I Don't Want Your Stuff

RadishRose

RadishRose

SF VIP
Location
Connecticut, USA


WIVBTV
Published on Sep 22, 2016


Millennials are saying to their parents: "I don't want your stuff" as Baby Boomer parents downsize their bigger homes and look to pass along family treasures.
 

RadishRose,did that video ever hit home! My daughter and son have made it very clear they are not interested in having any of my collectibles and dinnerware. It really does make me feel bad. I cherish my Moms and Grandmas things and think of them every time I use them.

I tell myself I will be dead and none of it will matter but it still bothers me. Until that day I will enjoy my things. This Thanksgiving I will use my good set of dishes and put the same foods in the same serving dishes that my Grandma and Mom did and take great satisfaction in that.

I only hope I will remain in this house until I die because having to get rid of these cherished items will be extremely hard.
 
Aww, Ruth, please don't feel sad. Use your good set of dishes every day and enjoy them in the now! :):love_heart:
 

I completely agree with you Ruth, that's how I feel too.

My daughter wants absolutely nothing from my house, and I look at all the lovely things which will get thrown in the dumpster...she won't even send them to a charity shop or sell them , that's how she is.. and most of all I hate to think that she won't be interested in my lovingly kept journals and diaries, or all my photos even on a stick.. nor does she want any of the things I've kept from her own childhood, school reports, awards etc, and also the thought of my own mothers wedding ring, and a few things I have belonging to my grandmother all going in the bin.. It's heartbreaking!!

I would have given anything to have had journals and photos from my grandparents... and I wish my parents had kept my school reports etc, so I could have them but they didn't...
 
hollydolly said:
I completely agree with you Ruth, that's how I feel too.

My daughter wants absolutely nothing from my house, and I look at all the lovely things which will get thrown in the dumpster...she won't even send them to a charity shop or sell them , that's how she is.. and most of all I hate to think that she won't be interested in my lovingly kept journals and diaries, or all my photos even on a stick.. nor does she want any of the things I've kept from her own childhood, school reports, awards etc, and also the thought of my own mothers wedding ring, and a few things I have belonging to my grandmother all going in the bin.. It's heartbreaking!!

I would have given anything to have had journals and photos from my grandparents... and I wish my parents had kept my school reports etc, so I could have them but they didn't...
Click to expand...

I remember speaking with you in the past about this and I remain of the opinion still, that your daughter will keep your journals. :)
 
I have no intention of decluttering or getting rid of any of my things. I love our home and my "stuff" and I intend to keep it and use it. I don't give a rat's patoot what happens to it when I die. I'm leaving all my jewelry to my only granddaughter and she'll probably roll her eyes at it but that's OK. I'm pretty sure our kids will keep some of our things and dump the rest; not a problem for me.
 
My daughter and granddaughter have no interest in my "stuff". It used to bother me, but I've gotten over it. My big collection was sold a few years ago. I've already given them the "good" jewelry and there's not much furniture left. I'll probably sell the dish sets sometime and the tchochkies can go in the dumpster when the time comes.

The only thing I regret is that they have no interest in the boxes and boxes of family pictures I have. I hope I can get them under control by the time I die and the really, really important ones on a stick, at least.
 
It's sad but true.

I keep sifting, sorting and disposing of things.

When it becomes too painful I stop and then a few months later for some reason I'm ready to let a few more things go.

If I had someone to actually give the things to it would make the process so much easier for me.

I guess there is no point in sucking my thumb, the only reason I have any of this stuff is that someone else wanted to get rid of it!
 
AZ Jim said:
George Carlin on "Stuff"...
Click to expand...

George Carlin.

What a comic genius he was.

He could expose the truth about so many things we don't like to admit, and have you rolling on the floor laughing about it.

I really miss that dude.

RIP George.
 
AZ Jim said:

George Carlin on "Stuff"...
Click to expand...

This was one of my favourites of his.

Well I am going to be the oddball out cause I DO want some other my parents things when they go and would be heart broken if they went to anyone but me.

Over the years I’ve made so many things for my parents that their entire house is covered with them. There are watercolour painting sets, acrylic paintings, woodburned art, needlepoint that took me years to complete. These items feel like a part of me is in them and the thought that they could be tossed into the garbage does kind of get to me some. I’m not sure why.

I would love to have the fine China mainly for the fond memories. Like Ruth we always had a fancy dinner at special occasions
and these dinners were the very few times we actually sat down together as a family so they are precious to me.

