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As you look around at all the boxes and bare walls,
it may not feel like home just yet, but bear in
mind that soon, the dust will settle, pictures will
be hung, and everything will be in its place. But
first, you need to unpack.
Where
to start
The
normal reaction when viewing the moving-day disorder
is the urge to put everything in its proper place
as quickly as possible so the adjustment to the
new surroundings can begin. But nerves can be spared
and good relations maintained if you keep in mind
two important points:
- You
don't have to unpack everything in one day or
even in one week.
- Unpacking
can be fun, so try to do everything possible
to make the process feel like the end of an
enjoyable adventure.
To
start out, consider your family's basic needs (food,
rest, and bathing) and unpack accordingly, focusing
your attention on one room at a time.
The
kitchen
Once
the kitchen is set up enough to function, it can
become a haven where everyone can meet and take
a break from the jumble in the other rooms. Resist
the urge to unpack right away everything that belongs
in the kitchen. Instead, start with the basics and
leave less-frequently-used items in boxes until
you decide your room and storage arrangements.
The bathroom
The
next room to prepare is the bathroom. Make sure
toiletries are unpacked and put in place, and the
bathroom's mechanical systems are functioning. Once
the kitchen and the bathroom are operational, the
rest of the unpacking can take place without a sense
of urgency.
The living room
Now,
shift your attention to the living room or family
room. Before you start shifting heavy furniture
around, it's a good idea to make a sketch of the
room and how you want it to look. It's much easier
to erase a rectangle that designates a couch and
pencil it in somewhere else than it is to lift and
move the actual couch around the room.
Bedrooms
If you don't get to the bedrooms on the first night,
don't be upset. Drag mattresses and pillows together
in one room and have a family camp-out. It will
add to the sense of adventure. Share the burden
of assembling the beds and moving heavy furniture
but allow each bedroom dweller to unpack and arrange
his or her personal belongings.
Unpacking may seem like another in a long series
of huge moving-day tasks, but it doesn't have to
be overwhelming if you take your time and make it
fun.
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