Rediscovering the 'Me' in 'Mumeeeeeee'

'I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife’s badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways'. (Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, 1861)

March 15, 2010

Moving on

You came into our house nearly 5 years ago, a symbol of hope, excitement and expectation. I watched you being put together, screw by frustrating screw. I put the lovely new sheets on your mattress, carefully lined up the few teddies I had bought along one of your sides and stood back; unable to really believe that you would soon hold our baby.

Since that day, you’ve held both my babies. I’ve sat for hours watching them sleeping peacefully in you. I’ve rubbed tiny hands through your bars and willed the poorly child within to get better. I’ve listened from a distance to their chats with those same teddies I placed within you years ago.

Those little babies soon became big enough to jump up and down in you, shout for their milk at the top of their voices, laugh hysterically at the antics of their brother and play games pretending to be tiny babies within you again. They have both thrown their teddies out of you in a temper, thrown themselves out of you in an even greater temper and scarred you forever with their tiny teeth marks.

All too soon it would seem, my babies have outgrown you. They have moved on. Our family has moved on. So, just as you did all those years ago, you stand empty once again. And I feel a little sad.

After all is said and done, you may just be a collection of wood and screws, but your arrival into our home was the start of an amazing journey; a journey we are very much still travelling but on which we no longer need your help.

Thank you cot. It's been emotional.

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21 comments:

  1. Oh sweetie - I have just gone through this! I cried and cried and so did my youngest who didn't want it to go. So sad, but they all grow up... :-((( xxxx

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  2. Oh it was such an emotional time when I said goodbye to the boys cotbeds, we sold one on e-bay and gave another away and it was wonderful knowing that they were going to good use.

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  3. Awww. I remember getting rid of my daughter's cot bed when she was four. I felt quite emotional about it because it marked the end of the baby years I would never get again. But we moved on. Who knows where it is now, it isn't been given a second thought :)

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  4. I'm not there yet, my boy is still growing out of his cotbed and baby girl only just settling in her cot but I am sad at the thought of getting rid of either reading your post. I'm going through an emotional phase this week also, giving up breastfeeding to baby girl, it's time for both of us but still it's hard. Lots to look forward to though hey?!

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  5. Hi, it's such a bittersweet moment. My cot moved on to pastures new with new baby cousins but still missed.
    I have changed my blog name to

    http://sortofwriting.blogspot.com/
    all visitors still welcome.

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  6. I have recently parted with my cot bed, after admitting to myself, there will be no baby n.3 - It went to a very good friend, however it felt like the baby door was finally shut- bit sad really!

    Lx

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  7. Awwh, this is really sad. I suppose it's the start of another new stage and thats always bittersweet. I cried when we put away the moses basket and she was moved into her cot so I'm sure it'll be the same when the cot is made redundant. It goes by too quick doesn't it?

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  8. What a lovely, but sad post. I hope we have a little longer with our cots x

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  9. That's made me well up - what a lovely post

    Sadly Toddlergirl wouldn't share her beautiful cot so poor Babygirl has a cheapy version in the hope that one day she'll be allowed in the nice one

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  10. I still have one in a cot and will do for another year or so. I assumed I would dance around the room whooping for joy when it was gone, but now that I actually think about it I will probably be emotional! Jen.

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  11. What happened to the cot? I always feel better if I know the loyal object is going to be well-used in its next home.

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  12. We inherited ours and passed them on, and always a good feeling to know some other family and child(ren) are making good use of them. A bit like the ring of life in a way.

    Speaking of memories, have tagged you over at mine:
    http://londoncitymum.blogspot.com/2010/03/photo-meme.html

    LCM x

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  13. Oh, I feel better now. Thank you all. To answer Dot and put you at ease, the cot is in its flatpack form in our attic, just waiting for the next family member to find a good home for it ;)

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  14. Oh I remember that feeling. My daughter had a cot bed, so it got passed to my son when he was born.

    When he outgrew it, I couldn't bare to throw it away, so carefully stored it in the garage. Due to a leak, it just rotted away. A sad end to a treasured possession.

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  15. I'm dreading this too! Almost time for the cot to be dismantled in our house, and being a single mum of one... who knows if I'll ever need it again.

    I've tagged you for a meme on my blog. Check it out at http://toyboxlivingroom.blogspot.com/

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  16. Awww, that's lovely! I can remember being all sad when I found a new home for my oldest boys' crib. However, I was so relieved to see the back of the one my littlest one had as he refused to ever sleep in it. It'll be okay! x

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  17. oh this is so sad! i know exactly how you feel - all these stages - bitter sweet.

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  18. That's a lovely post, I have one still in his cot (when he sleeps there and not in our bed!)

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  19. Aw that's really sweet. I felt really sad when our cot finally vacated our nursery but I think it was the realisation that our son was now free to roam & wander at his leisure...

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  20. Imagine how it will feel when they fly the coop for real. Champagne glasses ready please.

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