Baby Bed

Baby Bed

When my parents were very young, and knew that I was on the way, they made all sorts of preparations to welcome me to this world.

My dad had been working on constructing a sailboat, when he found out that my mom was pregnant. He quickly abandoned his original plans and began working on a new project of more pressing need - he began building a cradle.

This baby bed was one of a kind and absolutely beautiful. My father took the time to make this cradle a very high end work of art. He carefully measured the distances from their own bed to build the cradle so that it was within easy arms reach for my mother, should I awake during the night a need a little rocking to soothe me back into a restful slumber. With a gently nudge the cradle would smoothly rock back and forth, with no creaking or scraping, due to my father's careful planning and workmanship.

This baby bed was better than anything that could be bought in stores. My father included detailing and scrollwork that can only be the fruits of a labor of love.

Before long, I was born. Somehow my father knew that I would be a difficult child and this wonderful cradle was a saving grace during the long sleepless nights to follow. Even during the day, when my mother would be me down for a much needed nap, she would place me in my little baby bed. The gentle movement and calming motion was the only thing that had a chance of getting me to drift off to sleep for any length of time.

That cradle served it's purpose during the early years for me and my two sisters to follow. Later on my father built some other pieces to match, however, today the only piece that remains is a toy chest with my name and birth date carefully carved into the surface. I use this box to this day as a box of mementos and pictures from my childhood. It's so beautiful that it occupies a place of prominence in my living room for all to see and admire.

I often wonder what ever happened to my wonderful baby bed. As a parent with two small children of my own, I often wished that the cradle from my own childhood was available for us to use with our babies. That baby bed held the ability to comfort and calm any crying baby that was privileged to use it. The baby beds that we end up using today, lack the charm and quality that my special cradle offered. Nowadays, baby beds are mass produced using whatever materials are easily available, economical and hopefully, flame-retardant. They feature functionality, are usually designed to fit in with adult decor and often resemble miniature jail cells for our sweet babies. I'm sure that the baby beds of today have soaring safety features - one area that perhaps my little cradle lacked in some ways - but today's baby beds also lack the charm and magical quality, that only a labor of love could capture and share with loved ones.

In today's fast-paced world, life seems focused on what money can buy. People don't usually have the time to even think about creating and building solutions for their friends and loved ones. And yet what a difference it can make, and what a lasting testament can be attained, when time and effort are put forth in creating lasting solutions. Anyone can buy an item off the shelf and present it as a gift - the value of making something with your hands is very special, especially when motivated by love. This sort of gift will be appreciated and cherished, and can create memories that last a lifetime.