More Than a Teddy Bear

It was two weeks after my mother passed away. I was a mess. I was listening to her phone messages over and over, and I was so very sad. In two weeks my twins and my oldest would have their birthday. I did not want to party.and I knew they would be missing Grandma MOE on their special day. She spoiled them something crazy for their birthdays.

Then suddenly, like a vision, clear as day, I knew a present I could give them all. Something special, something full of love and something only Grandma MOE could give them.

I called up my friend, Xenia Paterson, owner of Teddy Bear Loft, and asked her if she had any special teddy bears. After looking at her collection, I found the perfect one: a plush white teddy bear with soft angel wings. I ordered three as well as three sound chips.

As soon as they arrived, I hid them from the children, and when they were not home I took all three sound chips and got to work. Each sound chip received a different recording of Grandma MOE’s messages to them on the answering machine. Since our oldest is the voice on our answering machine recording, Grandma MOE always left messages directly to him and the twins. I couldn’t think of anything better to gift them.

“Hi my beauty boys, I love you!”, “Kisses, to the end of the world and back”, “You’re voice makes me smile”.

It came to me like a lightning bolt, almost as if my mother was guiding me to do it. On the morning of their birthdays, I had all three bears stuffed and ready for hugs. I told them Grandma MOE did help me make these, and that any time they missed Grandma and wanted a hug from her, they could hug their bear and hear her voice.

Their eyes lit up when they hugged each bear for the first time. And they keep their bears in a special place in their rooms. And every now and then, I hear my mother’s voice in the house, and know they are missing her.

 

 

 

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10 comments

Rebecca August 28, 2014 at 2:42 am

This is so sweet, Julia. What a nice way to honour your mom for your kids.

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Julia a.k.a Mama MOE September 4, 2014 at 2:36 am

Thank you, Rebecca. I’m happy I had the mindset to do it at the time.

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Olga August 28, 2014 at 2:55 am

omg what a wonderful gift. julia you touched my heart again.

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Julia a.k.a Mama MOE September 4, 2014 at 2:36 am

Thanks, Olga. That means a lot.

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Christine August 28, 2014 at 8:28 pm

Julia, this is such a beautiful post. I CRIED reading this. What a special thing to do for your little ones. I think I may follow your lead and get one for Little One. She’s been telling me that she really misses her “Great-Lola” a lot these days.

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Julia a.k.a Mama MOE September 4, 2014 at 2:38 am

Thank you, Christine. If you can do it, you should. At first I was nervous on how they would react, but they love their “Grandma bears” so much.

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Xenia Paterson August 29, 2014 at 12:19 am

There are so many family voices I wish I could here again…what a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing this very personal story. Xo Xenia

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Julia a.k.a Mama MOE September 4, 2014 at 2:38 am

You made it all possible, Xenia! Thank YOU for the beautiful bears and for helping me get them on time for the birthdays.

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Jeannie August 31, 2014 at 4:41 am

Indeed a very beautiful post. I cried and cried. I wish I had a recording of my dad’s voice for my boys. You are oh so clever! Grandma MOE is smiling somewhere!

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Julia a.k.a Mama MOE September 4, 2014 at 2:40 am

Thank you, Jeannie. I swear my mother helped me with this idea. Thank you for leaving this comment, sorry I made you cry!

Reply

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