Embedded deep within our secondhand baby furniture, are stories and dreams waiting to come alive again. Most of us have something stored somewhere from childhood that we have kept all these years for reasons that are often personal and sentimental. Oftentimes, this precious heirloom are put away in an attic, or crawl space, and it rarely gets taken out or dusted off.

Perhaps some of the most heartwarming memories from our past lie in our childhood. It wasn’t until recently, that I realised how beautiful and powerful an object can be. It was my niece’s second birthday and she received secondhand baby furniture from my best friend. She simply reached into her crawl space, dusted the gift off, and presented it to my niece. A gift from the heart, that didn’t cost anything.

How could someone give secondhand kids furniture as a baby gift you might ask? Well, I think it’s the term “used” that oftentimes makes people scoff. However, the reality is that many secondhand baby furniture items are in good condition and it’s a good way to get hold of name brand furnishings that you otherwise might not have been able to afford. In this particular instance, money did not play a role. My best friend could have gone to any local toy store and bought one of the hundreds of baby items to fill my niece’s room. Instead, she chose to bring the rocking-duck.

The rocking-duck is a piece of secondhand kids furniture that is rich in history. My best friend lived in a home where her parents were constantly taking in sick babies. They would nurture and care for these helpless infants until a loving family would eventually adopt them. When I saw my best friend pull the rocking-duck out of her car, I took a trip down memory lane.

My best friend’s grandpa made this for her because like so many of the babies her parents cared for, she too was adopted and it was her “welcoming” gift. Painted a pale yellow color with an orange bill, it had a leather seat belt that my best friend’s mom made from an old leather purse of hers. When her mom died unexpectedly a few years ago, this special baby item was packed away. This piece of secondhand baby furniture didn’t seem to have a place anymore, until now.

This piece of secondhand kids furniture carried with it memories of childhood, but more importantly plenty of love. When my niece saw this special gift her eyes lit up. My sister looked at me a little puzzled, not really sure what to say. I looked at my best friend and smiled. I am sure that the rocking-duck will be around forever. It will go from one loving family to the next and will sit patiently waiting for the next child to hop in and rock until their heart’s content.

More importantly, however, are the memories that are relived and the memories that are created all because my best friend went into her crawl space and pulled out her secondhand baby furniture.