My son is 17, and he just went on a TEAR through his room, and he threw out practically his whole childhood. Some of the action figures and stuff we're going to try to sell, but the rest of it went in the donate box or the trash. I felt a whole lot more sentimental about that stuff than he did.
Sadly, we made our kids keep a lot of their childhood toys because we thought they would regret getting rid of them if they had kids. We are storing them in a very nice area of our garage attic but at this point in my decluttering life I realized I was the one who didn’t want to see those pieces of their childhood leave. I am now in full support of them selling/giving away those things and will be helping them move it when the time comes.
When we moved there were only a few toys I wanted to keep. I told the kids that everything they wanted to keep needed to fit into one tote. The tote is a little overfull but it fits in it's space and as grandkids have come along, they love the different (and nonelectric) toys at our house. I did cringe at some of the things that they let go And at some of the things that they kept. But I don't even remember what those toys were that they let go.
My daughter was in band. I got a sweatshirt that had “Band Mom” going down the arm. I liked it best when I pulled up the sleeves and it said “Bad Mom”, 😂😂😂
I'm a new empty nester as well, but my eldest just moved out at 29. He has had a lifetime of serious health issues so it took him a long time to reach a point of self sufficiency. It's different for me because while I'm getting used to living alone I am enjoying the hell out of it. Both my son and I needed space. I am now for the first time in my life on my own completely. I am enjoying letting go of all the stuff I only kept due to having my son home. I am finally closing in on having a home that is very much pared down and clutter free, and I love it. p.s. I don't know if this comes off as I am glad to be rid of the boy but that's not the case. He moved literally 1.5 miles away so he is still in the neighborhood and I see him often. =)
Nope, does not come off as you are glad to be rid of him. It DOES come across as you are proud of him gaining life skills and are also glad to have some "me" time and space as a result.
My mom found a box of colored pictures, report cards, school pictures, etc. she sent a package of this stuff from our childhood to our kids. They loved going through it. The conversation and time it caused with our kids was priceless. Yes, most of it went in the trash later but the value of the conversations it triggered cannot be measured.
I taught in a school whose mascot was the tiger. Every Friday was orange and black day (Halloween all year long). As soon as I retired, I gleefully donated all of my orange clothing and school T-shirts.
Same here for all my school spirit shirts. I kept them a few months in case I decided to sub, but they created anxiety every time I looked at them, even once I put them in a box, so I donated them to a friend who is still teaching there.
I’m so thankful that my stage of life lined up with yours - your content has been so helpful through the years! Also just read this: “I’m not an empty nester, I’m a bird launcher” 😂😂 (but I still cry a little sometimes 😊)
My husband and I were empty-nesters for almost 14 years. we cleaned out a ton of stuff left behind from our kids. I relished in having, (for the first time in my life) my own room for my hobbies, my things,my decorations….. I called it my happy place. Then our teenage granddaughter moved in with us. I don’t regret taking her in but my stuff has been relegated to the basement. She will graduate next spring and I’m looking forward to being an empty nester again and hope it will be easier the second time around…..back to my happy place!
We do the mums in Tennessee too! Or did when I was in school. LOL I personally have never had a nest (single & no kids) but right now I'm preparing for my next life phase in 3 1/2 years...retirement!
We were decluttering our basement and finally let go of something from my late husband. Something that has been in a box for almost 15 years. Every time I saw it or had to move it, brought sadness & anxiety. So I gave myself permission to let it go in hopes it will bring someone some joy.
Same here, judiciously tossing the obviously damaged/not donatable things, washing/donating some clothes (some saved for memory quilts !), setting aside stuff for his son, all of that is 'relatively' easy. It's the tip-toeing around other stuff to decide on at a later date/and storing it...that's immensely difficult, and heartbreaking, and it's a long process....and only when the time is right, and you are ready emotionally, and have the brain power to deal with it, can it be addressed. So sorry for you loss. Wishing you, and all of us going through a similar situation, strength and peace ! YANA ! (You Are Not Alone !) 😀
We had an empty nest for 1 year and then our oldest moved back with her husband so they can save for a down payment on a home of their own. Now we have our first grand baby here too ! Thank the Lord I found you a few years ago along with the Take Back Your House course, because our home was minimized and decluttered to the point where we could do this. It’s been almost a year and it’s going great. They are streamlined too. Thank-you ! You never know when relatives may need to join you and being able to say yes is such a blessing.
I was so confused at the start of this video - in the UK 'mum' is the equivalent of the American 'mom', so I was wondering why all these mothers were coming home, where they had been and why they needed specific craft supplies to come home with 😄
Home Coming, is the football game where highschools traditionally have a "big game" at home after being away for a few games. Our school has spirit week the week of homecoming & the grads do different fun dress up stuff & make class floats for the home coming parade on Friday after school, followed by the big game that night, and homecoming dance that Saturday night. Ours is this week & my daughter is bummed to be skipping this one. We have a family wedding this weekend.
Ohhhh Dana.😢 I can tell you've been crying. Thank you for sharing this. Me and probably a LOT of other people are going through new phases too. I just love you!! Thank you for being you, and helping people like us ❤
My husband and I both went to high school in Texas. It wasn't until our children were in high school, that we noticed mums weren't a thing in other places. I wish I had been able to save one of my Homecoming mums. Back over 40 years ago, ours weren't as big as they are now. I have fond memories of my double mum corsage senior year. Thanks for the reminder. FYI: Anyone who can't picture what Dana was saying about mum making supplies, just put homecoming mum corsage in you search engine to see examples.
After my 5 kids had all moved out I was so happy to finally have a scrapbooking room. No one disturbs my projects (including the cat when we had one) and I can just leave to make supper or whatever and come back later and continue. I am enjoying the grandparent stage now ... we have 9 grandkids so far.
If your children (grown with families and homes of their own) don't use your home as a free storage unit for decades and your spouse doesn't insist on storing it....along with tons of every kind of useless (and even broken) clutter "just in case", I hope you realize how very blessed/lucky you are. Be thankful. The kitchen and living room look peaceful and nice. My side of the bathroom, closet, and dresser are highly simplified. (yay!) The rest I have finally accepted as forever cluttered, filled to the brim, and overwhelming. I have to choose peace.
I am an empty nester my baby left for college last week. I have 2 left in college and 2 that have graduated and got married. My first grand daughter was born a month ago. They live out of state. I can’t wait to see her next week!
I found this especially hard, as my last pregnancy was my fourth miscarriage. I am grateful I have a child who is still with me, but getting rid of his baby stuff etc. was beyond difficult. I still have stuff I know I should get rid of, I will get to it one day. Hugs to all who need them.
