https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi A Memoir by Kimberly Rae Miller en-us 2018-01-19 14:40:50 UTC 2018-01-28 19:07:12 UTC hello@padlet.com 2020gnt https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/222798963 Although hoarding was a relatively new idea at the time Kimberly Rae Miller was growing up, she persevered through the rough times and never gave up on her parents. She believes that it is important to accept people for who they are. Even though her parents were different from the others, it is important to stay by their side through the frustrating times. ]]> 2018-01-19 14:49:11 UTC https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/222798963 2020gnt https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/222801202 Throughout the book "Coming Clean" Miller tells the story of her parents who are hoarders. She claims that she is not mad at them for raising her in that lifestyle and environment, even though it affected her mental health later in life. She never blamed her parents because she accepted the fact that this was who her parents were and she couldn't change it.]]> 2018-01-19 14:53:36 UTC https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/222801202 2020gnt https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/224368221 Kimberly Rae Miller is a very hard working person, she has persevered through many obstacles in her life and is still continuing to push through hard times today.
Childhood:
Miller always knew her parents were different than those of her friends as a child. She knew the piles upon piles of paper that lined the walls and covered the floors was abnormal, but she took it all in stride because that's how she was raised. She grew up in the mountains of paper, the breaking house, the busted water pipes, the bugs crawling on her at night. This life style was all normal to young Kimberly. As a child she never blamed her parents for behaving like they do, she was ashamed and afraid to tell her friends the truth, but she never blamed them. She believed it was the normal of her parents. As time passed, rumors started spreading and word got out to child services. As they stepped into the mess of a house, Kimberly escaped the captivity of the service workers. She wanted to stay with her parents because she loved them, even after all the hard situations and living conditions she was raised in.
Adult life:
Miller successfully went to college but never lost contact with her parents. Every so often, she would go back home and "help" her parents clean their hoarder house. In reality Miller just threw everything out, regardless of what it was, while her parents left because they couldn't handle watching. This routine continued for several more months until her mother had some very severe health complications. This was the wake up call her father and Kimberly needed. When Miller finally put her foot down and told them this was how it was going to be, her father worked very hard to reduce his hoarding habit. The house is still never completely clean and Miller still continues to visit and clean for her parents but she does it out of love. She truly does not blame them for her childhood and the effects it had on her adult life. Kimberly Rae Miller is a forgiving person with loyalty as solid as a rock. ]]> 2018-01-24 18:24:05 UTC https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/224368221 2020gnt https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/225419335 Through out the book, Kimberly's mother has severe health problems and has been to the hospital and undergone various surgeries numerous times. During those times of fear, Miller pulled through the struggles with her parents and their hoarding tendencies to help them with their daily lives and making sure their living situation is safe for her mother. Miller has cleaned out her parents' house/apartment many times. Even though it frustrates her to no end, knowing her parents will never change, she cleans and cleans. It's all to ensure her mother's safety at their home.]]> 2018-01-28 18:55:29 UTC https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/225419335 2020gnt https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/225419792 This book was written in chronological order, from her early childhood to her current life. This lays out events in an orderly fashion, easy for the reader to follow. Miller is blunt with her descriptions of her childhood and the conditions of her parents' residence, wherever it was in each part of the book. Miller was honest in telling readers how it affected her adult life and the trauma she endured after many years of being on her own. ]]> 2018-01-28 18:59:05 UTC https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/225419792 2020gnt https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/225420179 There have been many reality TV shows that document the lives of hoarders, none of which I have seen personally. These TV programs are just showing viewers the bare minimum of what their lives are like. In the book Coming Clean readers feel a personal touch to the story. Miller is open in her writing and holds nothing back. If a person reading this has had similar experiences in their life, they will feel an emotional connection to Kimberly Rae Miller as well as Miller's parents even. ]]> 2018-01-28 19:02:13 UTC https://padlet.com/2020gnt/ee04o9ym53qi/wish/225420179