By Lisa Batten Kunkleman
There comes a time, when the nest is empty, we push back the tears and make room for other things; like hammocks and memories. Today’s the day. Once a sturdy sight for kid’s eyes. Barn red siding, climbing pegs, and a yellow slide, you were a group project and a work of art. A tree house for people and squirrels. Now you’ve done your job, and it’s time to rest. Come on down. We’ll share our memories in the shade of the very same young trees that both supported and later stressed your floorboards, as they grew tall. Welcome to a new season.
Don’t worry birdies, if we ever need another tree house, we can build a new one.
To be continued…
July 28, 2018 at 3:55 am
Sad……
July 28, 2018 at 11:28 am
I know. It was a tearful moment. In reality the trees had shifted as they grew making it less secure. It became more of a decoration and a huge not-so-lovely memory-keeper than a functional and safe house. When the time comes that we have a new generation of ankle biters, I’m sure there will be potential for another group project design and flurry of hammers tapping away.
July 28, 2018 at 11:52 am
I know that feeling. Our play gym came down about 8 years ago and it opened up a whole new space in our back yard. It was sad, but also liberating!
July 28, 2018 at 12:03 pm
I like the world liberating. I’ve learned that each stage brings new even unimaginable joys. We keep moving forward while carrying lovely memories inside.
July 28, 2018 at 2:03 pm
I would have so kept that. 🙂
July 28, 2018 at 2:30 pm
It was hard. For us it’s hard to get rid of anything.Literally and emotionally. Tougher to pull down than thought. But the tree growth changed the stability. Eventually our grown kids will enjoy building an even better one for our future grandkids. I have no doubt of that. And we have a barn full of wood for them to use. My husband never let anything go to waste and is happy to collect decent wood from projects. I didn’t show the first two attempts. The old guy surprised us. (The treehouse is the old guy, not my husband.) Hardly budged even when two supports came out. Here’s the good news. My hubby the handyman known as Dan the Man took the debris along with some long cedar posts and is using it to build a bridge in the woods across a creek that fills our pond. It’s gonna be so cool. Will show the finished project or perhaps the process later. We don’t waste anything around here. Have no fear. Transition and transformation should be our motto.
July 28, 2018 at 2:40 pm
I love the idea of building a bridge. We have one over a channel that connects our two ponds. The funny thing is, we had a litter of kittens this spring and everyone of them jumped off the bridge at some point. They were not in any danger but it was funny to watch them get the “one time learning experience”.
July 28, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Oh my! I can only imagine how hard it was to remove that wonderful tree house filled with all sorts of memories and experiences. I think you are very courageous to be “moving forward” and looking to the future rather than stuck in the memories gone by, which is easy to do. It is very true that when we clear things away, we make space for the new. When we moved to Nicaragua after all the children had finished high school, I had to give up their wooden childhood blocks that they had all used for years as children. Why that was so hard for me I don’t know… but somehow those beautiful plain blocks represented their childhoods and all the good times. I was hoping to keep them for the grandchildren, but that was silly. Yes, they too can get new blocks rather than have me store a huge box of wood in a house that I no longer have.
Peta
July 28, 2018 at 8:08 pm
I think I’m more sad about your blocks than about our treehouse. Wow. I can’t imagine. We live in my husband’s family home and have an attic and barns filled with memory/sentimental items. If we didn’t have a place to store them, that would be an entirely different story.
July 28, 2018 at 8:52 pm
Here my husband and grandson are about to embark on building a tree house. So far they have agreed on very little besides that it will be built. I think my grandson(he’s 8) has ambitions far beyond my husband’s(he’s 68) ability. We will see!
July 28, 2018 at 9:14 pm
Well good luck with your adventure. Our boys used to talk of tunnels and raised bridges. You never know. Our treehouse is being turned into a bridge/platform across a creek in Our woods as we speak. A gathering place by the water. I think the kids now 28, 21, 21, and 21 will love the redo.
July 28, 2018 at 10:39 pm
My daughter started to dig a swimming pool at one point. LOL
July 28, 2018 at 11:26 pm
Oh my gosh our kids did too. It was like an eight foot long two foot deep big foot print. They’d lie in it and hide.
July 29, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Then it turned into a great big mud puddle.
July 30, 2018 at 3:21 am
Salish splash. Good fun.
July 29, 2018 at 7:36 am
Sad. It must have been so difficult. I am sure you will make new memories.
July 29, 2018 at 10:56 am
The treehouse is already transformed into a bridge/deck over a stream in the woods. My husband moved the pieces right after it came down and used the materials to build a new hangout we will all enjoy. I’ll likely do an update with pictures ASAP. I’m pretty thrilled. Thanks for reading and for the kind words.
July 30, 2018 at 7:18 am
I am waiting to see the bridge, am curious.
July 30, 2018 at 11:45 am
Soon. Very soon. Ha
July 30, 2018 at 8:25 pm
Well that came down so easy.
July 30, 2018 at 9:11 pm
Didn’t it?
July 31, 2018 at 6:57 am
I was thinking it would be taken down by hand, but that was much easier and faster! 🙂
July 31, 2018 at 11:41 am
Oh yeah. My husband has used his giant truck and cables to pull things many times. All sorts of things. Old barns that Hurricane Hugo damaged beyond repair in 1989 when it came through Charlotte. Tree roots and giant trunks from overturned trees. Fencing, farm equipment and much more. He’s very efficient.
August 1, 2018 at 8:43 pm
Yeah, and smart!
October 12, 2018 at 10:34 pm
Lisa,
Recycling this is a brilliant idea! Much better than throwing it away, designating it to firewood and the like. I love the bridge and the idea that a new treehouse may one day emerge if needed. bravo!
October 12, 2018 at 11:07 pm
Thanks. It’s become quite a fun picnic location. A win for sure.