I went MIA last week.
This week may be the same.
Vegas and I headed to Atlanta to help my mom pack up and move. This is the house my dad built when I was a year old. My mom, my sisters, and me have lived here the majority of our lives. Since my sisters and I all moved away and my dad died it’s just too big and empty for mamma.
That doesn’t make moving out of it any easier.
First thing’s first.
We had plenty of fun enjoying the pool one last time, eating allllll the food in the house, and spending time together again. It’s rare to have everyone in the same place!
Naturally, multiple dance parties happened. Not sure why my mom is raising the roof with peanut butter…
There was a lot of packing too though. Can you imagine 31 years of stuff in a house? Mom saved everything… books, baby dolls, dance costumes, Barbies… everything.
My baby sister tried to pack herself because she had so much beer was so confused.
If anyone is near the East Cobb Goodwill, there’s a TON of stuff there.
This was just one car load.
The really fun part (aside from all the dance party debauchery) has been going through all the old photos and relics. I’ve made a hobby of taking pictures of pictures to share on Facebook.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Not much has changed.
My childhood BFF and I were a bit obsessed with these babies. Funny, right?
High school Halloween. I think I was supposed to me Madonna.
Senior winter formal
College… we stole a giant Dubba-U. This is the only PG pic.
I was supposed to fly back yesterday, but it’s not quite done yet… and when your mom tearfully hugs you and asks if you can stay a little longer… you don’t say no. You don’t want to say no.
So I told Vegas goodbye and stayed behind a little longer.
***
We shall see if I get any blogging done this week… taking a time out to hang with mamma feels pretty marvelous though.
Do your parents still live in the house you grew up in?
Did you play babies when you were a growing up? I can’t believe how much time we spent with those dolls!
Holy mixed emotions! My dad and stepmom still live in the house I grew up in. After my mom died my dad tried to sell it but, when it didn’t sell, he took it as a sign. It’s been 20 years and they remain in that house and I’m grateful for it.
So glad you were able to stay and hang with your mom! Dance party, drink beer and oh don’t you wish you still had that giant cardboard Dubba-U? Hilarious!!
That’s so awesome he hung on to it! I wish my mom could have… maybe we’ll buy it back one day. 🙂
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret losing track of that giant Dubba. LOL!
My mom saves almost nothing, she is a throw away kind of person, but she does keep pictures! My parents still live in the house I grew up in, and it’s three miles away from me. I love that. My little sister and I played babies for hours! My daughter does too, but I didn’t give her a sister. Which makes me a little sad. She has a brother, but it never is the same as a sister. I have two sisters and they are my best friends. but kids are so expensive! YIKES!
I can only imagine how hard it is to say goodbye to the house and all the memories, but looks like you guys are giving it a good send off!
Your mom has the right idea! We started doing that – when I wanted to save something (like trophies or baby stuff), I just took a picture. It’s just too much to store! And for what?
I’m sure your son and daughter will absolutely adore each other too. 🙂
Oh poor Mom! That was nice of you to stay back and help her. I was wondering what happened to you last week then I saw the Instagrams & knew.
So sweet of you to stick around and help your mom- looks like you ladies had a really fun weekend 🙂
This is tough. Moving our of the home that my family had lived in for 30 years was really, really hard on my mom. After all, she had loved this house, watched her children grow up in it, knew ever inch and quirk of it…. this house used to represent a future that had now somewhat become a past. What helped her was moving out on her own terms, and selling it to someone who we knew would do work on it but would respect the beauty of the house for what it was. And the fact that someone else could love that new house–not HER house.
I hear all of that. I wish I could just take my mom back to SD with me! She’s going to have fun being in town, but so hard to leave. Having it on your OWN terms is key though!
That’s amazing that you stayed on to help you momma- I’m sure she appreciates it more than ever. And just for the record, I’d totally raise the roof with a jar of peanut butter ;)!
HUGE HUGS!!! I am sure it is hard!
Thank you Jody! 🙂
You have gotta be the best daughter for staying longer and helping your mum! I have 6 years of stuff in my house and I feel inundated – I can only imagine what 31 years of stuff looks like! Good luck packing, Laura!
My parents sold the house I grew up in 4 years ago when they got divorced. It was REALLY hard to go through everything. I ended up taking so much stuff because I just wasn’t ready to say good bye to it all. I have slowly given most of it to Goodwill, but it is still hard. I am so glad that you can do with your sisters and your mom.
Oh, I bet that was really hard. We definitely took too much, but I’m sure it’ll be slowly parted with too. xoxo
We only moved from one home to a condo to the home we live in now (which is the only one I really remember) and I can’t imagine ever letting it go 🙁
As for dolls, my brother and I we both STUFFED ANIMAL kids. They were out life and play!
