9.26.2007

Bittersweet



Above is a picture of C's "kiki". This blanket is what I swaddled him in as a baby. He had heat rash from the double-thick flannel blanket I had been using, so I asked my mom to go get some light fabric to make some swaddling blankets from. "Just get something cheap," I said. "It doesn't matter what it looks like." So she got the Teletubbies fabric, which just happened to be on sale. Go figure. I couldn't have anticipated how much my little guy would love these blankies. He would chew on them, hug them, and drag them everywhere. They have gotten smaller and smaller, and on a recent trip to Colorado, Nana was hemming one and noticed a big hole right in the center of it. She suggested making "mini-kikis", and idea C loved, so now we have about 7 small ones. But he still preferred the big one.

C has made a lot of changes lately. He is now 5, and is thriving in a pre-K program. He LOVES going to school, and never clings to my leg when I take him there. He didn't cry last Wednesday when I left him with a sitter to go to back to school night. He doesn't have to be in the same room as me, but we still have to be on the same floor at all times. He has no problem when I leave him at friends' houses. And a few months ago, he stopped sleeping with kiki.

So on Sunday, I noticed kiki was lying by the front door. Just to see what would happen, I left it there. It stayed there until I had to pick it up a week later before the cleaning lady was coming.

I'm so proud of C, and how big and brave he's becoming. So why did I feel sad seeing kiki lying there all week?

7 comments:

Janice said...

Because we are mothers and being a mother is full of bitter sweet moments.

carrie said...

wait a minute. you have a cleaning lady?

just kidding - you totally deserve one. Little C is growing up huh? I loved this story...as happy & sad as it was...

Anonymous said...

The mini kikis remind me of the Kevin Henkes book, Owen. If you haven't read it, borrow it from Tania, she has it.

Am I the only person around without a cleaning lady?

Anonymous said...

I'm so proud of "C." He's such a tender-hearted little man!

sara said...

i love that owen book! my favorite prt is when they tell him the blanket fairy will come while he's sleeping, so he sleeps with it in his pants. we laughed so hard.

and in my defense, i've only had a cleaning lady for 2 months, and she comes every other week. trust me, i'm still doing a fair amount of cleaning myself! :)

leslie said...

i still have (and "use") my baby blanket... what does that say about me??

Anonymous said...

I am so very very proud of my big boy grandson,C. HAPPY to go to pre-Kindergarten is such a big step.

I Love you. C.