Not every cleaning story is about getting ready for company. For one mom, it is about saying goodbye. @devynnicoles is deep cleaning a house she already knows she will not get to keep after her divorce, and she shared why she believes a fresh start is the right choice for her kids.
Her message is honest, gentle and full of gratitude, and it may speak to anyone who has had to leave a home that meant something.
@devynnicoles
A House Full of Ordinary Moments
She says many people have encouraged her to stay in the house for the sake of her children. But she knows her family needs a fresh start. Her kids have run in and out of those doors thousands of times, to the playground, to the trampoline, or just to run, because they were kids and this was home. She remembers standing in the exact same spot calling them in for dinner and telling them to grab a coat. Those ordinary moments meant everything, and saying goodbye to them makes her sad.
She also says the walls hold too much heartbreak. At the same time, she expresses real thankfulness. The house, she says, was a safe place while she learned to be a single mom and to hold it together and keep going. It protected her family through some of the hardest days of their lives.
Why She Is Choosing a New Chapter
Her next chapter, she explains, needs to happen somewhere different. She is looking for more financial freedom, less maintenance, and fewer memories tied to survival. She puts it in a way that is hard to forget: you cannot fully move on from a chapter that broke you when every room is a reminder of what was lost.
She plans to deep clean each area day by day, not out of sadness, but with care. Her hope is that when her family leaves, the space will be ready for someone else to take over and grow their lives there. And she is already looking ahead. Even if the next stop is an apartment, she says she will build a home again for her family, because home is wherever they are together.
Cleaning as a Way to Say Thank You
There is something lovely about leaving a place better than you found it. A deep clean before a move is practical, but it can also be a ritual of closure. Wiping the counters, scrubbing the floors and clearing out the closets are small acts that let you acknowledge what a home gave you. If you are in a similar position, giving each room its own day, as she plans to, can make the goodbye feel manageable.
Practical Tips for Leaving a Home
Whether you are moving because of a big life change, downsizing or simply starting over, a few ideas can make the job less overwhelming.
Take it one area at a time. Pick a room or even a single closet each day. Short, steady sessions are easier on your body and your emotions than a marathon weekend.
Start with the least emotional spaces. Garages, utility rooms and bathroom cabinets rarely hold strong memories. Begin there to build momentum, and save bedrooms and play areas for when you feel ready.
Sort as you clean. Create four piles: keep, donate, sell and throw away. Moving fewer things means less to pack, pay for and unpack.
Think about the space you are moving into. If your new place will be smaller, measure what you can. Decide on a number of boxes or a set of furniture to bring, and let that guide your choices.
Keep a few memories, not everything. You do not need to bring every drawing or toy. Choose a handful of items from each child’s early years, take photos of the rest and let them go.
Involve the kids if it is right for your family. Letting children choose a few favorite things to take along can help them feel included, as long as the conversation stays gentle and age-appropriate.
Ask for help. Friends and relatives often want to do something useful. Let them pack boxes, babysit or haul donations.
Leave the house clean for the next family. Wipe down surfaces, vacuum, clean the appliances and take out all the trash. It is a kind gesture, and it brings a sense of completion.
Making Peace With a Smaller Space
Downsizing can feel like a loss, but many people find that a smaller home brings unexpected benefits. There is less to clean, less to repair and often a lower monthly cost, which can free up money for the things that matter more. A smaller space also encourages you to be thoughtful about what you bring in. Each item has to earn its place. If you are heading toward a move like this, try thinking of it as editing your belongings down to the pieces that truly serve your family, rather than as losing something.
Home Is Where You Are Together
Her closing words may stay with you the longest. A house is a building, and a home is the people inside it. Moving into a smaller place does not mean losing what mattered. It means choosing to carry forward the things that count most. If you are going through a hard season and facing a move, you might take comfort in her reminder that none of us are alone in this, and that there is no reason to feel like we are.
