Dont Sell Mom & Dads Home!
Our parents have decided to sell the family home. It’s just not fair. We as children (and we are always someone’s child no matter what our age), never want to see our childhood home sold to someone or some family who have no idea of the history of this bastion of emotion.
This is the case for so many of us. We just assumed mom and dad would never sell the home that provided our safety and happiness for so many years. Well, like the inevitable change of seasons, the time has come for a major change in our parent’s lives as well as the children of seniors. Like any change, how we get through it will depend on the way in which we choose to view this event.
This is the time to put mom and dad’s self interests first. In many cases, it is only mom or only dad now, and just think of how difficult this decision is for a single spouse or couple. This decision had been a labored one, involving many days of anguish and uncertainty. This is the time to put your feelings aside, and think of the well being and happiness of your parents. It has been my experience throughout my career that most children of seniors do put their parent’s self interest in front of their own. But in some cases, I’ve witnessed the opposite, where the child has reverted to banging their head against the wall in protest, just as they did when they were young, living at home with their parents.
Take time to assess the true needs of your parents. Would a move be beneficial for them? Would they be closer to the rest of the family, providing a safer situation in case of emergency? Would this new location offer services and choices they currently lack? If you put yourself in their place, would you want to stay where they are located, or would you want to move to a new location? Does the family home currently meet all of their physical demands? Are you willing to help with the every day maintenance of their home, or are you too busy with your own family and home to help? These are questions you need to ask before you let your emotion run away from the reality of the situation at hand.
After you answer these questions honestly, you may find that a move is not only needed, but an immediate necessity. Once you come to this realization, the loss of your childhood home will become the gain of not only mom and dad, but the only solution for the entire family. You will always have the memories of growing up, and most importantly, you will have your parents in a safe and healthy environment. It’s now time to move forward and cherish the past!
Tags: family home, when to sell