The mail is the quietest job in the house. Nobody notices it until a notice arrives, a package goes missing, or a sibling asks whether the check came. By then the box has been full for days. Here is how to tell the mail has stopped reaching Mom, and what to do about it.
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How to tell
Look for the physical signs first. The box is overflowing or the flag stays up. Packages sit on the porch for more than a day. A carrier note asks someone to hold the mail. A neighbor mentions a stack of envelopes on the step. Then listen for the questions. A sibling asks whether a statement came. You cannot remember who last emptied the box. You are the only one who knows when it was last empty.
Who collects
Name one person for each pickup, on a set day. If you are the one who usually drives over, put that in writing rather than treating it as a favor. Ask whether another sibling or a trusted neighbor can cover a turn when you are away. Write the names on a card near the door so the next visitor knows whose job it is.
What to ask the post office
Call or visit your local post office and ask what it takes to hold mail, forward it, or move delivery to a different address. Ask what paperwork it requires and who is allowed to sign. Do not assume you can make these changes for Mom just because you are the one at the mailbox. Confirm the answer before you act. The Local help page on this site is a starting point for St. Louis contacts if the paperwork gets tangled.
Sort the pile once
Empty the box and the porch in one session. Make three piles: bills and statements, junk, and anything that needs a reply. Put the bills in one place with a single name attached. A mail routine only works when the pile is empty each time someone checks.