Thank you so much, Susan. 🤍 It somehow helps knowing this feeling doesn’t disappear just because they get older. I have a feeling I’ll still be folding away little pieces of every stage years from now.
My older son is about to enter middle school, so naturally I've been reflecting on all the ways he's grown. I definitely miss when he was a smiling snuggly baby BUT it's also really gratifying to witness him becoming his own individual person with preferences and ideas.
I have a 10 and a 5-year-old, and I wonder if you go through this too: toys. Baby toys. I just couldn't part ways with many and kept them with the hope that one day they would have their comeback in our family. And that made me feel so silly, too! Thinking about becoming a grandmother when in my head I refuse to go past 30
Oh my goodness, yes. It’s the toys too. 🤍 I think we hold onto them because they’re tied to a version of our children we loved so deeply. And I laughed at refusing to go past 30 — I completely understand that feeling!
Toys are actually one thing I've been able to part with more easily. For me, giving toys to a younger family member or neighbor or a school helps soothe the emotions.
To be honest with you, when I went through these exact sentiments with my four-year-old, I secretly wished I’d get pregnant again with another boy just so I could hold on to his clothes a little longer. My second baby, who’s now ten months old, wears most of those same clothes today, and it’s been so bittersweet. Every outfit brings back memories of my oldest at that age, and I’m so grateful I got to experience it all over again. It reminded me that while our babies grow so fast, those little pieces of their childhood somehow carry the memories with them like you so beautifully expressed.
Thank you for bringing me back there. Now I ask myself, “do I save all this again or finally let it go?”
Darlene, this made me emotional 🥹 What a gift to watch your second little one wear those same outfits and relive those memories all over again. And now you get to ask yourself the same question all over again. Motherhood has a funny way of doing that.
You somehow turned folding baby clothes into a reflection on time itself. I think every parent has a box somewhere that holds far more than fabric, and you gave words to that feeling so beautifully. Your writing has this way of slowing me down and reminding me to look a little closer at the ordinary before it slips into memory. Such a lovely piece. 🤍
Rose, this means so much coming from you 🤍 “A box that holds far more than fabric” is exactly it. Thank you for always reading so thoughtfully and for seeing the heart behind these pieces.
My daughter is 19 ...she still needs me but in a much different way. She still cuddles with me but it's not quite the same as when she was a tiny baby. I could relate with every word you wrote. Thank you for sharing Anna! ✨❤
I had these moments too. I saved the best PJs from my son for my next child. So that wasn't so sad. There was a "next time". And then I had a daughter! So now I treasure a mix of both genders' PJs because I just couldn't say goodbye to all of them. No one tells you that in a way, you do lose your babies. They become toddlers and are hilarious, and then they are troublemaker kids. And now I have one that is becoming a tween. And you miss all of those versions of them. And I want to kick myself for not having recorded more videos of them. At that time, I told myself I wanted to be present, and I was. Fully present. But I also want to go back to hearing their voices sometimes.
I felt every word of this. 🤍 I especially loved what you said about being fully present and still wishing you had more videos. I think that’s such an honest tension so many of us feel. Thank you for sharing this with me.
What a beautiful reflection, Anna. As a home organizer who specializes in working with families, I’ve had the honor to be part of many precious moments like the one you had. It’s reliving the milestones, being flooded with memories that we can feel in our bodies. It is always surprising what comes up and brings tears of joy to our eyes.
Thank you so much. I can only imagine the stories you’ve witnessed doing that work. It’s amazing how one small bin or drawer can hold an entire season of someone’s life.
Yes! You know that saying “when everything is special nothing is.” It’s why it’s so important to not only remember, but know the difference between the significance of a story or experience attached to an item, or the the feelings for the person, and how to best share or preserve what it represents. 🙏
This was beautifully put. The capturing glimpses of the person inside the person resonates deeply with something I experienced on the other end of life.
Thank you, Seb 🫂 I love that it resonated from a completely different season of life. It’s incredible how change can carry so many of the same emotions.
Some moments seem ordinary while we are living them, only to become the memories we treasure most. Your writing and this beautiful photograph gently remind us to be present before those moments quietly become the past. Thank you for this.
“The folding away” is a phrase that’s going to stay with me for a long time. You captured that bittersweet tension of celebrating who our children are becoming while quietly grieving the versions we’ve already loved. Thank you for writing the kinds of pieces that make people pause and hold their own lives a little more gently.
This is so incredibly kind. I’m smiling knowing “the folding away” stayed with you. Thank you for always reading with such care and for encouraging me to keep telling these ordinary, meaningful stories.
My boys are 11 and 7 years old yet this is still so relatable. ❤️
Thank you so much, Susan. 🤍 It somehow helps knowing this feeling doesn’t disappear just because they get older. I have a feeling I’ll still be folding away little pieces of every stage years from now.
My older son is about to enter middle school, so naturally I've been reflecting on all the ways he's grown. I definitely miss when he was a smiling snuggly baby BUT it's also really gratifying to witness him becoming his own individual person with preferences and ideas.
