Yesterday was a breakdown day. The day when I was very skeptical that I'm going to be able to make this move while remaining moderately sane. My kids probably were even more skeptical.
Today is a new day and it has its problems already (bahhh...John Roberts!) but so far the outlook on the moving front is slightly better than yesterday.
I have a good sense for what I need to do. And how to do it. But if you want to be helpful.... Encouragement. Comments revive a discouraged, tired, overwhelmed soul.
One bit of advice I do need: How do I encourage my kids to purge? They don't want to part with anything and I hate to go behind their little backs and throw it out when they aren't around. I want to be straightforward but really....We have 20 used coloring books and that is just the start.
6 comments:
wow. cross country moves are tough. I was in my early teens when we moved from California to New Jersey. I think my parents gave us each a couple of boxes and said we could take whatever we wanted with us but it had to fit in the assigned boxes. I still miss some of the books I had to get rid of, but at the same time, I think I'm less of a pack rat than I would have been.
Maybe the kids would respond better if you told them it was an adventure and so like the pioneers we can only take what is most important to our hearts? (And that they're just making room for other cool, "new" things they'll find in Michigan. :-)
Courage! It is really hard.
With the kids, I would probably set them each a box they can fill with what is most special to them and then tell them you will make executive decisions about the rest. And then do that part when they are not looking, but with fair warning.
This is a tough one even for me as an adult. It's easy for me to go through and tell someone else what to get rid of, but when it comes to my stuff, I'm much more reluctant.
--DJ
Re: used coloring books. Gary is no help: he said what if Picasso's mom had kept his coloring books; look how much they would be worth today!
Gotcha to smile I bet!
Judy
I threw out most of the kids' artwork while thinking exactly what Gary said and having much trepidation.
Moving is a chance to start over with organization. It's wonderful to shed junk! Recently I purged toys and had to wait until my kids were out of the house to do it. I felt a little sneaky but they honestly never missed a single thing! When I had tried to do it earlier with them around, it was all tears and hysteria. Thy refused to relinquish even one single broken toy or ratty stuffed animal. :)
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