code: def prepare(self):
          
  
          # Create a collection for the attributes and elements of
          # this instance.
          attributes, elements = OrderedDict(), []
  
          # Initialize the namespace map.
          nsmap = dict([self.meta.namespace])
  
          # Iterate through all declared items.
          for name, item in self._items.items():
              if isinstance(item, Attribute):
                  # Prepare the item as an attribute.
                  attributes[name] = item.prepare(self)
  
              elif isinstance(item, Element):
                  # Update the nsmap.
                  nsmap.update([item.namespace])
  
                  # Prepare the item as an element.
                  elements.append(item)
  
          # Return the collected attributes and elements
          return attributes, elements, nsmap
docs: Prepare the date in the instance state for serialization.