Bring Back Big Families

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend, or Ode on a Mattress

Sometimes saying goodbye is hard to do, especially after 13 years. But sometimes goodbye is necessary. After all, 13 years can be a long time.

Especially for a mattress.

We said goodbye today to our faithful mattress. It’s been the only mattress we’ve had as a married couple. It’s been through everything from day one. We’ve spent the majority of our nights together on that mattress. Our first night as a married couple. Our first night as new parents. Our first sleepless night cuddling a restless baby.

But it is, after all, just a mattress. I find myself frequently getting too sentimental over mere things. This mattress is no different.

It’s been a long time coming, to be honest. We’ve talked about a new mattress for years now as we’ve known it’s been way past its prime. Both of our sides swayed in the middle just a little too much.

But like all things that are yours when you’re a parent, some things go by the wayside because the kids need things more than you do.

And so we slept on a decrepit mattress. Our backs and shoulders ached. Our necks and hips never could be supported the right way. We never could get quite comfortable enough.

And yet, we always were grateful for the times we spent there together. Grateful we had a bed to lay our heads in.

So, as we say goodbye to our old mattress, we say thank you for the last 13 years of service. I speak only for myself when I say I’m sad to see you go, but you are just a mattress after all.

Cheers to the next 13 years on our new mattress, if this one makes it that long!