Lorraine babuick

My youngest son said he is leaving town if he ever has to deal with sorting out our house. I keep telling my daughters that the 2 daughters in law also get a chance to sort through my quilting stuff as all of them quilt. I can hear the arguing already. I give fabric to them now if they find something that they can use and I have used yet. I have enough for all 5 of us to quilt for a couple months steady. (I just wish we could as it is so much fun).

borntoquilt

I went to an "estate sale" (unglorified yard sale!) a few weeks ago. The owner of the house was sitting in the LR with her 2 daughters (who were running the sale). There wasn't much there but it sure looked like the owner was getting ready for a nursing home. I thot those daughters were cruel to make "MOTHER" sit there and watch her "things' being taken out the door. One could hve taken MOM somewhere pleasant while the other dealt with the SALE... Bothered me ALL day! Was at another sale last weekend. Toooooo many things in the sale reminded me of my Mothers things..... I HAD to leave and wait in the car for my friend.... Does one EVER get over the loss of their Mother????

Sharon321

No, we never get over losing our mother's. The umbilical cord isn't really ever fully cut between and mother and child.

Maralyn

After having gone through cleaning out my single brother's home and my mother-in-law's home last year after their deaths, I have really started started a cleaning process, even though I hope to live in this home another twenty years.

I told my only child that I don't want him to have to put up with disposing of all my "junk" especially since he lives 800 miles away.

I have, though, made arrangements for my quilting room, leaving it to two younger quilting friends.

ragamuffin

My 92 yr. old Mother passed in 2004. She had attended country auctions as a child and collected glassware all her life. She did not "dispose" of anything before she died because she said she wanted to enjoy all her things while she could; but after she died, I was in charge of the estate. Mom had 8 grandchildren and I gave each one a quilt. One boy exchanged the quilt for the cedar chest but later came back to buy the quilt. I had an estate sale for 3 days and so many people came looking for "something to remember her by". I had 4 brothers to share with but I was willed the personal things which I still have and may make collages out of her hankies, Dad's personal rings and stuff and give them as gifts next Christmas or the next. I had my own company and was doing this for years for others who pleaded with me to do it because they did not want anything from their family estates. Those with money feel like it is old stuff and can't be bothered with it. To me it is treasures and I respected every item. I researched every item I could not identify and in the process learned a lot of info about paintings, leather bound books, first editions, etc. I enjoy it trememdously as did my Mother and Father all their lives. It is part of our lives and yes, we are only the keepers of it for a while and then it can be passed on to someone else to be the "keeper". I never felt weird about any of it. It is just apart of our lives and if we can enjoy a book, a quilt, a painting, or just a postcard from our hometown, let's enjoy it for a time.

Airwick156

I am so sorry to hear about your mom Janet. Life will still go on without her and she will be in a better place. It will be tough for a while but you will get through it. I and I am sure many many more of us here on the board will keep you and your mom in our prayers. God Bless You Janet.

lucy39

I recently moved into a one bedroom senior apt. Sold my home, which was 3 bedrooms, large garage, attached large patio, 2 sheds full. We had a moving/estate sale. I left and my children did the sale. What a blessing they were as they sold it ALL!!! No more worries about them having to deal with it after I am gone. I am so relived and so happy. They had their choice of any item they wanted, also.

JanetM

Thank you Deanna. You are right, she will be in a better place and will be whole again. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease and I will be glad when she is set free.♥

cathyvv

I've given this some thought over the years as we had to do the clean outs for both sets of parents.

I concluded that their things are symbols of who they were, what they enjoyed in life, but the sum of their lives is how you feel about them and how you remember them, and what kind of person you are.

lorraine43

When I was 15 my mom passed away and the family gave her clothes to a woman they knew. It took me a long time to get over that. I feel better now because the older I get the closer I am to being with her again.