@@heavenisaheartbeataway9575 I'm so sorry for your pain, it's so real and debilitating to think about practicality when your heart is so wrapped in the sorrow of loss. I too am a mom of a solo teen. I'm still working up to letting go of her tiny things. Love to you in this journey ❤
I cry every time I even think of this! I have all little kids right now and realizing how short this season is. On a side note, you and your kids will be glad not to be going through all the school and highschool stuff 20 years from now. My parents are moving and my mom keeps everything. It's a Mess and so stressful for her
I was cheerleader jr & sr years in HS so my parents came to all the Friday night football games. I left town after for college and never moved back. Well my parents enjoyed those games so much they kept going Friday nights for many years afterwards. 😂
Best wishes for you and your kids during this change into and through the college years. Parents have a harder time than the kids. They learn so much during those years. Visit them often, take them out to eat, and enjoy them.
Thanks for sharing! Our only girl just started university and it’s been so different without her here! We are so happy for her, but we miss her. I just had some of the same thoughts you did. Thanks for helping us see the bright side to this new phase of life! ❤
Great video, thank you, empty nest decluttering is almost like getting a new art canvas! I have been enjoying the walk down memory lane as I declutter photos, I am creating thumb drives for each child and deleting the photos off my drives. I don't need 10,000 baby pictures, I am keeping the best of the best and all the others are getting deleted.
Thank you Dana! We just had our last baby and I am beginning to see some of these "lasts." Thank you for giving great advice on how to hold on to the good memories without letting the stuff become a frustration.
I have one daughter and I went through the empty nester phase over a decade ago. There were some rough spots during that time but now my daughter is married and has her own child. They live close enough for me to see them regularly which is awesome. My home has gone through many, many phases since my daughter first went off to college all those years ago. The nice thing is that we can move forward and continue to grow and change as we learn about this current chapter of our lives. Living in the past only waste the present, which I refuse to do. Today is the day to make new memories! With your help Dana I am continuing to declutter, so that my house is a better reflection of who I am today.
I have two girls (now 32 and 34) and have two small plastic totes labeled with their names and they love to come home and look at their “keepsake” boxes. They can take them home but since I have room, they stay here. It is a great conversation time when they go through the boxes.
When my last son left for college I got rid of so much sports equipment, got my car detailed as I had been hauling tons of kids everwhere for so many years. We moved overseas while the boys were in college and I took photos of most of my nostalgia items and just let most of them go. Change is hard and tears were shed but eventually I was able to embrace the empty nest.
The day my middle daughter turned 18, I woke up at 5:00 and cried/sobbed until 5:45. She actually moved out of our home when she got married seven years later. Believe me, at least one of your kids will be back living at home for a while. It's actually quite wonderful.
None of our children moved back, but my oldest son and his wife built a new house and we stored, for about a year, some of their belongings. Of course when they were moving things back into their brand new house, they didn't want everything they had stored. I went through those things, sold some, and donated the rest.
My oldest is a college freshman this year. Up until February of her junior year, we thought we'd be empty nesters as of fall 2028, when #3 leaves for college. Then, we found out that #4 would be born fall of 2023! Surprise 🎉. Now we've started over. I will say this, I'm so glad we decluttered over the years, as baby gear is so much better now than it was 18 years ago!
I know you are looking at the positive side, to starting a new phase of your life, but I can understand how hard it must be for you with your wonderful children, that you have loved and nurtured, leaving home. I have not been so lucky to have had children (when I was married we tried for 15 years) but I did have my own private Nursery School on the side of my home, in Devon, England, it was called Woodpeckers Nursery School, back in the 90s, and I loved and protected and cared for ever one of the children that came through my doors, and felt so blessed to have known them. I am finding it very hard at 67 years young, living alone with Madge, my rescue greyhound, in a very rural spot in West Devon, England, to get rid of things that all mean the world to me, but I have two rooms full of it, and I have a small home now. I do not have a car, and I do not live near a town, so would have to pay someone to take stuff away for me, and living on my pension now, can not afford to do this very often. Also, I have no where to put stuff to keep to donate or get rid of. I do have an attic, but find it hard getting stuff up there on the little ladder I have that comes down when I open the loft hatch. Just having another pair of human hands would be so helpful to me! But we just have to do the best with what we have. I hope that you can feel happier soon, and thank you for your videos. Blessings from Jilly & Madge. xxx
What if you stepped up and contacted your family, even if they are not close by, and told them exactly what you have just told us? Some of us have a hard time asking for help but a granddaughter or niece or friend may surprise you and offer to come and stay with you for a few days or as long as they can, not for pay, but to help you sort and take away all that you don’t want in their vehicle. You may be surprised at an offer. Also if you attend a church let them know of your need. A couple able bodied men and women will help if you let the church know of your need. I have said a prayer for you for God to send someone to help. Donna
@@MikeyDonna All my family live a long way away, and are not interested in keeping in contact with me really. Thank you for your lovely message. I do have one male friend, who does clearing of things for a business, and if I give him a meal, he has helped me in the past. xxx
I did in-home daycare for 17 years. I was invited to the weddings of two of the girls. One of them is a mom now and I love seeing pictures of her little girl on Facebook. My son still lives in that town and I occasionally hear of the others and their kids. You can certainly treasure those memories
My oldest is a senior in high school this school year. My youngest will be a senior next school year. Both are driving now. Definitely a different phase of life and takes some adjusting to, but it is still good. They have reached a new level of maturity that is wonderful.
I just donated all my maternity clothes to the local crisis pregnancy center. They can really use them. Definitely a new phase ... Grieving a little ... Or not a little.
My mom saved all of her maternity clothes, which wasn't many, in a tote,and now that 90s and early 00s fashion is coming back around I'd love to use some of them, but she's 6 inches taller than I am 😂 if I have another I may try to alter some of them, but for now I added my maternity jeans on top and closed the lid. I really love your idea though once I'm done I think I'll do that, pregnancy resource centers hold a very dear place in my heart ❤ and often, there is not as many maternity items available.
Dana,I feel this so much. Notca parent but Im Going through things and trying to make space for what we need in our new phase of life too. Letting go of things from my late mom,dad and grandparents. Its hard. 😢 HOWEVER when I was in college in KY in the mid 1980s,the girls all got mums for homecoming,but tgey were REAL mums. Giant blooms half the size of your head. I went looking online a few years ago to shiw a young woman who'd never heard of it. Was shocked to find the tradition was GONE everywhere except Texas, and those werent real flowers. I have no idea what happened to the homecoming mum tradition!
