Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom

Make Downsizing Easier: Helping Your Parents Transition Smoothly with Amy Slenkere-Smith


Listen Later

After losing both in-laws within months of each other, life coach Amy Slenker-Smith shares what she learned helping them downsize and the conversations she wishes more families would start sooner.

****************

RESOURCES

  • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/298⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Connect with Amy Slenker-Smith:

    • Amy's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

      ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

      • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
      • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
      • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
      • ****************

        Are you dreading the day you'll have to clear out your parents' home while grieving? In this powerful episode, Amy Slenker-Smith shares her deeply personal experience of losing both in-laws within two and a half months of each other, and what she learned helping them downsize years before.

        Amy walked her in-laws through a massive transition: from 3,400 square feet to a 1,200 square foot apartment. Because of that work, clearing their belongings after they passed took just 3-4 days instead of months. She's sharing exactly how you can give that same gift to YOUR family.

        In this episode, you'll learn:

        • Why proper downsizing takes 1-2 years (and what to do if you're already in crisis mode)
        • The first thing to abandon when your timeline is short (hint: it's selling)
        • How the "category by category" method makes decisions easier
        • Why the things your family wants are NOT what you'd expect
        • How to start conversations even when parents won't talk about "someday"
        • The phrase "I'll let my kids deal with it" and why it's so devastating
        • Whether you're in the sandwich generation juggling kids and aging parents, starting to think about your own legacy, or already facing a home cleanout, this conversation offers both practical strategies and emotional permission to begin.

          Amy's reminder that "more is caught than taught" offers a hopeful path: even if your parents won't budge, you can still lead by example in your own home.

          Timestamps:

          0:00 Intro

          1:36 Amy's background
          6:05 Losing both in-laws within months
          10:47 Why hospice is a gift
          14:07 The first downsize: 3,400 to 1,200 sq ft
          22:43 Why you need more time than you think
          26:36 Tips for tight timelines
          29:58 Category by category (17 side tables!)
          35:53 What your family actually wants
          43:30 "I don't want to do this to my kids"
          57:05 How to start the conversation
          1:00:35 Rapid fire questions


          ****************

          Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

          ****************

          We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

          ...more
          View all episodesView all episodes
          Download on the App Store

          Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find FreedomBy Deanna Yates | Professional Organizer, Decluttering Coach, Wannabe Minimalist

          • 4.5
          • 4.5
          • 4.5
          • 4.5
          • 4.5

          4.5

          368 ratings


          More shows like Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom

          View all
          Organize 365 Podcast by Lisa Woodruff

          Organize 365 Podcast

          1,317 Listeners

          A Slob Comes Clean by Dana K. White: A Slob Comes Clean

          A Slob Comes Clean

          2,504 Listeners

          Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space by Christine Koh

          Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space

          519 Listeners

          Clutterbug - Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean your Home Fast by Clutterbug

          Clutterbug - Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean your Home Fast

          2,121 Listeners

          Minimalist Moms Podcast | Simple Living for Overwhelmed Moms by Diane Boden

          Minimalist Moms Podcast | Simple Living for Overwhelmed Moms

          990 Listeners

          This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizers by Laurie Palau

          This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizers

          275 Listeners

          Frugal Friends Podcast by Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni | Backyard Ventures

          Frugal Friends Podcast

          1,245 Listeners

          Minimal-ish: Minimalism, Intentional Living, Motherhood by Cloud10

          Minimal-ish: Minimalism, Intentional Living, Motherhood

          1,002 Listeners

          The Declutter Hub Podcast by The Declutter Hub

          The Declutter Hub Podcast

          211 Listeners

          Clean With Me by Raani Starnes

          Clean With Me

          843 Listeners

          Maximized Minimalist Podcast by Katy Wells

          Maximized Minimalist Podcast

          923 Listeners

          SYSTEMIZE YOUR LIFE + BUSINESS | Schedules, Routines, Productivity, Time Management, Operating System by Chelsi Jo

          SYSTEMIZE YOUR LIFE + BUSINESS | Schedules, Routines, Productivity, Time Management, Operating System

          679 Listeners

          Best Laid Plans by Sarah Hart-Unger

          Best Laid Plans

          817 Listeners

          Declutter Your Chaos - Mindful Minimalism by Amber Cammidge

          Declutter Your Chaos - Mindful Minimalism

          359 Listeners

          Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living by Cloud10

          Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living

          300 Listeners