Tools of the Trade

Since starting A Stress-Less Transition, I've had a toolbox containing all the necessary tools for helping a client pack up and set up.    

The box itself has changed over the past few months as I continue to refine what's in it and how/when I need to access the contents.

As mentioned in previous posts, I have met some amazing people and have treasured each story and life history that has been shared with me. 

I had the opportunity to help a family whose wife/mother passed away and the husband was moving to a retirement community.  Mom was a very talented porcelain artist and many of her pieces hung on the walls of their home or displayed on shelves in rooms.  I commented to the daughter I was in awe of her mother's talent and amazed at the intricate (and tiny) details of her work.  The daughter said, "Pick out something you would like."  (We were going to work together for a few days so I decided I would wait until the end before making a choice.)  

However, as we were emptying a cabinet in the kitchen, I found something that would be perfect!

My eyes lit up and she said I had to have them!  I would be the blingiest Senior Move Manager and something of her mom's would  help bring happiness to others by way of me using it when hanging their pictures, etc.  

So far the hammer has helped two families:

Hanging a dollhouse a client's mom made for her.

Hanging a picture of a client's parents in his new room at a memory care community.

My next cool tool came from a client I was helping with some organizing in preparation for her father to move in.  

During the closet clean-out, we came across some letters she had ordered for a wall with special pictures from her husband's mission travels.  (They were wooden letters with two hangers/holes in the back.)  In order to hang these, we needed to do some math, some measurements and some guesstimates.  

We got the first nail in and she said, "Hold on, I've got the best tool for this!".   She brings a paint stirrer with a screw.  (A paint stirrer??  How in the world is that going to help?)  

Hammer in the nail for the first hole, insert the screw in the other hole, make sure it's level and press the frame against the screw to mark the spot for the second nail.  Put everything aside and hammer in the nail.  Voila!  Perfect every time!

I am honored and excited to incorporate these tools in my efforts to help families!

For more information on how A Stress-Less Transition, LLC can help you or an older adult, please visit our website.