When you mentioned mums, I chuckled. I used to live in Dallas and knew exactly what you meant. I too just had my baby move to college and I’m decluttering my spirit shirts etc. Hang in there.
Such a different phase! My daughter graduated from college in May and has started her new career, but for the time being, the bird has returned to the nest lol. Every summer she came home from school with a dorms worth of stuff, left about half behind when she went back in the fall, and each year it was rinse and repeat. Oh the stuff! My son graduated high school in May but is doing college from home. So 2 adult 🐦 in my nest!
Life changes can be so difficult sometimes, but somehow, we find a way to get through it and realize we will survive.❤ I definitely miss my own kids, who are all married now and raising their children. That's been my biggest reward!🥰 I hope the best for you as you adjust to this new season of life~
Had to look up these homecoming mums and oh my- some of them have full size stuffed animals on them and some are the shape of texas bigger than the teenager trying to hold it up! Haha they are very festive, though I think I'd be more in line with your daughter and prefer the more subtle mums 😂
Our youngest son is in his last year of college. After graduation, he'll most likely come back home to work for a year or so and get established in his FT job before getting his own apartment - but he may not, we'll see. Once the youngest had gone off to college, I got rid of a ton of craft and school supplies that I kept on hand for various projects that would come up, their old hockey net, a pitching machine, their childhood bedding, lots of children's and young adult books, shoes and clothes they weren't wearing, board games.....The box of "Mum supplies" that you got rid of made me laugh - yep, lots of stuff just like that!
As a Wisconsin girl who endures snow falling at football games, I’m laughing at the blanket for Texas football. Enjoy this new chapter in your life. Like every phase there is an adjustment.
Hi Dana. As someone who has kids ages 20 and 23, at least one or maybe both of them will be back. Maybe for a summer, maybe longer, who knows? But enjoy the seasons as they come now. You're right, you won't need high school spirit items anymore, and that's perfectly okay! Thanks for all you do!
Great timing. My youngest graduates HS in May 25'. And will head to college in August. Our Middle graduates college in December. He'll be back for a while, but we are definitely in a different stage of life already. Sad and excited for the next phase.
Our daughter finished high school last year ( school ends in December here in Australia) and is about to finish her 1st year of University. Thankfully, her Uni is about 20mins from our house and she’s doing a 4 year degree…..so she has no plans of moving out until she’s finished her degree 🙌🙌🙌
OMG I'M BAWLING!!!! My kid is a senior and we're going through all the college application things. It's exciting but sometimes I catch myself saying "wait, he's not going to be here by this time next year." 😭😭
I made a quilt out of tshirts from high school and used it at college. I am 58 now and used it for decades until the shirts got thin and worn out from use and washing. It got used atvthe beach, picnics, camping, etc.
Last child off to college and last child out of college were both life milestones that were very emotional for me. It seemed like I had to figure out what my new purpose in life was after the kids were out of the nest. Very happy now but it did take some time.
I remember visiting a grocery store in Texas and there was a HUGE display of Mums as you entered the store. My sister explained they were for the school games. I also remember the signs in everyone's front yard exclaiming the school team. It is definitely a cultural thing.
They say you become an empty nester when the kids all leave for college, but honestly that is just a facade. Almost like a really long summer camp with the hope of having them come home again. But when they get "grown-up" jobs and move away permanently, some states away, that's when it hits that there is a real possibility everyone may only be all together once a year for a couple hours. That is an empty nester!
I've never been bothered about my kids growing up and leaving home. I love them to pieces but they have their own lives to achieve in and I enjoy time on my own. It's been 5 years now and we're all well
I became an "empty nester" when I didn't get custody of my 12 and 15 year old. It was really, really tough and very sad. I can still cry over it and I'm 70. A lifetime with them, gone. I did survive though, you just have to go on and make a good life, and I have.
Brilliant! Keep enough for a good memory but not so much it’s a burden and bad memory. Thx Dana. I recently declutterred most of my house and that’s exactly what I did. It’s so good to have you back.
I understand the pain...empty nester here as of (3) yrs. It is bittersweet. I always forget what homecoming is...((tried to ignore school events, lol))) Unique story about the mums ;) My "keeping just enough to be a memory" is a cedar chest full but that includes ALL of the saved children stuff from 2 children. The rest of the house is decluttered/minimal after starting this journey in 2015 with approaching son's HS graduation and a move to start me on the "process!"
Once again Dana has been a blessing to me when I'm seemingly going through a similar phase of life. My baby baby girl just left home too and there's things to go through and I've been avoiding the emotions of it (aka avoiding doing it). Its gotten to an overwhelming stage and I'm grateful for the thankfulness takeaway from this video as well as the "its ok to cry" and keeping an item or two is ok to do. The things I'm about to go through are her things, but, I'll be snapping photos of my favorites before packing. Thank you for your help finding the courage to tackle it.
Isn't it freeing? I love my kids more than anything, but I also love having a place to myself. My place isn't tiny, but it's just a two-bedroom apartment. I like having an extra room so I can invite people to stay. Also, I've been living in this place for so long that to downsize to a one-bedroom the rent would actually end up being higher.
Congratulations on this new phase of life! And good job too to find the items that really matter and keeping them as special items instead of having all of them be special.
New phase, and you will LOVE what's coming. The visits home from college, the weddings, and THEN...YES!!! THE GRANDKIDS!!! Yep, you're gonna love it! Embrace it. Time goes by so fast!
Easy to see your emotions in this video. I am now in retirement years and our new phase is our granddaughter getting older and done with Mimi’s toys.. she only wanted her craft supplies and her invention box… at our house. New phases come at the speed of light as we age. Thanks for helping me navigate these times and not carry all the “stuff” with me and only keep a few for memories.
Yes, you will _always_ want that wearable blanket! I recently went to my very first drive-in movie, and boy was I sorry I hadn't even brought a jacket, because the wind came up as soon as the sun went down... And now I think I might need to get one of those for my FiL, because he is _always_ cold these days as a side effect of one of his meds. I know you're sad to see all your kids away from home now, but congratulations on reaching the point where you can be "Dana" more often than "Mom" again!
