So, after some consideration and prompted by the advice at the training session I went to last week I decided to have a clear out. Not that our house is full of clutter, but both dad and I have amassed collections of various things over the years- books, toys, and in my case tins (don't ask). We had a sort of overflow shelf in the front room, which was more of a dust-gatherer, and I decided, seeing as a certain proportion of our books were now only being kept for my own sentimental reasons (dad is never going to read them again, and as for remembering the givers or occasions on which we got them he has no clue), so I had a good sort out. Dad loved this- he wanted me to chuck everything in, and between us we managed to take down the shelf. That was all good until it came to repainting when dad took on a strange mood and refused to do anything for a whole day.
Anyway, I feel better for it, and want to continue the theme amongst my own possessions (I just wish I was an e-bay expert-that would be very handy). The problem is I am having to be surreptitious about the whole matter as now dad wants to get rid of everything! (Oh, I don't like that painting. We don't read those books. It's only rubbish in those cupboards!). No dad, that's mine (or at least it is now ).
There is a little part of me feeling guilty, like I'm wiping out his past, but then it's already gone (all of his adult life anyway), and I haven't got rid of his few remaining children's books (ever heard of Prize Budget For Boys?). I've just got to figure out how to tackle the rest without him now.
Anyway, I feel better for it, and want to continue the theme amongst my own possessions (I just wish I was an e-bay expert-that would be very handy). The problem is I am having to be surreptitious about the whole matter as now dad wants to get rid of everything! (Oh, I don't like that painting. We don't read those books. It's only rubbish in those cupboards!). No dad, that's mine (or at least it is now ).
There is a little part of me feeling guilty, like I'm wiping out his past, but then it's already gone (all of his adult life anyway), and I haven't got rid of his few remaining children's books (ever heard of Prize Budget For Boys?). I've just got to figure out how to tackle the rest without him now.