My eldest son is moving out on Wednesday. He has not packed one thing. I fear he is simply going to leave with suitcase in hand.
I could scream. I have restrained myself because he’s been sick for the past week, still going to work and basically passing out with fatigue when he gets home. (But he could have done some packing prior to this past week!)
Part of me (the lazy part) wishes that when I finally move from this house, I could simply walk out with one or two (maybe three) suitcases. The thought of sorting through, getting rid of and/or packing 22 years of accumulated junk is daunting.
Would anyone like to buy a house filled with the contents of my lifetime? (And probably some of my son’s as well.)
Included is my childhood paper doll collection.
I figure that’s gotta be a deal clincher right there.
Photo credit: http://www.everydayart.com/image/suitcase.jpg
20 comments:
I'd like to hear more about your paper doll collection.
are the kind of paper dolls with the wrap around, tabbed outfits? beause if that is the case? when will you vacate?
i'll be thinking about you...i've had a son leave home as well.
((hug))
guy:
How exciting! A fellow enthusiast! I'll send you a list of who's who... ;)
mouthy irish woman:
Yes - with tabs! It's a classic collection.
As for my son - thanks. It's time...
Beth, what a timely post for me to read.
I am thinking of moving.
No... not thinking. I am actually going to DO it. To the complete other side of Canada.... as far as one can go without going for a serious swim to Japan!
The Island.
And what is just so incredibly daunting for me, is the packing. My plans are to be leaving months from now... but still, I look around, I have at least a ton [not exaggerating] of just books to pack.
I don't want to do it.
DON'T
WANT
TO
THINK
ABOUT
IT.
I set aside an area where I dumped things I didn't want...and went through drawers all. the. time. Allthetime. Then I made REALLY regular trips to goodwill and we had a couple of big fat yard sales....and it went. It is actually nice having much less junk...and now it is accumulating here.
Warn son that what is left is yours to dispose of and it won't be saved, none of it. That's what I would do.
I had the opposite problem, my sister and parents moved out of the country and left it all with me, for a while there I had 6 toasters and three microwaves. They were also given a year, then it went....there is only so much stuff we can drag around in this life.
cip:
Congratulations! Such a huge move for you (in many ways) and to such a beautiful place.
And I know you're not exaggerating about the books - I think we're going to have to give some of our books away with these moves...
oreneta:
Apparently there are organizations that will come to your home for pick-up - that's what I need!
Funny how what once seemed a treasure I can now consider junk.
One man's ceiling...
It's amazing how much accumulates. Obviously your son has no idea, even for the still-living at home grown kids, they have more stuff than they realize. It must be hard to let him go, and frustrating all at the same time what with him not getting the packing done. Remember the days when you would move with just garbage bags? OK then, a handful of boxes and the rest tossed in bags. Those were the days!
I cannot believe how much stuff is in a house, and we only lived there for nine years. My suggestion, take only what you need and a few extras. If you sell with contents, expect them to bring the dumpster and dump everything, could you take that?
Your son. What, one suitcase isn't enough?
It must be bittersweet for you with him preparing to leave.
He'll get it all in order, don't worry.
And good luck with the cleaning. When you do sort through and finally throw a lot out, you'll feel like you've accomplished.
must be a malechild thing, beth...
i put it off, too... but once i got mad enough, i packed my stuff and went to trawna... eons past
cip: you'll love the island! i have great friends there yet....
I have a basement littered with junk that I keep telling myself I will sell at a garage sale that will never happen. I am a packrat, in other words. There's sentimental value in everything in anymore.
As for your son, your tone seems to suggest that it's time he moves on toward adulthood and that's a good thing for a mother to acknowledge. He'll have to figure out his own moving out efforts. That's part of the business of adulthood, afterall.
Has to be hard to let him go though. :)
...boys.
On the morning that my son moved out to attend college, he hadn't packed a thing. We backed up a rented minivan to the garage, and he threw in a duffle bag, a guitar, a ukelele, and a window fan. That was it. For three years of college. He'll graduate in October, and he never asked us to send him anything.
I've always said if I ever move again (it would be move #15 for me) I will sell my house and everything in it, and buy whatever I need in my new place. No more moving vans for me.
I don't have kids (yet) but the thought of one of my nieces or nephews moving out of my sister's house to begin their lives as adults....brings tears to my eyes. I love watching them change and develop over time, but I'll always miss their baby selves.
And paper dolls! Oh, I so wish I'd kept mine. I love paper dolls. I bet you could make a bundle off of them on ebay...
My husband does everything last minute as well. It drives me nuts. When we go traveling, I start packing (okay, packing in my head, mostly) one month ahead. It does it a few hours before the flight... grrrrr!
i'm rather guessing your son feels he is welcome to return and pick up things as he needs them.
did you tell him the dirty laundry basket is off limits once he moves out?
i think i could do it. move out with three suitcases. maybe. it's an interesting question.
i guess the answer lies in where i would be going...
I loved Paper Dolls and so did Hannah. I wish I kept mine.
When my husband left home, with one suitcase in hand, he received a call from his mother 3 years later. In the basement were boxes of all his stuff. He had to take what he wanted, the rest was going to Goodwill. All his stuff ended up at my house! But, it worked for her!
At least paper dolls don't weigh much! (But I'm guessing that this is just the tip of the iceberg?)
Wouldn't it be wonderful to just walk away? Alas it never works that way. Today is THE DAY...may he take many things with him...but methinks he'll be making many trips back and forth!
When I moved cross country and only was able to take what fit in my car - it was the best thing ever. I had so much fun sorting and remembering experiences. And then, I sold or gave away those 'memories'. I felt that I was giving my stuff a new life. It was quite liberating actually. Bring on the move!
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