Great video, I became an empty nester about five years ago and had a hard time at first getting into a new rhythm. Decluttering has definitely helped. Now I have the joy of grandchildren which has been such a blessing. It is such a journey and it seems each phase is definitely benefited by a good declutter. Thanks for this reminder!! 😀💕
So proud of you Dana! What a new and glorious world it is! You done all you can do with your kids... now they have to fly! Like butterfly's they will flit in and out... They know they can return anytime. #hugs
We’ve been empty nesters for a long time now. Our youngest left home 13 years ago to finish her last 2 years of college. The oldest one went straight to a 4 year college 20 years ago. We have 2 grandchildren but I’m not good at declutterring. Our grandchildren are able to play with toys that my kids had (and they only come about twice a year because they live in Texas, which is 11 hours away from us “from home”). But I get a lot of joy out of seeing them play with these toys! But I do need to declutter other things. We’ve lived in the same house for 30 years so it is overwhelming!
In Australia our kids rarely need to leave for university. Feel for you… in fact due to the cost of living most live at home until they marry or save up enough for a home. Pros and cons
Thank you, Dana. I can't believe how much easier it is to clean with the decluttering of my son's belongings, and my things relating to his upbringing.
Thank you for sharing. I just entered the empty nest phase too, and your video encouraged me. I’ve been watching your videos for a few years. My home is much more manageable, and easier to live in thanks to you. Thank you for what you do!
I cant even imagine being an empty nester. My first one barely left on the 23th of last month and his only 3 hrs away from home but i miss him so deeply 😢 I find myself just bawling my eyes out at any time of the day. Its hard not having him around i still got 3 boys home, 2 highschoolers and one in Kindergarten but time flies and I know some day I’ll be in your shoes too. But we know that they are gonna do wonders and great things down the road and pray for the best. ❤
Sending you love Dana. My daughter leaves for university (I'm in the UK) on Saturday. We have one in 3rd year uni also, so then just one left at home who has 2 years of school left. ALL the emotions going on.
Oh wow! I am exactly where you are right now, minus the mums (we're in SoCal). I just discovered you a few days ago when I was looking for help getting motivated to declutter -- we've been empty nesters for about 3 weeks now and are planning a huge life change (downsizing to a storage unit and traveling in our new campervan!). Movers get here next Friday and we've barely begun to pack, much less declutter and downsize. So, I found your videos and have really been enjoying them. Thank you!
Dana... you will eventually reach a stage where you will pack up all the stuff YOU saved from the kids because you'll realize that you NEVER got that stuff out of where you had it to "awww" over it. Then you'll pack it all up and ask your kid if they want it, and they will say, "Nope - throw it out." Or - you'll make a pile of this for each kid and tell them if they don't pick it up by a certain date it's going to the donation center or the trash. Love, a mom of 2 girls who are 46 and 44 who did NOT want 90% of the stuff that I had saved. Congrats on being an empty nester! The best is yet to come.
Send it to the grandkids to look through. Our mom did that and the kids thought it was a lot of fun. It gave us a chance to talk together about how we grew up. The time with my son was priceless and triggered by that box that showed up in the mail for him from his grandma.
My youngest graduated in May and is now in college a few hours away -so I now have both of my kids in college. This mom is so excited for them but after almost a month of no kids home, this momma is now feeling a bit off without being able to see and talk to them as often. - 😢 - But I am glad we cleaned out a good bit of high school stuff together before they left.
Good morning! I’m the same age as Dana but my kids haven’t left the nest yet (they’re a little younger), but I think this is a good video. LOVE her, love her process, and her books. 🙂
First, let me assure you that you WILL BE OK in this next phase. I say that as someone who started crying when our only child was in 8th grade. Just the thought of her leaving in a few short years sent me into depression. BUT-it really is eventually very freeing. I’m now in my 70s & enjoying the freedom of this stage. Also, folks in other southern states do the whole mum thing too. 😊
Didn’t know about Texas mums. My mom grew beautiful mum bushes in Kansas. We also made mums out of tissue paper in elementary school for Mother’s Day. In Kansas and Nebraska (where my family is from) we called them funeral flowers. They’re pretty and comforting I guess, they also look beautiful in yard or garden. 😊
As a former empty nester whose offspring returned home after college, I'm loving our current phase of life! They've been back about 5 years now, and adjustments have been made. However, the urgent need for serious additional decluttering was clear. Fortunately, both of our 'roommates' have been very involved in helping us make judgement calls on which things are still useful and which are not! I've simplified much more than my instinct because of their input. Bonus: They still ask to watch Doctor Who and Red Dwarf with us in the evenings!
My son is 17, and he just went on a TEAR through his room, and he threw out practically his whole childhood. Some of the action figures and stuff we're going to try to sell, but the rest of it went in the donate box or the trash. I felt a whole lot more sentimental about that stuff than he did.
My younger son did this as a teenager. We called him Gandhi. He is now 37, married with 2 children. He is still a minimalist.
Sadly, we made our kids keep a lot of their childhood toys because we thought they would regret getting rid of them if they had kids. We are storing them in a very nice area of our garage attic but at this point in my decluttering life I realized I was the one who didn’t want to see those pieces of their childhood leave. I am now in full support of them selling/giving away those things and will be helping them move it when the time comes.
When we moved there were only a few toys I wanted to keep. I told the kids that everything they wanted to keep needed to fit into one tote. The tote is a little overfull but it fits in it's space and as grandkids have come along, they love the different (and nonelectric) toys at our house. I did cringe at some of the things that they let go And at some of the things that they kept. But I don't even remember what those toys were that they let go.
My daughter was in band. I got a sweatshirt that had “Band Mom” going down the arm. I liked it best when I pulled up the sleeves and it said “Bad Mom”, 😂😂😂
It really meant "Bad Ass Mom!" Yay band!
@@TXPrincessPaula you are absolutely correct!
That's fantastic!!! Thanks for the laugh 🎵 💙
@@shallimolinda you are very welcome! 😂
I'm a new empty nester as well, but my eldest just moved out at 29. He has had a lifetime of serious health issues so it took him a long time to reach a point of self sufficiency. It's different for me because while I'm getting used to living alone I am enjoying the hell out of it. Both my son and I needed space. I am now for the first time in my life on my own completely. I am enjoying letting go of all the stuff I only kept due to having my son home. I am finally closing in on having a home that is very much pared down and clutter free, and I love it. p.s. I don't know if this comes off as I am glad to be rid of the boy but that's not the case. He moved literally 1.5 miles away so he is still in the neighborhood and I see him often. =)
I’m glad you have your own space! ❤ and he is too! Good for both of you. 🫂
Good for you 😊
I hear ya!!!
Nope, does not come off as you are glad to be rid of him. It DOES come across as you are proud of him gaining life skills and are also glad to have some "me" time and space as a result.
