Mt. Pleasant Classical Academy

The past several months have been super stressful for me since I’m co-executor on my Dad’s estate. I’ve spent many days and weekends at his home going through drawers, organizing items into different areas, and going through piles upon piles of store receipts and checks kept for the last 30+ years in little envelopes. We could also throw little away since we were going to be dividing personal belongings, and who knew what a sibling might like for their choice.

First resolution; do not keep paper receipts for my children to have to go through.

Recently my sisters and I met at my Dad’s home to divide our parent’s personal belongings. The last time we had all been together was at my Mom’s funeral in ‘99, and the time before was in the early ’80’s. Saying that we aren’t close doesn’t really sum it up. Needless to say there was much stress in each of us anticipating our get-together. Just imagine the stress of being with your sisters, all-together for the first time ever, —- just you and your sisters, all-together, and knowing that that has never, ever happened before in your life; never before without spouses, or children, or parents. Never, ever, all-together. Stress-city for sure and particularly since you are there to divide your parent’s personal items.

Many years ago I had a neighbor whose IL’s every year gave their 6 sons a weekend at a golf resort as a Christmas present. Just the sons. They didn’t have any daughters so they gave their DIL’s a weekend at a spa resort. The brothers got to connect with each other, while their wives got to connect with their SIL’s. I thought it was such a wonderful gift these parents were giving their kids and always envied it too.

Second resolution: When my boys are adults I will do what I can to nurture their relationship by supporting them to get together, just the two of them, to reconnect with each other, so they can at least maintain their friendship.

And so our time together began, my sisters and I. In the evenings we looked through the thousands upon thousands of slides, and thousands of B&W prints. There were stories told, a few chuckles, and amazingly no nasty words spoken. WHEW! In the morning we rose early, traveled to my Dad’s home, took the sisters through so they could see all the items, and finally started choosing items. Amazement upon amazement when everyone was supportive of the other’s choices, without a squabble, and never an ill-word, ….. it was actually a very enjoyable time. We were together for several days and all through this we all got along. While it was very tiring to say the least it was an amazing time too.

This chapter of my life is about to close, and it so needs to. Homeschooling through all this has been harder then when we hs’ed through a move; harder than hs’ing through hospital surgeries and visits. Harder than hs’ing through the hospice care. But it has been well worth it too. Looking through all those slides helped me to remember what is important; spending time with my kids, doing things with them, going places with them, having them be an integral part of my life. I need to get back to them, and be with them rather than in a far away land going through ’stuff’, and sifting through ‘things’. Soon, very soon.

And really what value is all this stuff?

Third Resolution; Always remember that appearances and stuff is not what matters, relationships are what life and living is about.

Those are my resolutions.  Not just for this month, or this year, but for life.