I'm a professional organizer. Helping my 89-year-old mom downsize was emotionally brutal.

Regina Lark helped her 89-year-old mom declutter.

Courtesy of Regina Lark

• Regina Lark owns an organizing business that often works with older adults.
• Last year, she helped her mom downsize from a home to a small apartment.
• She said downsizing has freed up mental space for her mom, who is 89.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Regina Lark, founder of A Clear Path. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When it comes to clutter, my parents were a case of opposites attract.