A new batch of charity knitting was collected last week when I visited my mom. She's clicking on those needles a lot more to use up some yarn before moving to Houston.
The moving, however, is not quite coming along. More precisely the getting-rid-of-stuff-before-moving is not coming together at all. It's been over two months since she decided to move, and she has hardly cleaned out anything. Every time I talked to her on the phone, she promised to start as soon as we hang up the phone. Her closets are still completely packed to the brims, empty boxes piled up high, and she just wants to sit down, watch TV and knit. I'm not sure if it's age or the whole prospect of packing and moving simply too overwhelming, she just doesn't seem to want to deal with it at all. I will have a few more chances to go down there and help her sort though all the books, files, clothes, and just general "stuff", then we have to sell or give away all the furniture, pack up boxes that are going to be shipped to Houston. It sounds like a very daunting task.
That's enough whining.
17 comments:
Your mum has been busy with her needles, all these wonderful items! I hate packing, especially when you have so much stuff, so I can understand her putting it off... or maybe she was hoping you'd take over :)
Cathy, no doubt that she wants me to take over, but I still need her to help sort through her own stuff and decide what to move with her. I only have a few hours here and there, and it's just not enough if I have to pick up every item and ask her, "Do you want keep this?"
WOW, look at all those FO's! LOVE! Happy FaF... do you crochet? If you do, make sure you check out the review I posted yesterday... such a great idea for kids' holiday gifts!
I think it is too overwhelming. When I sit down to sort things I usually end up with them all spread around me and I can't bear to let go of any of them.
Sometimes it works to sort by definitely yes, maybe and no. You get rid of the nos, take the yeses and hold onto the maybes. If after six months to a year you haven't missed the maybes, then get rid of them too :)
I think it is too overwhelming. When I sit down to sort things I usually end up with them all spread around me and I can't bear to let go of any of them.
Sometimes it works to sort by definitely yes, maybe and no. You get rid of the nos, take the yeses and hold onto the maybes. If after six months to a year you haven't missed the maybes, then get rid of them too :)
Can you set her up in comfy chair near the closet, with her knitting or crochet, and then have her tell you right there on the spot yeah or nay? Your sorting needs to replace the television. :) She's definitely been prolific with the charity crafting - lovely things all.
Your mom is incredible - what beautiful work! Good luck with the packing. Where do you donate these sweaters and hats?
Minding ... we don't have that much time :-( Her plane ticket is booked for December 5, and her entire place needs to be cleaned out and key handed over by that morning.
VdV, time is the problem. I can only be there a few hours every two or three weeks, and we only have about six weeks left, and that's including selling furniture, etc. I just can't be there to go over item by item with her. Ideally she needs to put in an hour or so every day to make things easier on everyone.
Carol, I give everything to Sylvia, I think she has a list of places that she visits on regular basis.
Hi Vivian, my mum was the same way, as excited as she was about the new condo, she was immobilized when it came to packing and deciding what to take. Sending good thoughts your way, best wishes for you and your family!
Wow, your mom is a knitting machine. That's a years' worth of stuff for me!
If you want her to pack ... you're probably going to have to take away her knitting needles :(
Oh goodness...the same thing happened with my mother-in-law who lived in MA. My husband finally had to go home and take over. It was not a pleasant time for either of them. Sending hugs your way.
"she just wants to sit down, watch TV and knit"
Don't we all? I just can't get over how many items she has made.
On one hand I understand her reluctance to move, but on the other hand, it is going to happen one way or another, she might as well embrace the chance. But we aren't always rational. I'm still blown away by how much your mother can accomplish knitting-wise. Look at all that work!
Agreed, you might have to take her needles away from her. ;-)
So many wonderful items.
Packing and moving...ugh! I don't blame her for not wanting to do it. She is a knitting machine!
Packing and moving...ugh! I don't blame her for not wanting to do it. She is a knitting machine!
Good post! This is the kind of information that should be distributed on the online community. I would like to read more of this.
Post a Comment