Talking With Your Parents About Their Stuff
Sometimes the hardest part of downsizing is talking about it
If you have parents who are in their 70s and 80s, I feel I need to prepare you for some of the hardest work of your life: Having a conversation with them about their stuff.
I’ve had a lot of these conversations with my parents and parents-in-law. I’ve also had a lot of conversations with my peers about similar talks they’re having with their parents.
I wouldn’t say there’s an absolutely right or wrong way to discuss this topic, but I’ve made a lot of foolish mistakes that I’d like to help you avoid.
This is not a step-by-step guide to downsizing. Think of it more as an outline for keeping your family relationships healthy as we all age and are faced with decisions about what to do with our belongings.
We all have “relationships” with stuff.
The first thing to understand is that we all have relationships with the things we own.
I used to think I didn’t really have a relationship with my possessions because I tend to be a minimalist in what I like, shop for, and use.
I have a different relationship with stuff than most people — I hate shopping, and I use most of the same…
