Real Name: Sheri Gonzales Date of Birth: January 19, 1972 Member Since: July 20, 2005 Last Signed In: July 28, 2008 Profile Views: 286 Blog Views: 141 The Big and Small of Hangers March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 
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The Big and Small of Hangers
About twice a year I find myself going through the kids’ dresser drawers and closets pulling out all the stuff that doesn’t fit anymore and recycling the “too small for my oldest daughter, yet still too big for my youngest”. It’s quite the project; in fact it sometimes carries over into two days or more.
Usually the kids are less than excited to assist me in the process as often times I want them to try something on—or rather several somethings—to see how everything fits. Surprisingly, this time the kids were totally on board and thought it was cool. That’s only because we found ourselves needing to upgrade the girls from the baby hangers (you know, those really small ones you stock up on when they’re newborns) to the full size hangers. Boy they really thought they were something now sharing the same size hangers as mom and dad. As a parent, however, I was taken aback. Sure I looked forward to the day when I would no longer have to carry a diaper bag and half of the kids’ bedroom closet with me to each place I went. I also knew that someday the kids would be too big to fit in the stroller and I would therefore regain rightful ownership and possession of the trunk space of my vehicle for groceries, shopping bags and such. But, I can honestly say I never imagined the “event” of upgrading the kids’ hangers. This one caught me off guard completely.
My girls are 6½ and 8 and my oldest daughter’s clothes kept sliding off the hanger. “The clothes have always fit on the hangers before; what’s the problem all of a sudden” I thought to myself. Suddenly the light bulb went off like a fluorescent light shining into my face as if I were in a police interrogation room . . . THEY’RE GROWING UP! There are many events and milestones parents knowingly expect to happen at a certain time in a child’s life, however this one really jumped out of the closet at me (pun intended).
It’s a stark realization and an eye opener that my babies are only babies in the eyes of my husband and me. I look at my girls and see my two sweet, loving girls still as pint-sized as I remember when we brought them home from the hospital. They only appear in “true-to-life size” through other people’s eyes and in photos. I realize they are growing up, but I can’t help but hold on to their sweet adolescence. Parenting is awesome and I love my job . . . big hangers and all!
3 comments from 3 users
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posted by
sunnica
on Mar 26, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Great! I'm sitting at my desk crying! Sheri ~ you really struck a tender spot with me. This was eloquently written and very touching. THANK YOU! Please post stuff like this ANY time. It's good we often reflect on how fast our children are growing. ~dana posted by
tigoree
on Mar 29, 2008 at 10:16 AM
I can relate. I have 3 girls, and our youngest will be going to school as a kindergartener in the fall. I remember vividly having moments where I would think about how life would be when they were all in school, and it all seemed so far away. Suddenly, we're here, and it is a shock how quickly it came about. posted by
taratreaster
on Mar 30, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Now add 12 years to Kindergarten and that's where I am. To watch your "baby", your first baby get ready to go off to college will really rock your world. I'm not an emotional person by nature, but all of this college stuff can me bring to instant tears. She is well prepared and ready to go off and carve out her place in the world, she will do great things and be amazing, but what it really means is taking those clothes off the hangers and hanging the clothes some where else. My hangers will become empty. That's rough! Enjoy every moment you have with those little babies! It all happens WAY too fast. ~Tara
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