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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,552
Registered: ‎04-05-2010

I'm not very sentimental about "things". We never had a family home growing up--my parents always rented, until after I got married, so we moved every few years. I never lived in the house they bought a year after my wedding, though I do have good memories of family times there.

 

I have more memories of my in-laws' home...they bought that house in 1960 and stayed there until they died. It was "stability" for me, and I loved it...and them. I dearly miss the big holiday get-togethers we had there. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,360
Registered: ‎05-11-2013

@FranandZoe   My mom was a cleaning machine and dad did the outside and also kept up with painting and upgrades on the inside.

 

Now, yikes.  My parents are probably spinning in their urns.

 

 

Esteemed Contributor
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Registered: ‎05-11-2013

 

@  My mom's parents bought the house in 1912.  They raised 8 kids there.  They had 10 kids but mom's sister died at 4 from diptheria and a son was stillborn.

 

My grandparents always lived with us.  Mom and Dad got the house when they married, grammy and poppy had life rights.

 

Mom was born there and died there. My grandfather, father and sister all died there too.

Esteemed Contributor
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@Janey2   My sister took Mom to her appointments, got per meds etc.  I went down a lot to do what I could.  Sometimes I took a day off work and went to visit.

 

I do know if my husband were in the house he would have never, ever made my sister feel unwelcome.  My sister was like everyone else, they loved my husband.  He loved my sister too.  Heck, I used to joke that my parents loved my DH more than they did me.

 

My BIL's life revolves around his huge TV in the family room.  He goes from the recliner to the bathroom and the kitchen during the day. Period.  He doesn't like anything that takes away from his TV viewing. 

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 26,016
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@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:

 

@  My mom's parents bought the house in 1912.  They raised 8 kids there.  They had 10 kids but mom's sister died at 4 from diptheria and a son was stillborn.

 

My grandparents always lived with us.  Mom and Dad got the house when they married, grammy and poppy had life rights.

 

Mom was born there and died there. My grandfather, father and sister all died there too.


@CrazyKittyLvr2 

 

That's nice to have that family history.  Most people nowadays don't.

Esteemed Contributor
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@geezerette   I had 2 aunts and 5 uncles on mom's side and dad had 1 brother and 1 sister.

 

My paternal grandparents came over a lot too.

 

Holidays folks, were always coming and going and it was not a big house but no one cared, it was fun back then.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 920
Registered: ‎04-02-2015

Re: My Childhood Home

[ Edited ]

My family home was on a farm.  My dearly loved grandmothers house was next door.  When she passed, my older sister lived in her home for many years.  She later remarried and moved away.  Her home was sold and the people changed alot of it and the surroundings.

My parents died a few years later, and we sold their house.  Now, it belongs to a rental group, and the current tenants do nothing to keep it looking tidy.  Grass overgrown in summer, big dogs and dog cages under her carport.  My mom was so particular about keeping everything clean and presentable.  

It makes me a little sad to see how everything I knew as a child no longer is the same.  But I knew it could never be that way again of course.  I still remember walking through it and the outside for the last time.  And I knew it was the last time it would be like my "old home".  

Isn't it something when we ponder how we are just passing through this life....

 

Long post, sorry.  But I agree about how it was admirable for your BIL to help take care of your mom.  Maybe he is just tired and weary for reasons we cannot understand, thus his attitude about things.

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Regular Contributor
Posts: 194
Registered: ‎05-20-2025

Well I have to say that it seems like you don't like your BIL all that much and you really just want to go visit the house. I'm not sure how I'd feel about someone just visiting my house. 

 

Your mother had siblings but this place became her home and not the others. Even being welcome at holidays or whatever isn't the same as it still being theirs, If it did a lot of people would want to be visiting this place. Smiley LOL Just the cycle of life and you have the memories forever.

Esteemed Contributor
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Registered: ‎05-11-2013

@Coastalcarolina    My BIL took care of the lawn and fixed things now and then.  My sister is the one who took care of my mom.

 

Even way back then my BIL's favorite thing was being parked in front of the Tv.

 

He didn't treat my sister very well sometimes.  I remember when my sister become very ill she said to me, "Bill really stepped up and took care of her, making her meals etc."  Huh, I was there when he said in sickness and in health".  I didn't say it to her but he doesn't get props for doing the right thing.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 920
Registered: ‎04-02-2015

@CrazyKittyLvr2 👍.  Understand.  Everything isn't always black or white.  Only families know the true story.