell her I don't want them. I think she was a little butthurt but keeping track of clothes is annoying. I also don't loan out my clothes unless I don't want them back, I know the same friend also finds this super obnoxious. 

[dexteroni]

That sounds like a huge pain in the ass. Just decline.

[laurack]

no borrowing of child clothes! If you care a lot about them, keep them. If you care little, give them away.

[dexteroni]

Mar 31, 2015 14:28:05 GMT -5 demelza said:

it is a very kind gesture.

No, it's not. "Please let me give you all of these clothes to keep" is a kind gesture. "Please try to keep a toddler's clothes neat and organized and remember which ones are mine so you can give them back in a year, oh and since I obviously expect to use them again, they better be in good condition" is not.

ETA: However, since this is like 4th-hand communication - are you sure she's lending them and not giving them to you? I could kind of see this info getting translated incorrectly between male coworkers.

[Alyssa]

Don't do it, it's a horrible idea.

[AHappierHour]

I don't lend people my kids clothes. I just give it to them. If I cared about them I wouldn't lend them out in the first place. If I thought I was having more kids, I just kept them. This is weird to me that you would give it back. Kids ruin everything LOL

[demelza]

Mar 31, 2015 14:32:44 GMT -5 VeryViolet said:

Mar 31, 2015 14:28:05 GMT -5 demelza said:

I am really tempted to decline. If the stuff has been through 2 boys it probably isn't going to be that great. It does seem like a big hassle but it is a very kind gesture.

Yes and after your child the clothes are going to be threadbare. Honestly, if you can't politely decline and you have the storage, I would just put them in the attic and give them back at the end of the season. 

I have a friend who is obsessive about second hand kids clothes but she wants EVERYTHING back. I have just had to tell her I don't want them. I think she was a little butthurt but keeping track of clothes is annoying. I also don't loan out my clothes unless I don't want them back, I know the same friend also finds this super obnoxious. 

I have a drawer right now of things she has lent us that I am not using but am holding onto for the time being because I don't know how to say no.  Shopping cart cover, bath seat & used sippy cups (they are quite used)  she was just going to donate them but thought we could try them out and my H wasn't happy when I didn't want to use them.  

[madringal]

I ditto everyone else. Unless you really need it, I would decline. It is just a hot mess trying to sort it all, and then you have to deal with things getting stained or lost.

That being said, my little sister borrowed all my stuff (but bc she is my sister I didn't care at all if it got lost or ruined) and she marked my last inital on all the tags. I did the same with a few stuff I borrowed from her the next time I had a baby. She is the only person I would have this system with.

[VeryViolet]

Mar 31, 2015 14:41:30 GMT -5 demelza said:

Mar 31, 2015 14:32:44 GMT -5 VeryViolet said:

Yes and after your child the clothes are going to be threadbare. Honestly, if you can't politely decline and you have the storage, I would just put them in the attic and give them back at the end of the season. 

I have a friend who is obsessive about second hand kids clothes but she wants EVERYTHING back. I have just had to tell her I don't want them. I think she was a little butthurt but keeping track of clothes is annoying. I also don't loan out my clothes unless I don't want them back, I know the same friend also finds this super obnoxious. 

I have a drawer right now of things she has lent us that I am not using but am holding onto for the time being because I don't know how to say no.  Shopping cart cover, bath seat & used sippy cups (they are quite used)  she was just going to donate them but thought we could try them out and my H wasn't happy when I didn't want to use them.  

I would just decline and give back that stuff too while you are at it. Tell her your sister/cousin/friend/stranger gave you a bunch of clothes and you just don't have the storage but thankyousomuchandstoptryingtopawnshitoffonme. I am now wondering if your husbands work friend is my friend she is the only person I know so crazy about used baby shit. LOL 

[wkatie]

Used tippy cups?? Omg.

Definitely decline.

[stellas]

I don't like these words "lend" and "borrow".

[8675309]

Mar 31, 2015 14:26:34 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I don't have a problem keeping up with baby clothes. Well, until I box them up and move, lose a box in my garage, and find it just as my second child is outgrowing that size. </3

I swear the worst day ever was when I discovered a box of clothes that a neighbor gave me when my DD was born. She always bought good quality toddler clothes & shoes and they were all super cute. 

Yeah, they were all sized from 18 months to 3T and my DD was just going into 4T. I wanted to cry. 

[dexteroni]

Mar 31, 2015 14:41:30 GMT -5 demelza said:

my H wasn't happy when I didn't want to use them.  

Oh, ok - then he can keep track of it all. Good luck to him with that.

[captainobvious]

Wait. She was going to donate them, gave them to your H instead, but still wants them back. WTF?

[Deleted]

Mar 31, 2015 15:03:33 GMT -5 captainobvious said:

Wait. She was going to donate them, gave them to your H instead, but still wants them back. WTF?

I am here. Send that crap back and do not accept any more "donations".

[cheeseandcrackers]

Just tell her your kids are messy and the clothes would get stained so you'll have to pass.