Cleaning out the Pantry

**forHISglory** · 09-22-2011, 01:17 AM

My elderly mother was staying with me the other day, and she wanted to help do something. So we emptied the pantry, and reorganized it. It was stuffed, and I just been fitting in can, jars, bottles, bags whereever I thought I could make something fit.

We separated everything on the table and countertops: green beans, chili beans, lima beans, northern beans, refried beans, black beans, kidney beans..... etc. And after wiping down the shelves, we then restacked items so that all like things were together.

Mom kept saying, "You have a whole store here!" And she was right. I told her that I didn't want to have to make a trip to the store when I could have it all stored in my pantry. That it saved me money to buy on sale and not have to pay a premium for last minute shopping. That it gave me peace of mind to have my own little store in the house.

When we finished, I handed her some plastic shopping bags, and said, "Well, time for you to go shopping. Your paycheck is a shopping spree at my store!" She was a little shocked, then hesitant. But I encouraged her to find a dozen things in my store that she wanted to "buy". She went home with veggies, a cookie mix, coffee, a can of oysters, some spam, a fruit salad, etc.

It was a fun day, and I think my mother enjoyed her "shopping." I think she also admired the concept of keeping a store in your own home. I tucked a few more items into her shopping bags, and she is set in her own home now for a while.

**sinopa27** · 09-22-2011, 01:20 AM

how wonderful!! Thanks for sharing your day with your mom with us. What a special day!!!

**zakity** · 09-22-2011, 02:57 AM

What a cool activity to do with your mom! I wish my family was like that!

**3tomboys** · 09-22-2011, 05:46 AM

What a great day with your Mom.

**NikoSan999** · 09-22-2011, 07:12 AM

Agree, what a nice day with your mom and productive to boot.

**mamachop** · 09-22-2011, 08:32 AM

How wonderful to be able to spend that time with your Mom, it sounds like you both enjoyed it.

**nodmicks** · 09-22-2011, 08:45 AM

That is such a nice story!

**Ceashels** · 09-22-2011, 08:57 AM

That is awesome. What a fun way to spend the day with your Mom.

The last time I cleaned my Mom's pantry was after her knee surgery (last year) and she had boxes of old protein bars and snacks that were YEARS old. So I opened them up to find that 80% was rancid.

**auntie2many** · 09-22-2011, 09:10 AM

This story is so precious that it made my day. You are a very special daughter.

A2M

**frugalfoster** · 09-22-2011, 10:09 AM

I loved your story, reminded me of my days with my mother. I sure do miss her!

**Lady_V** · 09-22-2011, 10:14 AM

Your story has inspired me to empty out my pantry and reorganize it. It's "somewhat" together, but, I know I have odd and end things where they don't belong.

I will also "shop" for the local food pantry, I know I have enough to share with others. It's time I show my gratitude for what I do have.

**cab54** · 09-22-2011, 10:42 AM

What a nice day!

I've found myself spending a lot of time with my Mom lately, also. She was widowed last November (my stepdad). She seems a little lonely.

We went to a movie she wanted to see the other day (The Help), and we take walks (she has always done her walks, even after a heart attack and bypass surgery), and I spent some time at her house with her when she had a cataract surgery a couple of weeks ago.

I think we'll never regret spending simple, quality time with our Moms.