Organizing Your Mom And Dad's Keepsakes Into Plastic Storage Boxes ...It's A Start
Plastics...plastics are on my mind again. This time I am thinking about plastic storage boxes and wondering how many older adults keep their keepsakes in plastic boxes? If your mom or dad is in their eighties or nineties, chances are they are not storing their photos, documents, memorabilia etc. in plastic boxes. I picture shoe boxes, yellowed envelopes, wooden boxes, shopping bags, cardboard cartons etc.
Saving Fifty Years Of Bakery Receipts
Recently, I relocated my dad from Florida to the Northeast. I am still airing out his damp and smelly file folders which seem to be casualties of poor climate control (dad never used his air conditioner....in FLORIDA!
A friend of mine confided in me that her mom had saved 50-60 years of old bakery, drugstore and deli store receipts stored in old shoe boxes that were tied with saved bakery twine. These receipts which now could be considered
ephemera are from shops long gone from neighborhoods which are now filled with young professionals who never heard of Rugelach or
Mandelbrodt.
Rescuing Old Wedding Albums
When dad's boxes were shipped up North, I unpacked loose wedding pictures that were missing their album cover and I wondered where the rest of the photos were ? It was fun to see my mother and dad so young at the same age in the photos as my children are now, but these photo album pages were fragile and I'm glad I rescued them in the nick of time.
Downsizing Mom And Dad
For those of you who are just beginning to help your parents downsize or relocate, I have some tips to offer you to help you with this BIG job. My main advice is not to wait too long to start
organizing old stuff. If your parents are in their 80s, it time to think about the next chapter in their lives.
Start NOW: Buy Clear Plastic Storage Boxes In Different Sizes
Now is the time to buy some plastic storage boxes and to sort out family keepsakes deciding what needs to stay and what needs to go..... and where. Sooner or later, your parents photographs, souvenirs, keepsakes etc. will find their way into your home or to one of your siblings , children or relatives, so why not take control of the situation on your terms? And it is great to be able to discuss this process with your parents while they can still communicate their wishes and concerns.
Besides buying clear storage boxes, I would suggest also buying an assortment of different sized clear plastic storage bags with good slider seals. They even make a giant freezer bag which is great for storing very large photos. I would also buy a permanent marker (Sharpie) that can write on plastic so you can label your boxes and bags with categories, i.e. "Florida photos" as well as where these organized containers or bags are going "Steve's basement" or "Mom's new apartment".
Be Gentle With Mom And Dad's Memories: Use A Little Psychology
You may want to encourage your elderly parents to let
you hold onto most of the sentimental and important papers and memorabilia and to ask them to keep just a few items they are attached to. This part of the process works a lot easier when you reassure parents that you will indeed preserve the family keepsakes.
Most families hold onto photographs, but what about collections of seemingly silly papers such as old bakery or grocery receipts? While it may seem to you a simple matter to toss out old bakery receipts it is still difficult for parents to let go of memories. Try saving one receipt instead of boxes of clutter. The task of downsizing goes smoother when you use some psychology in the process.
And when you decide that indeed there are boxes of papers that need to be dumped.... it is best not to carry on about this task in front of your hoarding parents. Be gentle when "organizing" mementos...they may be junk to you, but they are keepsakes to your parents.
Getting Help From Grandchildren And Family Members
In theory it sounds like a good idea to recruit grandchildren, siblings and others when you are dividing mom and dad's collections of papers and momentos into keepers and tossers. The thought of team work is a good one but it is also a fairy tale. Buy some rubber gloves, roll up your sleeves and start your Mitzvah (good deed) on your own. At least you know YOU will get the job done in an organized fashion.
Read more about Caring For Aging Parents http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/Caring For Aging Parents
Photo Credits
http://www.rubylane.com/item/370999-5351/1940s-Wedding-Cake-Topper-Bride
http://leslieland.com/2009/02/rugelach-to-the-rescue/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunnyDayVintage?ref=seller_info
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65275405/antique-leather-photo-album-civil-war
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of
I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.
To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff
Email me at
dianne@cdiannezweig.com
Visit my website,
CDianneZweig.com
Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Society of Professional Journalists