You should see all the Beanie Babies we have! Mom actually saved them all. At least they’re small stuffed animals…
regarding moving from childhood homes, I told you what you need to do… 😉 carve your name somewhere subtle!
so nice that you were all able to be together for this, fun in a bittersweet time. xxo
We spray painted the attic. Again… klassy. 😉
Awwww!!! We moved around lots as kids bc we were military. But we have been in the same house for a while now. And yes played w/ babies all the time… I also might have a old childhood cabbage patch doll at my apartment now lol 😛
Haha! Mom made me throw mine out last week. It kind of smelled…
Awww that is so hard. My Dad passed when I was 13 and my Mom continued to live in the house we grew up in until just a few years ago when she got remarried. For me the house was a connection to my Dad and that time of my life so even though I didn’t live there any more, it was hard to think I wouldn’t get to go back. Hugs to you and your family.
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. I can’t imagine losing mine that young. xoxo
I’m glad you’re having a good time with something so bittersweet. I know it must be really hard which is why ALL the beer is a good thing.
we had to do that a few years ago. I couldn’t even go back up there to the house to help pack. I met them outside with the truck . it’s bitter sweet though later… hugs!
Awww, I can imagine that it’s tough packing up your childhood home. My parents still live in the house that we moved into when I was a little kid, and it would definitely be hard if they moved out of it. Enjoy the rest of your time with your family! It sounds like you’re not coming back to SoCal in the next few days, so text me when you’re back and we can reschedule a get together 🙂
Sorry about that! It was so nuts… I will have to tell you in person. I am around ALL next week if you’re free!
That is so emotionally hard! I moved around a lot as a child so I don’t have a childhood home but I know others who do. Their homes are packed with stuff! I confess I’m a reformed pack rat, I used to keep EVERYTHING but honestly after we bought our house and I saw how much the previous owners had I was determined to not keep all.the.things.
How lovely it must have been to have everyone drinking and helping 🙂 Best of luck with the remainder!
My mom moved out of my childhood home like 12 years ago. It was definitely really strange coming to visit her and going to a different home.
I just spent the past week at my childhood home outside of Los Angeles. My parents bought it in 1981. It’s a big house that needs a lot of work since they hardly did anything to it since then. I wish they would downsize, but I think they are scared of change. They have a wine cellar that doesn’t house wine. Instead, it’s full of my old Barbies, Legos, and other childhood toys. You inspired me to go through all that stuff next time I’m at their home.
Wow! That sounds like the house I grew up in. My dad built it in 1985. You should definitely start going through it now… it’s like stuff multiplies once you being!
Oh, so tough to have the house you grew up in out of the family. So sorry.
Oh man, I can’t imagine sorting through that much stuff. I just packed this morning and it took me exactly 22 minutes to pack everything I own. I moved house 18 times by the time I was 18, so I didn’t have a “childhood home”. On the one hand, that’s sad, but on the other it also makes what I’m doing now a heck of a lot easier! Enjoy your time with your mom!
I realized it was really weird to have spent my whole life in one house! Well except the first 2 years but I don’t even remember that. In some ways it good, but it sure does make saying goodbye HARD.
Wow, I totally know the feeling of moving from a place you’ve known your whole life, but I’m glad you have happy face on it!
Enjoy the time with your mom and family.. that must be hard to leave your childhood home but it looks like you can definitely take all those good memories with you!
I will ALWAYS remember…. When I was 7 years old, I told my parents how much I LOVED OUR HOUSE and HOW I NEVER EVER WANTED TO MOVE… The following year – the house was on the market and we moved. Fucking hell parents. LOL!
Granted we moved to a cooler house and when we sold that one, I was very very sad… And now we are in the process of selling another which makes me a bit nostalgic, but eh, I don’t live in the past.
Gigi! It’s YOUR fault – you jinxed that shit! 😉
Great post. Mom sold our childhood home over 10 years ago after she and dad divorced. My sis and I had to help her pack up and OMG there was over thirty years of stuff there too (imagine having to deal with barns, a B&B and a detached garage on the property). I can relate to your sis—we got pretty loopy from the stress and work of packing everything up (and trying to keep mom from going through our Goodwill boxes and retrieving stuff out)! Hope the move goes well! Loved your retro pics.
I can’t even imagine all that! It’s funny you say that bout your mom – she kept going through my stacks too! 3 storage until later… we all wish we’d chucked more.
Wow sorry to hear but I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for your mom. Good that she had all of you guys to help her pack 🙂 At least it looked like a great time! Enjoy your last few moments and memories in your childhood home Laura! Have a great one and take care -Iva
I don’t know if we made it harder or easier. LOL! 😉
I stayed with my mom for 4 years after my dad died. It was comforting and frustrating at times for many reasons. I want my mom to move out of our family home, because I know that big house is too much for her (especially with me being in the UK now and my siblings being hours away as well)! BUT I know I will be super sentimental and sad when the house is eventually sold. I know how emotional these things can be. You’re a great daughter. 😉
Oh, I understand that completely. I stayed with my mom for about 6 months after my dad died. It was comforting to at least be close. Thank you for the kind words. xoxo