Family photo when we were going to Family Holiday Function. Yes, I am bad at selfies! but one of many memories of me being on my own with my kids that I will cherish. As you see in the background, I began brain/mind mapping what I wanted in the future. I began with roll of paper strips on the wall with writing things want to achieve then I added pictures for a visual look. Kids saw what I was doing and added theirs! I do have the tattoo finally done (bear paw picture)! Wyatt has his PS console; we do have RV Lot at a lake now as well. Goals are still being achieved and working towards.
Planning is like aiming for a result and what I realized; I forgot an important plan of all, My Estate Planning! From the photo to now, I have experienced divorce, death of a parent, and two job losses. This on the cusp of Covid19 is causing havoc on the world.
So, thinking back as I went through my mother's estate, got some insight into what I can do and can’t do. One of those I am writing about today.
My mother kept everything from our birth to our children’s current ages of memories, photos, and even gifts given to her. The number of items we inventoried was vast, made a daunting task, but going through them brought memories to the forefront and helped with grieving. As we went through them and the gift list in her will I wondered as to why she assigned to the person. What is the reason why she is gifting it and why she kept things for us to have. Should she ask heirs to decide what they want left to them?
So, I took my kids out for dinner at Brown Social House to ask! I started the conversation as I how I see leaving physical item to them like the car or motorhome. Then I ask them what they wanted, of course they feel like awkward asking for something that your parent is not even dead yet! They were with me at times helping me doing my mother's estate and how I experienced it going through the items. so asked in another way; I started with big items first and ask one at a time asking oldest first then to the next oldest until item was claimed or fully declined. Next item started with second oldest first for next item and so on. It was an interesting exercise to go through as they surprised me as whom wanted what. Totally different than what I would have thought!
I am glad I asked, now I can sell or gift the items not claimed to other family members and make it easier than them claiming at my death. Inventory assignment worksheet I used is a free for you to download.
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