Preserving a Memory of a Child’s Table and Chairs

Any time I start “downsizing” my space (my house, my sewing supplies, outgrown children’s toys, etc.) I realize the problem isn’t letting go of the item, it’s feeling that the story that goes with the item will be lost. That’s one reason sorting through someone else’s stuff is easier than doing our own…we don’t get bogged down in the “story.”

While I was collecting items for the Auxiliary yard sale two weeks ago, my daughter’s mother-in-law (MIL) wanted to donate a small table and two chairs that were made around 1978 by my son-in-law’s grandfather. It had been used by children and grandchildren and was taking up space in her home.

A special note written on the underside of the table held the memory:

This says, “To STEVE & CHRIS WITH LOVE–PAP PAP”

When I brought the table and chairs home to include them in the yard sale, I remembered how special the table was to her. So, while Steve and Chris had a few memories of the table, their mother had special memories that included memories of her father.

I decided to take some pictures of the table, chairs and message before they were sold at the yard sale.

Setting up a Tea Party

Several years ago, I had made some stuffed dogs honoring my daughter’s dog, Otis, and her mother-in-law’s dog, Max. Luckily, I had made a set for myself. The two dogs were best friends and spent time together.

Here is Otis:

and here is Max:

Here are their stuffed dogs:

Setting up the table, chairs and stuffed dogs worked pretty well:

After I took the picture, I added the inscription from the underside of the table and took another picture:

It certainly wasn’t professional-grade but this picture captured the basics. I sent the .jpg photo to Shutterfly and ordered an 8 x 10 and a few 5 x 7’s. Now, the MIL and Steve and Chris have photos that save the memory, without having to save the actual table. I think the photo accomplished what I was hoping would happen…the memory was saved for them. Consider using photographs to capture memories so downsizing is easier!