Saturday, S’s last day in CA, and my temporary single parenthood means that both E and I can lay claim to this goal.

I drove us the 2 hrs. to NH and I spent the afternoon sorting through my mother’s clothes. Two closets, a cedar chest, two suitcases and a duffel bag that came home from the nursing home, and 5 big plastic boxes. Before I went, I had settled it in my mind that I was going to take only one thing for myself: a sweater I’d brought her from Ireland. I can wrap myself up in that when I want to wrap myself in her. Otherwise, the things can all go to someone who can use them and not have sad associations with them. Having made that decision ahead of time helped minimize the agonizing. It still wasn’t easy, though.

Some stuff I threw away (underwear, bathing suits), a ton of stuff is headed to Goodwill, and about 20 bags are going to be picked up by my friend who is a nun—one of the nuns in her convent works with refugees arriving from Africa who have basically nothing. I set aside the things in great condition for them.

My father thought he was going to be sad to see all the clothes go, but he found he was not. I’m glad about that. And I think he’s glad that it’s all done. One less thing for him to deal with.

Then I drove us the 2 hrs. home, stopping for dinner on the way.

E’s accomplishment was that he was an angel all day, with no pep talks from me to make him determined to be good. He just was. He got ready to go in the morning with no hassle, he amused himself in the car with the books and toys I’d packed, he watched the Red Sox on TV with Grandpa, did WebKinz, played with more toys, and just pretty much kept himself occupied and out from underfoot without whining. And then when I was exhausted on the way home, he was too, but he stayed good humored the whole way. I am so grateful about this, and I gave him lots of positive reinforcement.

Then yesterday, I made more decisions about my mom’s jewelry and her big stash of cross-stitching supplies. That was actually more wrenching than I thought it would be, but perhaps just because I was tired and my emotional resistance was down.

Anyway, I did a lot of work this weekend, work that was particularly draining because of the emotional element of it, and I got through it and I held it together. So I’m patting myself on the back.