Yes and no. It seems to be an ongoing or at least periodic process. Also, I recently helped the doll house that my grandfather built for my aunts find a new home with a niece.
I appreciate that you can turn a dollhouse into a story and return to it in your memory. It takes grit to release these long-kept treasures. Makes me think of all the things I've packed away behind other things and intend someday to...to...you know, say goodbye to. Because really, the only thing that matters is the love.
Beautiful story, Meg. Our attic is similar to yours. And I have thought of pairing it down for my daughter and our niece and nephew, who will inherit everything when we're gone. But I also want to leave some treasures. Her grandmother's fine china, my stacks and stacks of writing since my 20s., a decayed wisdom tooth! And, of course, photos. But there's a lot that could be let go, as well. Thank you!
Ahh, Meg! What a lovely piece. Going through one’s “stuff “ is such a gift to children!!! I too was responsible for sorting my parents’ life “stuff.” At one point my brother and I were bringing boxes down from my parents attic space accessed by a built in straight up and down ladder and through a hatch in the ceiling. My brother said, handing down boxes, “do we have to bring all of this cr&@ down?” To which, I answered…”keep going, we’re not getting any younger!” He almost fell down the hatch laughing. That is when I vowed to relieve my children of any such purge!
I also went through my parents' belongings, and my father had saved everything. He did a lot of writing and collecting documents about WWII and about family and had at least 5 copies of everything (one for each child). I had both of my knees operated on and spent the recovery time sorting through boxes and boxes of papers with a goal of having only one copy or each paper. I had my nephew's cat as a helper, that is, she sat on the papers and protested if I moved her. I have done my own sorting and have been able to reduce the amount to a minimum as I moved my belongings to the other side of the world. The process is not easy, but it is so worth it! Also it is necessary to understand that your belongings mean more to you as there are memories attached to them and the memories may not be the same for everyone.
I just retrieved a box of my, my sister’s and my younger (adult) child’s dolls and accoutrements from my 97 year old mother-in-law’s garage as we prepare to sell her home. I am scratching my head about where should they live now?
I'm letting my dollhouse go to the dump because it's waaaay past its prime, but I'm curating all the doll paraphernalia. It WON'T stay with me, but I think I've found some young girls to give proper love to Molly & Kirsten, Corey's American Girl dolls... I'm packing a box of beautiful lace and/or smocked dresses to send to my cousin's 4 children, who collectively birthed 4 girl babies this year... and Good Will will receive a few treasures.
Not much of this has actually left the house yet, but there's are piles everywhere with destinations in mind! Best wishes!
Thanks Meg!
I suppose you already downsized!
Yes and no. It seems to be an ongoing or at least periodic process. Also, I recently helped the doll house that my grandfather built for my aunts find a new home with a niece.
I appreciate that you can turn a dollhouse into a story and return to it in your memory. It takes grit to release these long-kept treasures. Makes me think of all the things I've packed away behind other things and intend someday to...to...you know, say goodbye to. Because really, the only thing that matters is the love.
Thanks for reading! And being in my tribe!
I'm hoping the first steps are the hardest... and I suppose there WILL be a thing or two I'll wish I'd saved.
Beautiful story, Meg. Our attic is similar to yours. And I have thought of pairing it down for my daughter and our niece and nephew, who will inherit everything when we're gone. But I also want to leave some treasures. Her grandmother's fine china, my stacks and stacks of writing since my 20s., a decayed wisdom tooth! And, of course, photos. But there's a lot that could be let go, as well. Thank you!
A decayed wisdom tooth!?! Now you've got me laughing.
The basement's also on my list -- we have 2 full sets of China (one of them gold-rimmed, with gold-rimmed goblets -- not from my family!).
Writing now: thin carefully!
Thanks for being there!
Ahh, Meg! What a lovely piece. Going through one’s “stuff “ is such a gift to children!!! I too was responsible for sorting my parents’ life “stuff.” At one point my brother and I were bringing boxes down from my parents attic space accessed by a built in straight up and down ladder and through a hatch in the ceiling. My brother said, handing down boxes, “do we have to bring all of this cr&@ down?” To which, I answered…”keep going, we’re not getting any younger!” He almost fell down the hatch laughing. That is when I vowed to relieve my children of any such purge!
So bravo!!!
☮️
Ah, I'm joining the tribe of trimmer-downers. A good place to be... thanks for reading!
Totally sweet story & so true to all of us who save things we think represent our past, when it's the memories that represent those days...
Now I'm working on letters I received in the late 1970s. Argh!
Meg
I also went through my parents' belongings, and my father had saved everything. He did a lot of writing and collecting documents about WWII and about family and had at least 5 copies of everything (one for each child). I had both of my knees operated on and spent the recovery time sorting through boxes and boxes of papers with a goal of having only one copy or each paper. I had my nephew's cat as a helper, that is, she sat on the papers and protested if I moved her. I have done my own sorting and have been able to reduce the amount to a minimum as I moved my belongings to the other side of the world. The process is not easy, but it is so worth it! Also it is necessary to understand that your belongings mean more to you as there are memories attached to them and the memories may not be the same for everyone.
Oh so true! I love the image of your cat -- so far mine hasn't joined me!
I think your father and mine might have hit it off. I aspire to get to where you are -- not Australia necessarily, but trimmed down as if I'd moved!
Ooh! That’s wonderful! We have no little girls upcoming & my grandson is into stuffed animals instead of dolls!
I just retrieved a box of my, my sister’s and my younger (adult) child’s dolls and accoutrements from my 97 year old mother-in-law’s garage as we prepare to sell her home. I am scratching my head about where should they live now?
I can totally relate!
I'm letting my dollhouse go to the dump because it's waaaay past its prime, but I'm curating all the doll paraphernalia. It WON'T stay with me, but I think I've found some young girls to give proper love to Molly & Kirsten, Corey's American Girl dolls... I'm packing a box of beautiful lace and/or smocked dresses to send to my cousin's 4 children, who collectively birthed 4 girl babies this year... and Good Will will receive a few treasures.
Not much of this has actually left the house yet, but there's are piles everywhere with destinations in mind! Best wishes!