Tomeko Brown
Author of An Instrument for Florenda
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They can be found in every home. From the moment we walk out of a store with a brand-new pair of shoes to stacking a colorful collection on the closet shelf, there it sits—the trusted shoebox. For many households, this rectangular cardboard container has become more than just a place to store shoes. In my home, it’s a quiet hero—one that has sparked creativity, preserved memories, and opened up heartfelt conversations around the kitchen table. Yes, that small (or sometimes large) cardboard box!
The Science Project
As humble as a shoebox begins, it has found itself journeying into the creative spaces of the young minds that have transformed its modest beginnings. Embraced in construction paper, glue, paperclips, and yarn—the galaxy that stretches beyond our reach—we find the solar system. Yes, one of the first of many projects I assembled with both my kids. But it doesn’t stop there. As we grabbed bottles of green paint, a few plastic trees and rocks, and lion figurines—my daughter found herself embarking on a journey through the African plains as she wandered into the world of the lion’s habitat.
Yes, this humble cardboard box has turned simple school assignments into shared experiences filled with laughter and late-night brainstorming.
The Memory Keeper
Wrapped in decorative paper, labeled with the word LOVE, you will find—tucked away in the corner of my closet—a shoebox not filled with shoes, but a time capsule of photos, letters, and items that have been cherished throughout the years. A place of comfort and gratitude for the many stories that have been shared across generations. And in the quiet moments, its appearance can attest that it has quietly embraced the tears of joy that have been poured upon it. Yes, the trusted shoebox.
The Conversation Piece
Amazingly, something as simple as a shoebox can open up meaningful conversations and create lifelong memories. From science projects to an item that holds our precious memorabilia, conversations have been birthed around the moments shared using a shoebox. In our home, it was a way of bringing everyone to the kitchen table—whether it started out empty or was filled with nostalgia—suddenly we were talking. As laughter and questions filled the room—
“Mom, you still have this?” my son asked, pulling out one of his first art sculptures.
Or, “Mom, is this you?” as my daughter picked up a childhood photo out of the shoebox—
Soon we were strolling through memory lane.
A shoebox, a simple piece of cardboard, doesn’t demand attention, but yet it becomes the center of it. We have all used it to ask hard questions, to share family stories, or to pass down little lessons in between the glue sticks and paint.
So the next time you come across a shoebox—whether it’s on a store shelf or tucked away in your closet—pause for a moment. You might just be holding more than cardboard. You might be holding a story, a memory, or the start of a beautiful conversation.
What’s in your shoebox?
About Tomeko Brown
Tomeko is a North Carolina native with a lifelong passion for writing, music, and education. She began her creative journey by playing the clarinet as a child, which sparked her love for the arts. Her work blends creativity, education, and a love for helping young minds thrive. She also enjoys writing heartfelt pieces.
Learn more about her at https://tomekobrown.com/
View all posts by Tomeko Brown here.
16 Comments on “Tales From A Shoebox”
Memory keeper is always one I have done, and when I was a child I made dioramas
My daughter’s wedding pics napkins videos and keepsakes I have lots of shoe boxes full of memories
I’ve saved many items for my children in shoe boxes for when they get older. The memories made are priceless!
I used to love shoe boxes, but when my mom passed, she had 100’s of them we had to go through.
Great article. I remember the shoe box days.
I love this article!!! Just so many uses for a shoe box! I can remember making dioramas when I was a kid and always used a shoebox. Those were my favorite school projects!!
I have a shoebox that holds memories. Concert and movie tickets, a small music unicorn from childhood, etc. I didnt want to save everything because who has the room, but I have everything I need in this box!
so true, so many uses, I have photos in mine.
I loved this article. It brought back so many memories of past school projects:numerous dioramas of differing skiils, homemade dollhouses.
After my mom’s passing we began to go through her things and stumbled upon stacks of shoe boxes. They were in her closet and under her bed but they didn’t contain shoes. Instead of shoes there was wonderful heart felt notes, photos, birthday cards, and school work from our childhood, memories of years passed sitting right there in these worn out cardboard shoe boxes. My siblings & I sat for hours laughing, crying, and reliving days gone by and long ago and it was beautiful!! I can promise we’ll never look at shoe boxes the same way we once did. ♥️
We have many as memory boxes
This “jogged my memory” back to elementary school when we used shoe boxes to create dioramas. That was one of my favorite craft projects ever.
Unfortunately, I have too many shoeboxes. What do I do with all of them? Beautiful piece of writing by the way
I think I remember using a shoebox once for a school diorama project; it’s true that they can become much more than just a box you put your shoes in. Great post!
Thank you for the great reminders. As a child- finding an old shoe box – tucked away in an attic, basement, or closet- was a great treasure. I even use one to day for my own photos and memories.
When I was growing up, we used shoe boxes for keeping photos (we used to actually have hard copies of photos back then) and for keepsake items.