Unwanted Cradle & Traditions

[peggyfromwastate]

I know that-- it's just an excuse!!

Seriously with all the moving this life requires, bringing a cradle around would just drive me nuts. not an easy situation...

[alison]

They have foldable changing tables at Ikea. My parents have one for M. It's pretty sturdy and has compartments.

Speaking of Old World baby items: my dh has an old cradle that his grandfather made out of a laundry basket!

[SoonerTexan]

Haha Peggy--I have to be careful. Then I will be bugged as to when we are visiting to no end. My grandma can be clueless...but crafty.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

I've been hesitant to reply, since I seem to be in the minority, but I would just be honest - while you appreciate the sentiment, you really don't have room for it, nor do you have room to store it when the baby is done with it, and no one "should" be having another baby anytime soon! There were a LOT of things that my mom cried over getting rid of (a huge, uncomfortable wooden rocking chair from her mother, my childhood dollhouse and bedroom set), but if you don't want it, you don't want it! Since your mom also did not want it, I'd say go the extra step and just don't take it.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

[PrincessFiona]

It's such a loving gift with good intentions but ... I totally understand feeling like this tradition is being imposed upon you. It is important to your granmdother, but not to you.

Honestly, I'd probably take it, act very thankful, make several pictures of baby in diff. outfits in the cradle (to send to grandma) and then let my mom keep it up in her attic. You would totally be just giving grandma a gift and since she lives far away, she won't really know that you didn't use it for the full 3 months (or whatever). Seriously .... change that little one 10 times in 1 day .... snap a bunch of pics ... and that's that! LOL

Kris

I was thinking about this and if you do take it, it might be something to keep in your living area rather than bedroom anyway. At least I always liked having a place to put baby down but still close by in the early weeks. We used the aforementioned moses basket for that purpose.

[MarissaNicole]

Do u have a garage u can store it in?

[SoonerTexan]

Do u have a garage u can store it in?

I wish! I would put the bikes there too! When I say no storage space, I truly truly mean it! No garage, 2 small closets, and a few square feet of attic space.

At any rate, I called my grandmother tonight and chatted a bit before bringing it up. It took a few tries to get her to understand that, no, there is no way for us to use it as a primary sleeping space at our place due to space issues and other plans I have, but we would like to set it up at my mom's for a FEW weeks. She finally "got it" (I think) and admitted that some of my cousins were never really in it all that long because the cradle got to them late, etc.

So the cradle is coming to Texas with Grandma in 2 weeks, living in the my mom's attic until the baby is born, and then going home to Arizona with them when they come visit after the kiddo is born. I think she is happy enough--let's just hope she doesn't "forget" or change her mind in the mean time!

Thanks for your opinions/suggestions. Believe it or not, it truly does help.

[ladymoreta]

Glad she understood!

[MarissaNicole]

Sounds good. Make sure you oooh and ahh over the crib when she's at your moms!

[scrub-jay]

Yay M!!
Trust me when I say, this is the first of many familial negotiations where your child(ren) are concerned. You'll learn how to diplomatically release mama bear. You handled this with grace!

[SoonerTexan]

Haha...guess who didn't actually listen to me, called my mom and got her upset, who then called me? (Grandma had other ideas about when the cradle would be leaving Texas)

I went to my grandfather. Lesson learned--next time I'm going to him first. He is rational and can rein in my grandmother.

[BonBon]

Gah...why do some people have to be pushy pains in the ass??? Glad your grandpa is a reasonable guy!

Cassy! Haha same!!!! "baby ledierhosen" totally caught me off guard and LOLed loudly at my computer screen in the middle of our very quiet office meeting

[MarissaNicole]

Just saw that one of your relatives asked about your co-sleeper with "isn't the traveling bassinet coming to your house....."