He he he, I finally figured out a name for it!

After Christmas every year, I have the (now called) Post-Christmas Toy Dump. It's usually caused by stress due to driving 330 miles back to VA in a way overpacked Hyundai with 2 kids and then trying to find somewhere to put all that stuff they got this year in my 2 bedroom apartment. I can justify my actions (to myself anyway) by saying "My kids have birthdays in Feb. and March, I need to do it anyway to make more room for birthday stuff."

This is how it goes:

I drag the big rubbermaid container you could fit a family in downstairs to the dumpster outside my apt. I open it up and sigh, put my hands on my hips and say "here goes!" I start throwing out stuff. Stuff not played with that is in good condition, one pile. Stuff we can't part with (Thomas trains, things like that), another pile. Everything else, heave-ho-in-you-go!! In the dumpster. Pile #1 with good but unused toys goes to goodwill. Then I go through the pile of new stuff and put it in the now close to barren container, smile, and go take a nap. Then I remember I haven't opened all their new stuff. Dang it. Oh, well, I'll save it for later. Kids probably won't play with all that stuff anyway.

Tell me, is this normal behavior??

I do the same thing except I actually have to drive 30 miles to the dump....lol

It's normal. I've donated to Transition homes. I also add kitchen ware and children's clothing that we don't use or have replaced. The women and children at these shelters need it most and I'm glad to do it. It's my way of giving back from a time when I was the one taking in..