My mother has become a cleaning and organizing machine. Ever since my father died she has been cleaning closets, purging files, organizing shelves and rearranging furniture.
The fact is, her home has always been immaculate. My sisters and I joke that we could eat off the floor.
For years my mother has systematically pared down her possessions by giving stuff to others, selling items at yard sales and donating to charity. And my mother’s organizational skills rival those of Martha Stewart.
So why this sudden extra energetic spurt of tidiness?
I think several things are at work (besides my mother).
Whether it is a conscious thing or not, I suspect that my mother is feeling a level of anxiety as a new widow. A spouse’s death can trigger stress.