It was a Saturday; I remember the morning distinctly because that was when it happened. I was sat down in a big brown and cozy recliner and told by my Father that he was moving out, along with some cock and bull filler words. You know the kind they use to make bologna in those huge factories? Anywho, I guess you could call me a lucky sod; I slept almost the entire day! Lucky AJ! Not really.

It's a strange kind of feeling when you walk down the stairs after taking a four-hour nap, step onto the living room carpet, and suddenly you look into the book case and the orange Disney trolley complete with goofy, Pluto, Donald duck, Mikey, and Minnie is suddenly gone. It's even stranger when you therefore realize that you haven't looked at that trolley since you were eight years old. Then, as you walk down the hallway leading into the kitchen you  notice that someone has removed your favorite hanging poem "Foot Prints" from the wall, and the nail that went along with it. It was then that it dawned on me that Dad was gone already. At first it was kind of Twilight-zoney, you know? But then I started to think and list off in my head everything that was gone. Suddenly, that trolley car meant more to me than all my limbs and extremities combined! And damn straight I wanted it back!! I'll have you know, I never got that trolley back.

But enough about my days. Your days are what are important, and so I've prepared a bunch of useful and helpful tips for you. Firstly, don't let your kid be there. Have a family member take them out for the day. Don't make them go to school; they really aren't ready to face everyone yet. Don't make them go to work, same reason as school. I know you're having a rough day and you can deal with it in your own way, but your kids do NOT need to see their family home and structure turn into either a warzone, or have it left ridden and deluged in sad memories of the family they apparently don't have anymore. Send them to Grandma's, Uncle Bob's, and Aunt Jane's, who cares! Just do it!

Secondly, when you kid comes back home that night... try your best to be as happy as possible. Sit your kid down, tell them why Dad left, and tell them why Dad took certain things. If you're willing, tell them what he took in detail, it depends on your child's age. Also, if other relatives are coming over to help with the move, explain to your kid that they're helping only because Daddy couldn't do it all alone, not because they hate Mom.