I wouldnt want all their stuff but I would help sort through it before they went if it would help them at all but I doubt they would want that.
 
hollydolly said:
sadly RR...I know her only too well, she will burn them unread... *sigh*
Click to expand...

In yer will, request they be posted here
We’ll know what to do with them
At least I will
And if I’m already gone, put a little thing in there, thanking me (while yer in the taproom)

My kids’ll want my guns, and gun cabinet

I have three bibles, ancient ones, between some bookends my grandad carved.
One of the bibles contains a hand written record of family lineage, along with who gifted him that bible,
It was obviously written with a fountain pen. Script writing, impeccable script writing.
I’m takin’ that with me. I’ll need it, where I’m goin’

I hope someone burns whatever I’ve written.
You guys haven’t seen some of that stuff…makes Portnoy’s Complaint look like a nursery rhyme.
I may burn it myself, before my exit, or take it with me….it’ll disintegrate

My lady will sell my Jeep and tools

Everthing else is junk
I wouldn’t want any of it willed to me
 
Old pictures, family journals and diaries and old family items are the stuff of dreams for someone who is researching family history. If none of your immediate family is interested in genealogy, look around among your cousins with whom you share grandparents.
 
When my mother died a few years ago I cleared her 3500 sf house. She had accumulated many beautiful things, most of which where happily welcomed into the homes of her children and grands, the rest were donated. My own home is also filled with beautiful items, many of which were gifts from my mother or came from her home.

What will happen to our stuff when it's time to downsize from this home or exit this life altogether? I hope my children will follow my template - keep some things in their own homes and donate the rest. Whatever they decide is ok with me.
 
Hoot N Annie said:
Does the "stuff" they don't want include cash and other investments? Asking for a friend.
Click to expand...

u-g-PGRZ4V9DFQ9.jpg
 
I doubt my kids want any of my stuff. I pride myself on having the best residential burglary prevention system there is.

Nothing worth stealing.
 
I downsized several years ago giving many items to my daughter/granddaughters. I actually enjoy seeing them use the desk my grandfather made, use the china on holidays that was my mothers. The rest will be up to my daughter when I depart this world. Hopefully anything that is still of use will be donated and not discarded. I guess I don't get too involved with stuff since I live in tornado alley and have seen "stuff" all disappear in a matter of minutes. I see it in areas of hurricanes and flooding and now all the fires in California. It's kind of nice that photos can be stored online, especially family photos. Replacing old memories with new memories really isn't that difficult.
 
Yes, I didn't want many of my mother's things. I had four items and have already gotten rid of two of them. One was a silk painting my grandmother brought from Japan as part of her dowry; I sent it to one of my few cousins who (1) has kids who might want it someday, and (2) is himself an artist and art teacher, so he appreciates it on its own worth.

The other two items might be of interest to my niece and/or nephew; if they don't want them, or none of our younger friends are interested, then off to Goodwill they go.

The one really valuable item was a Mikimoto pearl necklace my MIL tried to give to me. It had a ruby/emerald/diamond clasp and the pearls were flawless matched 10mm white. She never dressed up so she never wore it. At this point in my life dressing up consists of not wearing my Polarfleece vest, LOL, so I would never wear it either!

I sat down with her and discussed who would best appreciate it. Her goddaughter loved jewelry, but has no children, never dresses up, and MIL didn't much like the spouse. But there was a niece in Canada who was pretty close to MIL, has a daughter and would probably treasure the necklace. I convinced her the niece was really the best choice to keep it in the family, so she sent it off and the niece was absolutely thrilled, had never expected anything so it was "coming out of the blue". Now that MIL has died I'm really glad she gave the necklace to someone who appreciated it.

It's always worth asking around. I was happy to find that a friend of ours adored my own bone china dinnerware, which I no longer used, and was so happy to take it off our hands!
 
My only children are identical twin sons (Now adults.) When I "go", THEY get this house and everything in it that they want.

They can even have friends come and take a look and take anything they want. I'll be beyond caring.
 
It's great that your things were wanted and appreciated, Lethe.

I've been using my own "good' dishes for everyday around 9 years now. I like them and tho' I've lost few, I no longer want to hide away things I like, to only use a few times a year anymore. Plus my guest list has shrunk, so the few broken pieces aren't missed. I will never have 12 for dinner again.
 

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