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.
