Re:packing - overwhelmed kissingkim: I was the one who ended up leaving the house because he wouldn't, and staying was emotionally killing me, and beginning to get physical. I threw things in some bags and was out of there. During the next few months, I would come by with empty boxes and bags and stuff as much as I could in my car. My mother and I made two trips where we focused on the kitchen and bedrooms. You start on one side, and work systematically through each drawer and cupboard, between the two of us it took about 2 hours.
Amira had GREAT suggestions. Any time we moved before the divorce I hadn't any help, and it helped to break up the rooms during a long period to keep from getting too discouraged. I did finally get so frustrated with not feeling like anything was complete though. Then I would focus on one room so I could say, THERE, that one is done, and then go back to doing little bits in the remaining ones again. Bathrooms are suprisingly easy, just leave a toiletry bag out for your essentials and the bare basics. Kitchen can be wittled down to one pan, a set of silverware, cup, mug, and plate. EVERYthing else can be packed away. Seems way too little but amazing how much you can cook with one pan...lol. At this point, you don't want to be cooking too much, and it keeps any additional mess to a minimum. Go stock up on some frozen meals for a while.
MOst of all, keep it in perspective. It will get done. Not worth stressing out too much over though, you have enough to handle with the sale and move. This is the small stuff, but it can seem gigantic when sitting facing it all alone.
K
Re:packing - overwhelmed teacherwriterguy: Really trying to avoid the "dump it all on the sidewalk" frame of mind. As tempting as it is, I think it would make the divorce far more vindictive than I want it to be right now...
I did set a two-week deadline for her family to come and pack things up though. She agreed to the deadline. After that, hello GoodWill... hello Salvation Army...
Realtor shows up to evaluate the house tomorrow.
Look at those gears keep on turning, :o
teacherwriterguy
Re:packing - overwhelmed LostTeacher: i don't think you need to throw things out, but you don't have to be super nice to pack them. my stbxh sure wasn't kind in the way that he packed, even though it was he entire idea. you just need to get the things out of the way. just place them in bags and boxes, and get them out of the way. i think that giving her a deadline to get the stuff is good too, because then you are not stuck holding onto things for too long in limbo with nothing to do with them.
sometimes you just need to go with the flow, move with the motion, and get crappy things done to move on to bigger and better things. they will get better (or at least that is what i keep telling myself ;))
