My kids have NOT enjoyed the home selling process at all.
First, I packed up the majority of their prized possessions they had strategically used to decorate their room when they were away for the weekend as part of the decluttering and staging process.
By prized possessions, I’m talking about framed pictures, dollar store treasurers, leftover Valentine’s Day treat bag trinkets, dead Rubber Band bracelets that they no longer wore, lint and fuzz balls. I’m not kidding.
Then, I had to break the news to them that we were probably not staying in the same school zone, which would require my eight year old to change schools starting next year. This has resulted in tons of tears – not about leaving her friends or teachers that she has grown to love over these last three years. But because she is eligible to sign up for orchestra right now and she wanted to play the violin.
Dodged that one!
But the worst is when we had to spend an entire Saturday at the mall while my before my daughter’s big production of “The Little Mermaid.”
Let me backtrack.
The first day that my house was officially listed on the market, there were several showing requests. It was a Friday afternoon and I managed to coordinate them before the kids got out of school.
Piece of cake, right?
Until Saturday morning rolled around. This particular Saturday was “show day” in our house for more than one reason. My eight-year-old, Maggie, is part of a children’s theater company in town, and she had been cast as Scuttle in “The Little Mermaid.” Her big performance was this evening, and she had been working on her lines, songs and choreography for months. Normally on show days, I have her rest and take it easy, going over her lines and making sure that she eats enough and is hydrated enough for performance.
On this day it was also “real estate showing day” and we needed to vacate the house at 9 a.m. At the time we left, there were only three showings scheduled so we would be back home by 11:30 a.m. This, I could manage. A quick trip to the mall to accomplish a couple of errands, followed by lunch and we would be good to go.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
These showings can go on for HOURS at a time. At 10:00 a.m., my phone started beeping with texts from my realtor with requests for more showings and didn’t stop for the next two hours. I had to put an end to it the showings 4:00 p.m. as Maggie needed to be at the theater an hour later for her call time, and I needed get back into the house to get her things.
It wasn’t spring yet. Who are we kidding? – It’s barely spring today in Chicago.
It was 35 degrees and raining outside. They had seen all of the movies that were out. We were stuck at the mall. For six hours.
I managed to shop for two of them, taking advantage of sales, coupons and kids stores with televisions. I let my girls sit on the floor and watch ridiculous shows that they are never allowed to watch at home. All in the name of killing time.
We had lunch in the food court. Very nutritious.
But then they became tired and all they wanted to do was lie down and relax.
So, I improvised.
Towels from the Disney Store for blankets.
Shopping bags with spring clothes for pillows.
Stuffed animals, also from the Disney Store, for snuggling.
And a Starbucks for mom (not pictured).
Yes, my daughters slept for an hour on couches in the mall. And I would do it again if put in the same situation.
I am either the coolest mom ever, or I just gave their therapist another month worth of material to discuss when they are older.
Regardless, that crazy Saturday ended with a successful performance as Scuttle and two offers on our home.
Thank goodness! I don’t think any of us could handle another Saturday like that.