I have a 10 and a 5-year-old, and I wonder if you go through this too: toys. Baby toys. I just couldn't part ways with many and kept them with the hope that one day they would have their comeback in our family. And that made me feel so silly, too! Thinking about becoming a grandmother when in my head I refuse to go past 30
Oh my goodness, yes. It’s the toys too. 🤍 I think we hold onto them because they’re tied to a version of our children we loved so deeply. And I laughed at refusing to go past 30 — I completely understand that feeling!
Toys are actually one thing I've been able to part with more easily. For me, giving toys to a younger family member or neighbor or a school helps soothe the emotions.
I love that perspective!! Knowing they’re bringing joy to another little one would definitely make it easier to let go.
To be honest with you, when I went through these exact sentiments with my four-year-old, I secretly wished I’d get pregnant again with another boy just so I could hold on to his clothes a little longer. My second baby, who’s now ten months old, wears most of those same clothes today, and it’s been so bittersweet. Every outfit brings back memories of my oldest at that age, and I’m so grateful I got to experience it all over again. It reminded me that while our babies grow so fast, those little pieces of their childhood somehow carry the memories with them like you so beautifully expressed.
Thank you for bringing me back there. Now I ask myself, “do I save all this again or finally let it go?”
I only had two living, breathing, beautiful babies. But if possible I would have had many more.
Darlene, this made me emotional 🥹 What a gift to watch your second little one wear those same outfits and relive those memories all over again. And now you get to ask yourself the same question all over again. Motherhood has a funny way of doing that.
I miss my babies, but they are grown and can take care of themselves!
I love that. 🤍 They may not need us in the same ways, but I don’t think we ever stop being their moms.
No Anna, they will always truly be a part of us. But if we do a good job. Then hopefully we have taught them how to survive.
Anna, this one caught me completely off guard.
You somehow turned folding baby clothes into a reflection on time itself. I think every parent has a box somewhere that holds far more than fabric, and you gave words to that feeling so beautifully. Your writing has this way of slowing me down and reminding me to look a little closer at the ordinary before it slips into memory. Such a lovely piece. 🤍
Rose, this means so much coming from you 🤍 “A box that holds far more than fabric” is exactly it. Thank you for always reading so thoughtfully and for seeing the heart behind these pieces.
My daughter is 19 ...she still needs me but in a much different way. She still cuddles with me but it's not quite the same as when she was a tiny baby. I could relate with every word you wrote. Thank you for sharing Anna! ✨❤
Thank you so much, Lia 🤍 I love hearing that she still cuddles with you at 19. That gives this first-time mama so much hope.
I had these moments too. I saved the best PJs from my son for my next child. So that wasn't so sad. There was a "next time". And then I had a daughter! So now I treasure a mix of both genders' PJs because I just couldn't say goodbye to all of them. No one tells you that in a way, you do lose your babies. They become toddlers and are hilarious, and then they are troublemaker kids. And now I have one that is becoming a tween. And you miss all of those versions of them. And I want to kick myself for not having recorded more videos of them. At that time, I told myself I wanted to be present, and I was. Fully present. But I also want to go back to hearing their voices sometimes.
I felt every word of this. 🤍 I especially loved what you said about being fully present and still wishing you had more videos. I think that’s such an honest tension so many of us feel. Thank you for sharing this with me.
What a beautiful reflection, Anna. As a home organizer who specializes in working with families, I’ve had the honor to be part of many precious moments like the one you had. It’s reliving the milestones, being flooded with memories that we can feel in our bodies. It is always surprising what comes up and brings tears of joy to our eyes.
Thank you so much. I can only imagine the stories you’ve witnessed doing that work. It’s amazing how one small bin or drawer can hold an entire season of someone’s life.
Yes! You know that saying “when everything is special nothing is.” It’s why it’s so important to not only remember, but know the difference between the significance of a story or experience attached to an item, or the the feelings for the person, and how to best share or preserve what it represents. 🙏
This was beautifully put. The capturing glimpses of the person inside the person resonates deeply with something I experienced on the other end of life.
Thank you, Seb 🫂 I love that it resonated from a completely different season of life. It’s incredible how change can carry so many of the same emotions.
Some moments seem ordinary while we are living them, only to become the memories we treasure most. Your writing and this beautiful photograph gently remind us to be present before those moments quietly become the past. Thank you for this.
Thank you so much, Antonio. I love how you put that — the ordinary really does become the most treasured part when we look back.
“The folding away” is a phrase that’s going to stay with me for a long time. You captured that bittersweet tension of celebrating who our children are becoming while quietly grieving the versions we’ve already loved. Thank you for writing the kinds of pieces that make people pause and hold their own lives a little more gently.
This is so incredibly kind. I’m smiling knowing “the folding away” stayed with you. Thank you for always reading with such care and for encouraging me to keep telling these ordinary, meaningful stories.
This is so beautiful, and I can really relate to it!