Parents offer advice about emptying the nest

DEAR READERS >> A recent question from “Not So Empty Nest Mom” sought solutions on how to deal with her two adult daughters’ stuff, which was currently filling the family garage after the daughters had left home.

I asked readers to offer their own solutions, and this column is devoted to these suggestions.

DEAR AMY >> I have two sons. Getting them to retrieve their treasures was a challenge. They were simply not interested.

My solution ... I have been giving them their own “treasures” for Christmas gifts and birthday gifts!

Yes, the old impressions for braces, awards from elementary school, and many other “treasures” have inspired lots of laughs! Problem solved. — Empty Nest

DEAR AMY >> We went through all of our kids’ stuff by ourselves and made a (small) stack of what we wanted to keep, a stack of what we thought they’d want to keep, a pile of likely to donate, and a pile of trash.

Our kids came home to go through each pile. They took what they wanted to keep (and their father jokingly offered to contact the Smithsonian to see what treasures to donate to the museum).

The most emotional group of items to deal with seemed to be the very, very dusty Mormon Tabernacle Choir of stuffed animals arrayed on shelves in our basement.

— No More Beanie Babies

DEAR AMY >> I have three daughters and I was storing many items for them.

For a few months, I would take out a couple of things each day, photograph them and text the photo to the owner, asking what they wanted done with it.

Most of these items went to the charity pickup van. The few remaining items they wanted were boxed and given or mailed to them. I’m now down to just a few boxes of their stuff. — Mostly Empty Nest

DEAR AMY >> “Not So Empty Nest Mom” should see if her community has a local “Buy Nothing” group. If so, she can list items on the group’s social media page and members can claim things for “porch pickup” — which is to say, people will come and take your stuff! — Buying Less, Sharing More

DEAR AMY >> We’ve been working on this with our kids for years.

Each time they visit us I make them take something back with them.

When we go to visit, I take something with me.

We’re whittling down the pile, a little at a time. — Bob, in Racine Wisconsin