|
The Course of Family He's Won Half the Battle Grasping at Metaphors Get Your Fangs Out, It's Fall Ball! Mom's Night Out First Day Funny It's Not a Dare The Barcelona Chronicles - Part III The Barcelona Chronicles - Part II The Barcelona Chronicles - Part I April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 .
RSS 2.0![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
|
Nostalgia
Oh, nostalgia. It came for a visit today when all I wanted to do was to put the laundry away. The baby is almost four months old and it was time to move through the newborn clothes to the next size up. I had a box ready to put the old away in, to get it ready to be sold at the next baby items consignment sale. I didn't realize it would be so hard. It wasn't just Aidan's clothes. It was a combination of both all the new items I had bought for him and the best of the best of his older brother's outfits from almost four years earlier. When I put my older son's clothes in a box four years ago, I knew I was safekeeping them, storing them for the next bundle of boy that I innately knew would eventually bless my little life. But, this time, it was different. There aren't going to be any more babies in this house, and I am likely to never see these tiny onesies and rompers again. They are getting boxed up to depart forever and I was torn. Each piece has a memory. I can't, for the life of me, recall what exact memory goes with each piece. I simply have this fuzzy little notion that goodness, joy, and love are somehow interwoven in each outfit. Like the blue sleeping gown that both of my sons wore. It looked so good against their blue eyes, those extra-long lashes, I just couldn't put it in the box. Nothing special happened when they wore this gown, but I had to keep it. I knew there was something about it. Maybe it was on their little bodies when I fell in love with them. Maybe they wore it when I whispered in their ears for the first time that I'd die for them. Maybe I spent twenty minutes trying to spot treat either poop or throw-up on it in the middle of one night, realizing for the first time that all my labor is well worth it. I don't know which one of these things it might have been. May have been all of them. Maybe none of them. But I plan on keeping that gown. It is a symbol of love only a parent knows, a piece of time that will remain precious even when I am old and alone. And now, the gown has a new meaning. Not of the perfect and small bodies that once were clothed in it, but of the realization that being a parent comes with a price. That at some point in time, whether we like it or not, we have to say goodbye. Not to everything, but most of it.
6 comments from 5 users
1
posted by
We4do4H
on Jun 16, 2008 at 05:06 PM
I too saved outfits that both boys wore, one pair of baby overalls for each of them to share with their children one day, and some other small things, mostly from the first few months, though I do have a snow outfit my parents brought back for Tyler from Alaska, just couldn't part with that silly thing for some reason. My mom kept the jean wrangler outfit my brother wore for his first pictures (that was 42 years ago), both my boys wore it and my sisters son wore it, plus I have a jean jacket that Brian's mom made for him that Cole wore, I'm not sure it will make it through Tyler, Cole put some pretty good holes in it. I finally started them each a sentimental box of blankets and clothes and such that I can add their school items too and other things. Then when they are ready to have children I will pass that box down to them. I knew after Tyler we weren't having any more children, luckily I had a younger cousin who was pregnant and having a boy, so she got several huge boxes of boy clothes. I finally got to the point that I just opened the box, tossed the clothes in and didn't look at what was on top, otherwise I got the want another baby blues all over again. And just a week ago I passed along my infant car seat and stroller to a friend having a late in life baby, now I only have a port-a-crib and bed rails - then we are out of the baby stuff. And into the little boy stuff!!!!! (which I think takes up more room than the baby stuff - but it is easier to get rid of) I'll shed a tear with you as I pack more out grown clothes away! posted by
Christina
on Jun 16, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I so feel your pain. THAT is HARD. Maybe one day, when you've mastered the art of sewing with that machine boxed up in your garage, you can make a quilt out of all of their baby clothes. Would be an amazing keepsake and heirloom. posted by
twogirlsmama
on Jun 17, 2008 at 12:21 AM
I have saved too much, now that my girls are 8 and almost 4, but like you say, certain things you just can't part with,...like the tiny t-shirts I can't believe they were ever small enough to fit into...it's a Mom-thing. posted by
bushelandapeck
on Jun 17, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Oh, nostalgia often visits me! And clothes seem more difficult to weed through than toys. Why is that? posted by
Mom2CandC
on Jun 18, 2008 at 10:04 AM
I have the same problem...I have saved boxes of clothes from the boys baby times....difficult to go through and give up - even though we won't be having any more kids! I have kept the outfits that we brought each boy home from the hospital in - and they both LOVE to see how tiny they were! Keeping blankets that were hand made with love, a pair of tiny overalls, doesn't take much space at all - and I'm happy to place them in their tiny rubbermaid boxes and leave them in my closet - up high, until it's time to add more or share the memories! My MIL saved my hubby's firt pair of real cowboy boots and his first shirt with really cool mother of pearl buttons. Our oldest took a picture in the shirt and boots - barely able to walk and balance before his feet got too fat and wouldn't fit. Our youngest, Caden, could never get his chubby little foot in the boots! The shirt ws there, but he was barefoot since he has such big feet! I have saved those boots and the shirt since they are so precious - to me and the rest of the family as well. On to another idea for all of the denim and clothing you have left....I saw a quilt that one of the mom's made at my son's school and it was SO neat! She had taken the overalls, jeans, and other denim items from her kids' childhood and made the most amazing quilt! Great memories and something durable to sit on as you watch your kids play sports, watch fireworks, or wallow on the blanket....my son loves to roll around on blankets and "wallow" as my MIL says....Maybe one day I will learn how to quilt, maybe....I'll add it to my list of "things I want to do...eventually!" ;) posted by
Mom2CandC
on Jun 18, 2008 at 10:13 AM
One thing I forgot to add to my post....it wasn't long enough yet - LOL! When it was time to get rid of the bassinet that we had purchased when the oldest was born, and he really only slept in it a few months and then got too big...the youngest used it a little, but preferred his crib. For some reason, I had a really hard time getting rid of the bassinet....so, we decided that we would make sure it went to a good home and to someone who needed it. I called the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center and they were thrilled to get this as a donated item! I have donated carseats that are still good, the bassinet, and baby clothes that I could get bear to give up. This is a non-profit group that is always in need of donations to help those who are pregnant and don't have the financial resources we are blessed with. Anyway, if you have the inclination - you do feel much better after leaving your precious baby items in the care of these women....and they understand if you shed a tear as you leave your things behind. I took our oldest inside with me (at his demand) when we donated the bassinet. He had more fun talking to the ladies in the office about his baby brother's poopy diaper than anything else....good memories!
1
|