Did you ever rummage through your parents things

[Lavinia]

Yes , when I was hunting for my birth certificate, and found the adoption certificate of my eldest sister…
wish I had never ventured into that black box in my parents room ……

This happened to my friend. She was helping to clear out her mothers cupboard and found the adoption certificate of her elder brother. Her mother explained that she had been told she would never have children so they adopted a baby boy. Then she went on to have two little girls of her own!

 

[David777]

Before my beloved mother passed away a decade ago, had visited for a week a few years earlier. Note lived 2000 miles away. As the oldest and computer savvy person of our family, went through boxes full of of small photos, mostly B&W, that people of that area all took. Used a simple FAX scanner to digitize most that later took back home then used Photoshop to improve that I sent as USB drives to everyone. And yes there was plenty all had forgotten about that made for interesting recollections. A few years later after 3 years of various kemo, Pauline passed away from acute myeloid leukemia. My sister and I were the only 2 of 7 siblings that bothered to sort through all her belongings collected over a lifetime. Left me with a sad hollow feeling.

 

[Sassycakes]

My parents were very generous people and were always there for the family if anyone needed anything. When they passed I invited all the grandchildren over to my parent's house. When they arrived my sister and I told them to look through everything and take whatever they wanted. Then my sister and I left. We felt our parents had given us enough already. Now, whenever my children or grandkids come to my house I always give them something of mine, so when I pass away and they look at something I gave them it won't make them sad. Just the other day my oldest grandson stopped over and since he just bought a new house I gave him a set of dishes that I was given many years ago at my Bridal shower.

 

[StarSong]

After my mom passed I packed up her house. Among the things I came across were the letters my father sent her during his time in in the ETO during WWII. They were married for just a handful of years at that point and his letters were very romantic, loving and complimentary.

By the time I was old enough to pay attention to their marriage in the mid-1960s and beyond, it had soured considerably. It was surprising to realize how incredibly smitten he was during their early years.

 

[win231]

We had a camping friend, met up a couple times a year at different campgrounds around area. Lived about 25 miles away, but never had been to his house, had met up in town for dinner a few times... He died suddenly and we ended up with his personal effects. We went to his house to try and find some family..... WOW WHAT A SURPRISE.... 1st off was a hoarder.... unreal the amount of stuff was piled up... and some nice stuff...
But as we dug deeper.... this guy was a bit on the twisted kinky side...

HAHA. A song by Peter, Paul & Mary called "All Mixed Up" includes the lyrics:
No race of man is completely pure, nor is anyone's mind, that's for sure.

 

[jujube]

Not a parent, but I had a co-worker who died. His wife asked me to box up the contents of his desk and send them to her. When I finally got into the locked drawers, I found some very shocking porn.

I made the decision to dispose of it. I realize that it wasn't actually my decision to make. It might have been the right decision and it may have been the wrong decision, but it was the decision I made that I thought would cause the least harm. I still think so.

 

[Fyrefox]

I found my father’s pornography stash in his workbench when he was still alive; a bit shocking but he was human, and I left it right where I found it. My mother who survived him by 13 years was a hoarder, and the things she kept in piles were nonsensical and illogical, including newspapers and magazines over a decade old, junk jewelry, and any food or paper product item that happened to be on sale…

 

[dseag2]

My mother and I were going through all my Dad's belongings after he passed away and she quietly handed me a "stock" picture of a naked woman. This was a big surprise since she insisted he was gay. Maybe "conversion therapy"?

 

[Tish]

Nothing surprising.

 

[1955]

Even longer than she expected, because by accident she found money tucked away in a magazine and they had to go through every book and magazine to search for more. They found quite a bit!

I've had that experience too.