A couple of weekends ago I sat outside and watched little pieces of my heart walk off with total strangers. Sold off to the highest bidder and callously carted away with no regard for the ache I felt inside.
We were having a garage sale. And among the picture frames, dusty fake ferns, lampshades and old curtains were items with enough memories attached to them to last a lifetime.
One such item was the guardrail which was so significant in that phase of transitioning both my sweet babies from their cribs to “big kid” beds. You know that phase right? It’s such a momentous event! You buy the new bed (or simply remove the railing from their crib like we did), watch them climb in and out over and over, say things like “oh you are such a big boy/girl now!” and then suddenly realize that their new-found freedom might not be such a great thing after all when they come and wake you up at some ungodly hour of the morning.
Of course, you can’t forget to attach a guardrail to the side of the bed so they don’t roll out in the middle of the night. But, the fact of the matter is that toddler bed guardrails are ugly. They just are. All of a sudden the coordinating fabrics I had carefully selected for their nurseries took a back seat (waaaaaay back!) to this white monstrosity.
And when my daughter got an even bigger “big girl” bed the ugly guardrail become a vital necessity as she has a serious case of the “flippy-floppies”. She’s been known to do a complete 180 in her bed at night! So, the guardrail, ugly as it was, stayed with us much longer than originally anticipated.
But, I hated it.
This was definitely not working with my ‘vintage little girl’s bedroom‘ theme.
And enough was enough!
That thing had to have a slipcover.
So, I dug around in my fabric bin and had that puppy covered up in no time! It couldn’t have been more simple to make and you could even do this as a no-sew project. It’s basically like making a giant pillowcase!
Except you “stuff” it with an ugly metal safety contraption.
And hide the ugly with some pretty!
Want to know a secret, though? My daughter still has a mild case of the flippy-floppies but it has been quite awhile since this was actually attached to her bed. As I was getting ready for the garage sale I pulled the guardrail out of the attic along with it’s slipcover and reattached it to the bed so that I could take these pictures.
Should we call this, “True Confessions of a Blogger?”
As I removed it from the bed, folded up the little slipcover and added the guardrail to the pile of “to sell” items, I realized it was the end of an era.
And, it’s bittersweet.
I was talking with a friend the other day about that moment when you realize you are completely out of the “baby” or “little kid” stage of life. And when you realize that you won’t ever again celebrate the momentous occasion of getting a “big boy/girl” bed. Or put Thomas the Train stickers on a potty training sticker chart. Or when it dawns on you that there was a “last time” that you carried your child up the stairs to bed but you can’t remember when it was because you didn’t know then that it would actually be the “last time” you were able to carry them.
She asked me if this realization made me want another baby.
And I thought about it for a minute before replying, “No, not really.”
You see, I’m actually quite happy with our family of four. Frankly, sometimes I’m still stunned and amazed that we get to be the parents of these precious two kiddos!
It dawned on me that it wasn’t that I was sad about never being in the “baby” stage again…I was just sad that my “babies” weren’t babies anymore.
A chapter has closed. But, it’s supposed to, right? It might be bittersweet but at the same time it’s exciting! The new chapter we’ve started will bring so many more memories and I absolutely love seeing my “babies” grow into these wonderfully interesting and hysterically funny people.
And, this makes it easier to say “farewell toddler bed guardrail!”
You may have been ugly but you will always hold a special place in my heart.
Sharing this here:
What an awesome idea! Love the pattern too:) I’d love for you to link up at my new {Work it Wednesday} Linky party if you get the chance!!
xo
amy
http://theblissfulbee.com/work-it-wednesday-linky-party-no-2/
Vanessa, every stage of your child’s life is bittersweet! My oldest daughter got married and my oldest son left for college within 6 weeks of each other! That was so very hard. We still had 2 at home, but there was a definite loss in our home and we grieved. Even knowing they are following God’s will and are amazing young adults doesn’t replace their physical presence in the home. The great hope? One day there will be grandkids!!!!
Great idea, Vanessa! I understand your feelings! All stages are exciting yet bittersweet when you see them disappear forever! My babies are grown and gone and there are times my house is definitely TOO QUIET!!! I’m pushing for grandbabies so I can relive it all over again (but send them home when their being nasty!) LOL!! ~~Angela
Isn’t it amazing the odd things that make us remember with fond memories when our children were “little”? But, then they grow up and you start getting grandchildren and the fun and exciting moments start all over again. You’ll probably wish you hadn’t gotten rid of that cute bedrail in the future.
Cute post.
Judy
What a cute cover. My husband and I are only having one child and I am quite content with that. It does make is a little bit sad that we will only go the all of the “firsts” once. Its very bittersweet like you said. But the outgrow one thing just to start a new adventure in life.
What a wonderful idea. It looks so cute. These would also be wonderful for the elderly who need bed rails so they won’t fall out of bed or need them to pull up on to get out of bed. I had to have one after my back surgery to pull on in order to set up. I would love to have had one with ruffles on it. I think they would be a big hit. Taking something ugly and making it fit into your decor. Great job!!
I need to make one for our girl’s rail…I see a dropcloth project coming up 🙂
Such a PRETTY idea!! Love the fabric and what a PRECIOUS and Sweet sentiment 🙂
xoxo
I so remember the days of “letting go” of the “baby memories”…but the sentimentalist that I am led me to keep many of my son’s toys and “things”…I kept his very first “big boy” pillow case…his favorite “Snoopy pillowcase….when my granddaughter started spending the night with us and needed a “big girl pillow”…I took out that case from the closet and it is the pillow she uses…my son could not believe that I saved it..and it warms my heart to see my granddaughter sleeping on the same pillow case that my son loved…
Your sweet sentiments shows how much of a great mom you are and will always be…
Thanks so much Shirley!! That is just so sweet that you kept the Snoopy pillowcase and how special that your granddaughter uses it now! 🙂
Vanessa
I relate to this so well. I had those feelings as I went through stage after stage. One of the reasons I’m having so much trouble getting a summer groove right now is that I realized a few weeks ago that I am in yet another one. This is the first summer that my younger daughter stayed at school. So… we are now out of the family summer fun stage. Unless and until I get to be a grandmother, I will never be there again.
Nothing like adding my own shade of blue to the party, huh?
I love your shade of blue and it’s always welcome my friend! 🙂
Vanessa
I hear you Vanessa! I’m not at all sad that I will never have another baby but it’s so bittersweet that the baby days with our 3 are over. But I love the bigger stages too and look forward to the ones to come. I certainly don’t miss being up all night long!