Hes independent. Good job mom❤
My mom found a box of colored pictures, report cards, school pictures, etc. she sent a package of this stuff from our childhood to our kids. They loved going through it. The conversation and time it caused with our kids was priceless. Yes, most of it went in the trash later but the value of the conversations it triggered cannot be measured.
I taught in a school whose mascot was the tiger. Every Friday was orange and black day (Halloween all year long). As soon as I retired, I gleefully donated all of my orange clothing and school T-shirts.
Same here for all my school spirit shirts. I kept them a few months in case I decided to sub, but they created anxiety every time I looked at them, even once I put them in a box, so I donated them to a friend who is still teaching there.
i was sad when my kids first left, but now I realize how wonderful it is to have adult children to spend time with .
Make a memory quilt to give your daughter
💯
I’m so thankful that my stage of life lined up with yours - your content has been so helpful through the years! Also just read this: “I’m not an empty nester, I’m a bird launcher” 😂😂 (but I still cry a little sometimes 😊)
My husband and I were empty-nesters for almost 14 years. we cleaned out a ton of stuff left behind from our kids. I relished in having, (for the first time in my life) my own room for my hobbies, my things,my decorations….. I called it my happy place. Then our teenage granddaughter moved in with us. I don’t regret taking her in but my stuff has been relegated to the basement. She will graduate next spring and I’m looking forward to being an empty nester again and hope it will be easier the second time around…..back to my happy place!
That can be tough! I similarly was looking forward to having my own space (and goals). Then I took in 2 grandkids
We do the mums in Tennessee too! Or did when I was in school. LOL I personally have never had a nest (single & no kids) but right now I'm preparing for my next life phase in 3 1/2 years...retirement!
Congrats on raising healthy, mature kids, Dana! You did a great job and now you get to watch the baby birds learning to fly on their own. 💜
We were decluttering our basement and finally let go of something from my late husband. Something that has been in a box for almost 15 years. Every time I saw it or had to move it, brought sadness & anxiety. So I gave myself permission to let it go in hopes it will bring someone some joy.
Same here, judiciously tossing the obviously damaged/not donatable things, washing/donating some clothes (some saved for memory quilts !), setting aside stuff for his son, all of that is 'relatively' easy. It's the tip-toeing around other stuff to decide on at a later date/and storing it...that's immensely difficult, and heartbreaking, and it's a long process....and only when the time is right, and you are ready emotionally, and have the brain power to deal with it, can it be addressed. So sorry for you loss. Wishing you, and all of us going through a similar situation, strength and peace ! YANA ! (You Are Not Alone !) 😀
I kept all of my kids' school spirit wear. My son graduates highschool this year, and I'm going to have a blanket made with all of them.
We had an empty nest for 1 year and then our oldest moved back with her husband so they can save for a down payment on a home of their own. Now we have our first grand baby here too ! Thank the Lord I found you a few years ago along with the Take Back Your House course, because our home was minimized and decluttered to the point where we could do this. It’s been almost a year and it’s going great. They are streamlined too. Thank-you ! You never know when relatives may need to join you and being able to say yes is such a blessing.
Wow! That's truly wonderful that you could help your family like that.
I was so confused at the start of this video - in the UK 'mum' is the equivalent of the American 'mom', so I was wondering why all these mothers were coming home, where they had been and why they needed specific craft supplies to come home with 😄
Same here in Australia.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Home Coming, is the football game where highschools traditionally have a "big game" at home after being away for a few games. Our school has spirit week the week of homecoming & the grads do different fun dress up stuff & make class floats for the home coming parade on Friday after school, followed by the big game that night, and homecoming dance that Saturday night. Ours is this week & my daughter is bummed to be skipping this one. We have a family wedding this weekend.
I cried for about 3 months, was sad for another 3, and then realized that life was pretty awesome as an empty nester!! 😂
Ohhhh Dana.😢 I can tell you've been crying. Thank you for sharing this. Me and probably a LOT of other people are going through new phases too. I just love you!! Thank you for being you, and helping people like us ❤
My husband and I both went to high school in Texas. It wasn't until our children were in high school, that we noticed mums weren't a thing in other places. I wish I had been able to save one of my Homecoming mums. Back over 40 years ago, ours weren't as big as they are now. I have fond memories of my double mum corsage senior year. Thanks for the reminder. FYI: Anyone who can't picture what Dana was saying about mum making supplies, just put homecoming mum corsage in you search engine to see examples.
I had to Googe it, as we had no homecoming mums in Pennsylvania. Wow!
oh my gosh, that looks like a bridal bouquet! dang Texas really does go all out! God bless Texas.
I'd never heard of these mum corsages. You can't even see the girls' dresses for all those ribbons.
Everything is bigger in Texas, right? 😂
@@JustOneDress what an odd thing to say
After my 5 kids had all moved out I was so happy to finally have a scrapbooking room. No one disturbs my projects (including the cat when we had one) and I can just leave to make supper or whatever and come back later and continue. I am enjoying the grandparent stage now ... we have 9 grandkids so far.
If your children (grown with families and homes of their own) don't use your home as a free storage unit for decades and your spouse doesn't insist on storing it....along with tons of every kind of useless (and even broken) clutter "just in case", I hope you realize how very blessed/lucky you are. Be thankful.
The kitchen and living room look peaceful and nice. My side of the bathroom, closet, and dresser are highly simplified. (yay!)
The rest I have finally accepted as forever cluttered, filled to the brim, and overwhelming. I have to choose peace.
Getting rid of "present-me" & "future-me" things that have now become "past-me" things...new phases are a great time to re-evaluate!! 😘♥️
I am an empty nester my baby left for college last week. I have 2 left in college and 2 that have graduated and got married. My first grand daughter was born a month ago. They live out of state. I can’t wait to see her next week!
I'm currently in the 'decluttering because I wont have anymore infants' phase and it hurts! Sending good thoughts to everyone who's in a transition!
So hard 😢
I found this especially hard, as my last pregnancy was my fourth miscarriage. I am grateful I have a child who is still with me, but getting rid of his baby stuff etc. was beyond difficult. I still have stuff I know I should get rid of, I will get to it one day. Hugs to all who need them.
@@heavenisaheartbeataway9575 I'm so sorry for your pain, it's so real and debilitating to think about practicality when your heart is so wrapped in the sorrow of loss. I too am a mom of a solo teen. I'm still working up to letting go of her tiny things. Love to you in this journey ❤
This is also where I'm at and I feel your pain :(
@@teelakovacs208 Thank you. Love and courage to you. I know it's difficult.
I cry every time I even think of this! I have all little kids right now and realizing how short this season is.
