In my practice, I hear these words a lot, “I never thought…”

My post today focuses on the “I never thought I would be cleaning out my childhood home or family vacation home”. The one that you thought would always be there to carry on the current family traditions and the place to make new family memories.

It’s never easy to have to sell a family home or family vacation home due to your parents needs for their next stage in life.  Whether the home is too big and they need to downsize or funds are needed for their care. Yes, we certainly want to honor that this is a hard decision for them but it’s also a hard time for all the family members.

Going through boxes, sorting through memories and being able to separate yourself so the job can get done is upsetting, exhausting and emotionally devastating.

Also, family members that need to be part of the process are scattered all over the country, communication can become very difficult.  Consider having family meetings whether in person or through a Skype call with everyone involved. It’s so important to decide who can do what to help so the burden is not just on the family members who live close by.

If your elderly parents are part of the process, they may question your motives, so make it clear that this process is not about their deaths or trying to get their assets. It’s about hearing the stories and memories that go along with the possessions they’ve collected over a lifetime, so you won’t have to play a guessing game later about what is valuable, emotionally and financially.

Nobody likes change but it can be embraced and honored if everyone can do their best to tell their truth as well as listen with compassion. Letting go is never easy but sometimes it can open the space for new memories and experiences.

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Tori Goodrich is a life, business and professional; What Should I Do Now coach. She is also the co-owner of Gener8tional Connections helping companies work through the great divide. Visit her on the web at www.victoriagoodrich.com, or reach her via email at tgoodrich@vista.today.

Top photo credit: Stannah International Happy and smiling elderly couple via photopin (license)