Who Knew Changing Sheets Could Be So Hard

When Connor was little and I would put clean sheets on his bed, I would ask him to help.  He’d get very excited because he knew that after the fitted sheet went on, we’d lay on the bed and I would “fluff” the top sheet so it would slowly fall on us.  We’d laugh and giggle and he’d want me to do it over and over again.

When he moved into his apartment and I was helping him get it set up, we made the bed together.  I jumped on the bed after the fitted sheet went on and just looked at him.  He smiled his beautiful smile and jumped on the bed with me while I fluffed the sheet and let it fall over us.  He looked at me and said “I love you, Mom”.

Fast forward to nearly a year after his passing.  His bed is now in my office/guestroom and I was making the bed with the sheets that he last had on it. After putting the fitted sheet on, I burst into tears.  The childhood and apartment memories came rushing back with the harsh reality that I will never get to do that again with him – or his children.  Who knew changing sheets could be such a triggering event.  But, I’m realizing through this journey that the smallest, most simplest detail can cause the most cataclysmic ugly cry.  ∞

What little things have triggered you?