Sunday, July 01, 2007
In which the sins of my past catch up with me...
We moved around quite a bit while I was growing up. Each time we moved, we would tease my mother mercilessly for toting with us the Jenny Lind crib that had housed my two younger sisters (I was born during the student years and slept in a port-a-crib). I'm not sure what move inspired her to get rid of it, but I know she didn't let go of it for at least another decade.
We decided that our crib need to go on Friday after dh found our monkey, er, youngest son balanced precariously on the the top rail, singing at the top of his lungs. As Providence would have it, that night I went to visit a friend who just happened to have a sweet toddler bed sitting in her living room waiting for a new home. We negotiated a price (dinner at Tijuana Flats and I'd throw in her stamp club fee) and I tossed it into the van.
Saturday morning the crib came down and the "big boy bed" went up, complete with Elmo bedding selected by the monkey himself. (Aside: what is it about fourth children? I hate branded nurseries/rooms and would have never allowed this with the other kids...).
I cried. Mostly because every other time we put the crib away, it was to wait for someone else to sleep in it. I cried because it had held all my babies, and putting it away signaled the end of a season of our lives, and because I really don't see myself crying over the end of diapers!
We talked about donating to Goodwill (there was a load from the garage going that day anyway) or to the Crisis Pregnancy center.
In the end I called my mom and apologized for teasing her all those years ago.
She laughed...and told us we could store the crib at her house until we were ready to let go it.
We decided that our crib need to go on Friday after dh found our monkey, er, youngest son balanced precariously on the the top rail, singing at the top of his lungs. As Providence would have it, that night I went to visit a friend who just happened to have a sweet toddler bed sitting in her living room waiting for a new home. We negotiated a price (dinner at Tijuana Flats and I'd throw in her stamp club fee) and I tossed it into the van.
Saturday morning the crib came down and the "big boy bed" went up, complete with Elmo bedding selected by the monkey himself. (Aside: what is it about fourth children? I hate branded nurseries/rooms and would have never allowed this with the other kids...).
I cried. Mostly because every other time we put the crib away, it was to wait for someone else to sleep in it. I cried because it had held all my babies, and putting it away signaled the end of a season of our lives, and because I really don't see myself crying over the end of diapers!
We talked about donating to Goodwill (there was a load from the garage going that day anyway) or to the Crisis Pregnancy center.
In the end I called my mom and apologized for teasing her all those years ago.
She laughed...and told us we could store the crib at her house until we were ready to let go it.
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7 Comments:
LOL...I am there for you! I had a terrible time getting rid of A's bed. But, alas, it went. And life went on. And you're right, those 4th-borns make us do all the "Well-I'd-NEVER's" from the first three! :-)
He looks so peaceful in the picture. And who wouldn't when a cute little critter like Elmo is sleeping with you????
Hugs!!
:-) Susan
Heather
Very sweet post and the picture is just darling! It's hard to see them grow up.
I'm new to your blog so I spent some time tonight reading through alot of it. As a cancer survivor myself, I applaud you for your upfront and upbead attitude.
Hugs!
Kat
We got off lucky because Lisa desperately needed a crib for Kira so we gave it up willingly...now a year and a half later, Kira is ready for a big bed and I was able to tell her to just pass the crib along to someone who needed it. It was only about a month ago that I finally tossed our decrepit stroller, baby dish, and (sniff, sniff) our boppy pillow...she's only five, you still have time!! LOL!!
I had the HARDEST time getting rid of my last child's crib.
At least she's going to let you store it there :-).
We still have Noah's crib, and plan to save it for HIS kids someday (assuming he gets married - today he asked me, "Does everyone HAVE to get married?").
And maybe I'll have a baby to put in it still; God knows I want one!
Now that Michael is in FL, I still have Reese W. and Clara W. to snuggle.
Wendi
Thank you for making me feel normal! I had SUCH a hard time putting the crib away now that my "baby" is in a big girl bed. It's the first time in over 10 years we've not had a crib and it was much harder than I thought. But our princess is in a truly princess room now and is loving it.
I'm keeping the crib for a while though...
Heather,
I remember the day I cried when I packed up Brad's crib. Now I'm contemplating him leaving us and cleaving to a new wife. I didn't get it all those years ago when the grandmas in my church exhorted me to enjoy the little moments because they pass so quickly. I get it now.
And by the way... Derek is the FIRST one of our boys to have a "character" quilt--and his is Thomas the Train :-)
Hope you're sitting down when you read this--because in honor of letting go of the little things, I'm going to let Trevor put up a Star Wars border in his "new" room when Brad moves out.
Your weepy friend,
Laurie
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