On a side note, you and your kids will be glad not to be going through all the school and highschool stuff 20 years from now. My parents are moving and my mom keeps everything. It's a Mess and so stressful for her
I was cheerleader jr & sr years in HS so my parents came to all the Friday night football games. I left town after for college and never moved back. Well my parents enjoyed those games so much they kept going Friday nights for many years afterwards. 😂
Best wishes for you and your kids during this change into and through the college years. Parents have a harder time than the kids. They learn so much during those years. Visit them often, take them out to eat, and enjoy them.
Thanks for sharing! Our only girl just started university and it’s been so different without her here! We are so happy for her, but we miss her. I just had some of the same thoughts you did. Thanks for helping us see the bright side to this new phase of life! ❤
Great video, thank you, empty nest decluttering is almost like getting a new art canvas! I have been enjoying the walk down memory lane as I declutter photos, I am creating thumb drives for each child and deleting the photos off my drives. I don't need 10,000 baby pictures, I am keeping the best of the best and all the others are getting deleted.
Thank you Dana! We just had our last baby and I am beginning to see some of these "lasts." Thank you for giving great advice on how to hold on to the good memories without letting the stuff become a frustration.
I have one daughter and I went through the empty nester phase over a decade ago. There were some rough spots during that time but now my daughter is married and has her own child. They live close enough for me to see them regularly which is awesome. My home has gone through many, many phases since my daughter first went off to college all those years ago. The nice thing is that we can move forward and continue to grow and change as we learn about this current chapter of our lives. Living in the past only waste the present, which I refuse to do. Today is the day to make new memories! With your help Dana I am continuing to declutter, so that my house is a better reflection of who I am today.
I have two girls (now 32 and 34) and have two small plastic totes labeled with their names and they love to come home and look at their “keepsake” boxes. They can take them home but since I have room, they stay here. It is a great conversation time when they go through the boxes.
When my last son left for college I got rid of so much sports equipment, got my car detailed as I had been hauling tons of kids everwhere for so many years. We moved overseas while the boys were in college and I took photos of most of my nostalgia items and just let most of them go. Change is hard and tears were shed but eventually I was able to embrace the empty nest.
The day my middle daughter turned 18, I woke up at 5:00 and cried/sobbed until 5:45. She actually moved out of our home when she got married seven years later. Believe me, at least one of your kids will be back living at home for a while. It's actually quite wonderful.
Truth!
None of our children moved back, but my oldest son and his wife built a new house and we stored, for about a year, some of their belongings.
Of course when they were moving things back into their brand new house, they didn't want everything they had stored. I went through those things, sold some, and donated the rest.
My oldest is a college freshman this year. Up until February of her junior year, we thought we'd be empty nesters as of fall 2028, when #3 leaves for college. Then, we found out that #4 would be born fall of 2023! Surprise 🎉. Now we've started over. I will say this, I'm so glad we decluttered over the years, as baby gear is so much better now than it was 18 years ago!
Congratulations!!! ❤❤❤❤
Congratulations!
Congratulations! 🎉
Congratulations! I hope this will be a joyous time for all of you !
Thanks, y'all! We were absurdly excited to be "new parents" again, long after we thought that ship had sailed!
I know you are looking at the positive side, to starting a new phase of your life, but I can understand how hard it must be for you with your wonderful children, that you have loved and nurtured, leaving home. I have not been so lucky to have had children (when I was married we tried for 15 years) but I did have my own private Nursery School on the side of my home, in Devon, England, it was called Woodpeckers Nursery School, back in the 90s, and I loved and protected and cared for ever one of the children that came through my doors, and felt so blessed to have known them. I am finding it very hard at 67 years young, living alone with Madge, my rescue greyhound, in a very rural spot in West Devon, England, to get rid of things that all mean the world to me, but I have two rooms full of it, and I have a small home now. I do not have a car, and I do not live near a town, so would have to pay someone to take stuff away for me, and living on my pension now, can not afford to do this very often. Also, I have no where to put stuff to keep to donate or get rid of. I do have an attic, but find it hard getting stuff up there on the little ladder I have that comes down when I open the loft hatch. Just having another pair of human hands would be so helpful to me! But we just have to do the best with what we have. I hope that you can feel happier soon, and thank you for your videos. Blessings from Jilly & Madge. xxx
What if you stepped up and contacted your family, even if they are not close by, and told them exactly what you have just told us? Some of us have a hard time asking for help but a granddaughter or niece or friend may surprise you and offer to come and stay with you for a few days or as long as they can,
not for pay, but to help you sort and take away all that you don’t want in their vehicle. You may be surprised at an offer. Also if you attend a church let them know of your need. A couple able bodied men and women will help if you let the church know of your need. I have said a prayer for you for God to send someone to help. Donna
@@MikeyDonna All my family live a long way away, and are not interested in keeping in contact with me really. Thank you for your lovely message. I do have one male friend, who does clearing of things for a business, and if I give him a meal, he has helped me in the past. xxx
I did in-home daycare for 17 years. I was invited to the weddings of two of the girls. One of them is a mom now and I love seeing pictures of her little girl on Facebook. My son still lives in that town and I occasionally hear of the others and their kids. You can certainly treasure those memories
My oldest is a senior in high school this school year. My youngest will be a senior next school year. Both are driving now. Definitely a different phase of life and takes some adjusting to, but it is still good. They have reached a new level of maturity that is wonderful.
Yes! As much as I loved my daughter's swim team years, it was wonderful when swim shirts didn't make up 80% of my wardrobe! ❤
I just donated all my maternity clothes to the local crisis pregnancy center. They can really use them. Definitely a new phase ... Grieving a little ... Or not a little.
My mom saved all of her maternity clothes, which wasn't many, in a tote,and now that 90s and early 00s fashion is coming back around I'd love to use some of them, but she's 6 inches taller than I am 😂 if I have another I may try to alter some of them, but for now I added my maternity jeans on top and closed the lid.
I really love your idea though once I'm done I think I'll do that, pregnancy resource centers hold a very dear place in my heart ❤ and often, there is not as many maternity items available.
Dana,I feel this so much. Notca parent but Im Going through things and trying to make space for what we need in our new phase of life too. Letting go of things from my late mom,dad and grandparents. Its hard. 😢 HOWEVER when I was in college in KY in the mid 1980s,the girls all got mums for homecoming,but tgey were REAL mums. Giant blooms half the size of your head. I went looking online a few years ago to shiw a young woman who'd never heard of it. Was shocked to find the tradition was GONE everywhere except Texas, and those werent real flowers. I have no idea what happened to the homecoming mum tradition!
