My dad died over 20 years ago. Before he died, he had only been retired 2-3 years. During that time, he ordered five huge dollhouse kits to assembly and gift to any of the “future female grandchildren”. When he died, my mother insisted that these go to my sister (because I never had children). My sister came and got them and they have been sitting in storage ever since. About 3 weeks ago, my sister rediscovered them and offered them to the 3 female grandchildren, they did not want them because they are now too old for “children’s toys”. My sister called our mother and wanted to know if she wanted them back. Now my mom wants me to rent a van, drive three state over and collect these doll house and then assembly/paint/furnish them for her. My mom does not have room for any of these and I do not have access to any space where I could assembly these. I’ve never been any good at model building or wood working. I’ve told her “no” firmly but she doesn’t want these to go to waste. I can’t think of anything else to say to her or explain to her that would make this make sense to her. Suggestions?
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Ask her to continue to store them a bit longer until you can figure out what to do?
Do not bring it up to Mom again, except to say sister wants to keep them.
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and that’s that!
The ILs had been in the hospital so often then that they both started looking at it as their personal Marriott. FIL decided he did not like the view and insisted on moving rooms and that the ship had to be removed for “safekeeping.” Brothers Wife got SO to go down there for another visit for Dear Old Dad. The ship came back to our house, at which point his parents said they were completely uninterested in it.
--Children Hospitals, or
--Children museums and now on display, or
--Preschools and kids love them, or
--Orphanages (if she still thinks those exist), or
--Sold, then give your mom some money if she asks. It will be way cheaper than what she wants you to do, AND having to listen to her nagging until you go insane.
Then, do what you or sister want with them. Put them on freecycle.org, nextdoor.com, or craigslist.org for free. Somebody might want a DIY project with their kids.
"Now my mom wants me to rent a van, drive three state over and collect these doll house and then assembly/paint/furnish them for her"
I got with sister putting them up on a local Facebook yardsale site or Market Place. I just shipped a small box that held a blouse and a few odds and ends and weighted hardly anything and it cost me $10. I can't imagine what dollhouse kits would cost. Sell them. Your Mom should not expect someone who has never done things like this to do so. Lots of work and an expense and she wants 5 of them? Don't think Mom understands the time and cost involved.
Or contact your local Children's Hospital and find out if they would have use for it. Either as an In House toy/display or to gift to a child.
If you do not want to bring them to your place to do this you sister can do the same where she lives and put the donation in your Mom and Dad's names.
Then that dollhouse stayed in my basement for 30 years. I was going to give it to my sig-other's grown children if one had baby girl. Once the child was old enough to play with a dollhouse, she wanted a Barbie dollhouse. So there went that idea as Barbie was way too big for my dollhouse.
Eventually I had to toss it away as years of it sitting in the basement had its toll on the wood. Plus finding doll house furniture and doll house figurines were impossible to find.
The one on what she brings up to mom.
You tell mom NO, you're simply not going to rent a van and go thru all that hoopla for these dollhouses. Sorry, that just doesn't work for me, ma. Keep practicing your NO word until it rolls off your tongue easily and naturally.
1. Senior centers and some communities have woodworking groups. Some are for anyone, others are devoted to seniors. My father's senior center has a 501(c)(3) classification for its fundraising events.
A senior center woodworking group could (a) assemble and sell the dollhouses at a fundraising event, and (b) also create their own plans (assuming there's no patent or other IP (Intellectual property) restrictions), and continue to build them for sale.
My father's Senior Center has various fundraising events which are 501(c)(3) qualified. Can you imagine the excitement of a child to have a hand assembled house made by local woodworkers?
2. There are also various woodworking groups or clubs (in my area) which might be interested in assembling the kits, and donating them as well.
I have a collection of woodworking magazines, as this craft interests me as well. There are typically photos in each magazine of items made by woodworkers (male and female), and they are of very, very high quality.
I think a donation would be a great way to use these kits.