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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Eleanor Gordon-Smith

This Christmas I’m visiting my parents. I worry one of them shows hoarding-style behaviour

Eleanor GordonSmith
The Visit by the Dutch Golden Age painter, Pieter de Hooch (1629-1684), oil on wood, c. 1657
I’ve never really talked about it with the parent who’s doing it. Whenever I have tried, they just airily dismiss it.’ Painting: The Visit by Pieter de Hooch Photograph: IanDagnall Computing/Alamy

One of my parents shows hoarding-style behaviour. Is there anything I can do to help and support them?

This Christmas, I’m heading back to my parents’ house. I am close to them and love them very much. I have just found out from one of my parents that the other has bought another freezer. My parents have several freezers in their house already, all filled to the point you can’t really open them easily. It is a small terrace house, and it’s just my parents living there.

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