When you mentioned mums, I chuckled. I used to live in Dallas and knew exactly what you meant. I too just had my baby move to college and I’m decluttering my spirit shirts etc. Hang in there.
Such a different phase! My daughter graduated from college in May and has started her new career, but for the time being, the bird has returned to the nest lol. Every summer she came home from school with a dorms worth of stuff, left about half behind when she went back in the fall, and each year it was rinse and repeat. Oh the stuff! My son graduated high school in May but is doing college from home. So 2 adult 🐦 in my nest!
Life changes can be so difficult sometimes, but somehow, we find a way to get through it and realize we will survive.❤
I definitely miss my own kids, who are all married now and raising their children. That's been my biggest reward!🥰
I hope the best for you as you adjust to this new season of life~
Had to look up these homecoming mums and oh my- some of them have full size stuffed animals on them and some are the shape of texas bigger than the teenager trying to hold it up! Haha they are very festive, though I think I'd be more in line with your daughter and prefer the more subtle mums 😂
I loved the mega-mums! Especially the ones with the lights.
We're going to do some RVing. I expect that the old camp chairs, bleacher seat pads and wearable blankets will come in handy during this next phase!
Our youngest son is in his last year of college. After graduation, he'll most likely come back home to work for a year or so and get established in his FT job before getting his own apartment - but he may not, we'll see. Once the youngest had gone off to college, I got rid of a ton of craft and school supplies that I kept on hand for various projects that would come up, their old hockey net, a pitching machine, their childhood bedding, lots of children's and young adult books, shoes and clothes they weren't wearing, board games.....The box of "Mum supplies" that you got rid of made me laugh - yep, lots of stuff just like that!
As a Wisconsin girl who endures snow falling at football games, I’m laughing at the blanket for Texas football. Enjoy this new chapter in your life. Like every phase there is an adjustment.
Hi Dana. As someone who has kids ages 20 and 23, at least one or maybe both of them will be back. Maybe for a summer, maybe longer, who knows? But enjoy the seasons as they come now. You're right, you won't need high school spirit items anymore, and that's perfectly okay! Thanks for all you do!
Great timing. My youngest graduates HS in May 25'. And will head to college in August. Our Middle graduates college in December. He'll be back for a while, but we are definitely in a different stage of life already. Sad and excited for the next phase.
Our daughter finished high school last year ( school ends in December here in Australia) and is about to finish her 1st year of University. Thankfully, her Uni is about 20mins from our house and she’s doing a 4 year degree…..so she has no plans of moving out until she’s finished her degree 🙌🙌🙌
OMG I'M BAWLING!!!! My kid is a senior and we're going through all the college application things. It's exciting but sometimes I catch myself saying "wait, he's not going to be here by this time next year." 😭😭
This is a tough phase but believe it or not you will adjust and create a new routine. ❤
I made a quilt out of tshirts from high school and used it at college. I am 58 now and used it for decades until the shirts got thin and worn out from use and washing. It got used atvthe beach, picnics, camping, etc.
I made a t-shirt quilt my senior year of high school and now it is my kids favorite picnic blanket 😊
Last child off to college and last child out of college were both life milestones that were very emotional for me. It seemed like I had to figure out what my new purpose in life was after the kids were out of the nest. Very happy now but it did take some time.
I remember visiting a grocery store in Texas and there was a HUGE display of Mums as you entered the store. My sister explained they were for the school games. I also remember the signs in everyone's front yard exclaiming the school team. It is definitely a cultural thing.
I live in Texas. I didn't know mums were exclusive here. I thought they were everywhere
They say you become an empty nester when the kids all leave for college, but honestly that is just a facade. Almost like a really long summer camp with the hope of having them come home again. But when they get "grown-up" jobs and move away permanently, some states away, that's when it hits that there is a real possibility everyone may only be all together once a year for a couple hours. That is an empty nester!
I've never been bothered about my kids growing up and leaving home. I love them to pieces but they have their own lives to achieve in and I enjoy time on my own. It's been 5 years now and we're all well
I became an "empty nester" when I didn't get custody of my 12 and 15 year old. It was really, really tough and very sad. I can still cry over it and I'm 70. A lifetime with them, gone. I did survive though, you just have to go on and make a good life, and I have.
Thank you for sharing. Always love watching your videos. All the best to your daughter xx
Ugh, these life changes are so hard!! Thank you for the positive thoughts about these changes. ❤
Brilliant! Keep enough for a good memory but not so much it’s a burden and bad memory. Thx Dana. I recently declutterred most of my house and that’s exactly what I did. It’s so good to have you back.
I understand the pain...empty nester here as of (3) yrs. It is bittersweet. I always forget what homecoming is...((tried to ignore school events, lol))) Unique story about the mums ;) My "keeping just enough to be a memory" is a cedar chest full but that includes ALL of the saved children stuff from 2 children. The rest of the house is decluttered/minimal after starting this journey in 2015 with approaching son's HS graduation and a move to start me on the "process!"
It’s definitely a bittersweet time of life! Although my husband and I enjoy the heck out of having a house and time just for us!
Once again Dana has been a blessing to me when I'm seemingly going through a similar phase of life. My baby baby girl just left home too and there's things to go through and I've been avoiding the emotions of it (aka avoiding doing it). Its gotten to an overwhelming stage and I'm grateful for the thankfulness takeaway from this video as well as the "its ok to cry" and keeping an item or two is ok to do. The things I'm about to go through are her things, but, I'll be snapping photos of my favorites before packing. Thank you for your help finding the courage to tackle it.
I’m an empty nester, too. I declutter a lot (with your help) and moved into a tiny apartment. I love it!
Isn't it freeing? I love my kids more than anything, but I also love having a place to myself. My place isn't tiny, but it's just a two-bedroom apartment. I like having an extra room so I can invite people to stay. Also, I've been living in this place for so long that to downsize to a one-bedroom the rent would actually end up being higher.
Congratulations on this new phase of life! And good job too to find the items that really matter and keeping them as special items instead of having all of them be special.
New phase, and you will LOVE what's coming. The visits home from college, the weddings, and THEN...YES!!! THE GRANDKIDS!!! Yep, you're gonna love it! Embrace it. Time goes by so fast!
Empty nesters here!!! There’s a lot of what ifs , like a lot
Easy to see your emotions in this video. I am now in retirement years and our new phase is our granddaughter getting older and done with Mimi’s toys.. she only wanted her craft supplies and her invention box… at our house. New phases come at the speed of light as we age. Thanks for helping me navigate these times and not carry all the “stuff” with me and only keep a few for memories.
Yes, you will _always_ want that wearable blanket! I recently went to my very first drive-in movie, and boy was I sorry I hadn't even brought a jacket, because the wind came up as soon as the sun went down... And now I think I might need to get one of those for my FiL, because he is _always_ cold these days as a side effect of one of his meds.
I know you're sad to see all your kids away from home now, but congratulations on reaching the point where you can be "Dana" more often than "Mom" again!
I am going through early menopause at 49, and I cry over everything too.
Great video, I became an empty nester about five years ago and had a hard time at first getting into a new rhythm. Decluttering has definitely helped. Now I have the joy of grandchildren which has been such a blessing. It is such a journey and it seems each phase is definitely benefited by a good declutter. Thanks for this reminder!! 😀💕
Homecoming mums are a big thing in Louisiana and Mississippi, too! Of course, Texas does everything larger, though! ❤😂
So proud of you Dana! What a new and glorious world it is! You done all you can do with your kids... now they have to fly! Like butterfly's they will flit in and out... They know they can return anytime. #hugs
Reid’s comment at the end of the vlog made me laugh
We’ve been empty nesters for a long time now. Our youngest left home 13 years ago to finish her last 2 years of college. The oldest one went straight to a 4 year college 20 years ago. We have 2 grandchildren but I’m not good at declutterring. Our grandchildren are able to play with toys that my kids had (and they only come about twice a year because they live in Texas, which is 11 hours away from us “from home”). But I get a lot of joy out of seeing them play with these toys! But I do need to declutter other things. We’ve lived in the same house for 30 years so it is overwhelming!
We do "mums" for Homecoming in Louisiana, too. Maybe it's a southern thing 😁
In Australia our kids rarely need to leave for university. Feel for you… in fact due to the cost of living most live at home until they marry or save up enough for a home. Pros and cons
Thank you, Dana. I can't believe how much easier it is to clean with the decluttering of my son's belongings, and my things relating to his upbringing.
SO glad you're back! No one compares to you and your methods!❤❤❤
I feel your pain with the baby of the family going off to college, as well as the joy of letting the mums go! WOOHOO!!
Oh the memories I have of the mums!!! So sweet!
Thank you for sharing. I just entered the empty nest phase too, and your video encouraged me. I’ve been watching your videos for a few years. My home is much more manageable, and easier to live in thanks to you. Thank you for what you do!
I cant even imagine being an empty nester. My first one barely left on the 23th of last month and his only 3 hrs away from home but i miss him so deeply 😢 I find myself just bawling my eyes out at any time of the day. Its hard not having him around i still got 3 boys home, 2 highschoolers and one in Kindergarten but time flies and I know some day I’ll be in your shoes too. But we know that they are gonna do wonders and great things down the road and pray for the best. ❤
Sending you love Dana. My daughter leaves for university (I'm in the UK) on Saturday. We have one in 3rd year uni also, so then just one left at home who has 2 years of school left. ALL the emotions going on.
Oh wow! I am exactly where you are right now, minus the mums (we're in SoCal). I just discovered you a few days ago when I was looking for help getting motivated to declutter -- we've been empty nesters for about 3 weeks now and are planning a huge life change (downsizing to a storage unit and traveling in our new campervan!). Movers get here next Friday and we've barely begun to pack, much less declutter and downsize. So, I found your videos and have really been enjoying them. Thank you!
Dana... you will eventually reach a stage where you will pack up all the stuff YOU saved from the kids because you'll realize that you NEVER got that stuff out of where you had it to "awww" over it. Then you'll pack it all up and ask your kid if they want it, and they will say, "Nope - throw it out." Or - you'll make a pile of this for each kid and tell them if they don't pick it up by a certain date it's going to the donation center or the trash. Love, a mom of 2 girls who are 46 and 44 who did NOT want 90% of the stuff that I had saved. Congrats on being an empty nester! The best is yet to come.
Send it to the grandkids to look through. Our mom did that and the kids thought it was a lot of fun. It gave us a chance to talk together about how we grew up. The time with my son was priceless and triggered by that box that showed up in the mail for him from his grandma.
The Texas mum tradition is cuh-razy.
Thanks for the cultural insight, I had no idea! Happy new season of life Dana ❤
My youngest graduated in May and is now in college a few hours away -so I now have both of my kids in college. This mom is so excited for them but after almost a month of no kids home, this momma is now feeling a bit off without being able to see and talk to them as often. - 😢 - But I am glad we cleaned out a good bit of high school stuff together before they left.
Good morning! I’m the same age as Dana but my kids haven’t left the nest yet (they’re a little younger), but I think this is a good video. LOVE her, love her process, and her books. 🙂
One of THE BEST a videos you’ve ever made Dana.
First, let me assure you that you WILL BE OK in this next phase. I say that as someone who started crying when our only child was in 8th grade. Just the thought of her leaving in a few short years sent me into depression. BUT-it really is eventually very freeing. I’m now in my 70s & enjoying the freedom of this stage. Also, folks in other southern states do the whole mum thing too. 😊
We do homecoming mums in Georgia!
West Texas here. I just saw a woman post on FB the other day that she has homemade mums for sale for $40 each. 😄
I mean, that’s an amazing deal! They’re often WAY more than that!
I am in the empty nest stage as well.Thank you for sharing this journey
Dana, I hope you know by now that YES! - this was helpful!! 💜💜
Woah! $600 (on Etsy) for a corsage? I had no idea that was a thing! Back in 1972, we wore the real thing. Lol
We do mums in Oklahoma also.
Didn’t know about Texas mums. My mom grew beautiful mum bushes in Kansas. We also made mums out of tissue paper in elementary school for Mother’s Day. In Kansas and Nebraska (where my family is from) we called them funeral flowers. They’re pretty and comforting I guess, they also look beautiful in yard or garden. 😊
I’m from Oregon, and big mums were always funeral flowers.
Good job Dana!!!
Yes, letting go and moving forward!!!
Yes, always keep the wearable blanket!!!!!
As a former empty nester whose offspring returned home after college, I'm loving our current phase of life!
They've been back about 5 years now, and adjustments have been made. However, the urgent need for serious additional decluttering was clear.
Fortunately, both of our 'roommates' have been very involved in helping us make judgement calls on which things are still useful and which are not! I've simplified much more than my instinct because of their input.
Bonus: They still ask to watch Doctor Who and Red Dwarf with us in the evenings!
Oh Dana you are in Texas. I was born and raised in Texas!