All of Nancy’s talk about the healing properties of her rocking chair over at the RAD blog convinced me that I needed a better, bigger, new rocking chair. That is the only item I had on my Christmas list. Oh sure, I have a rocking chair. It is solid wood and quite adequate for rocking babies or toddlers. It was getting a little uncomfortable for rocking our four year old who weighs 45 pounds though. Super Dad took me to the furniture store several days before Christmas to look at rocking chairs after I told him why I needed it.

Today, when I arrived home from work, the four year old, Ali, was in the middle of a melt down. Her face was red and I could tell that she had been crying for a while. The children all reported about her terrible conduct in unison and suggested that I take her to bed. Instead, I picked her up and took her to my rocking chair. I rocked her for about 20 minutes, until she was completely calmed down. She climbed off my lap and played nicely with the other children for the rest of the day.

It wasn’t actually, what I planned on doing when I arrived home from work a little after one. I had an entire list of things to accomplish. However, taking just a few minutes to rock her and calm her down made the rest of day go more smoothly.

It is a little funny to watch Super Dad and I shop together. I tend to look at the least expensive items and our Super Dad tends to look at the most expensive items. We usually meet somewhere in the middle. Over the years, he has convinced me to buy quality items so they will last, although, in a house full of children nothing can last for very long.

I bought a new sofa, at the same store we visited for the rocker, nearly two years ago. I opted for leather covering because it is easier to wipe the surface clean. The store said that the leather was guaranteed for five years. Our children had managed to cause a large tear across the back and wear thin the front of the cushions. I called the store, they looked it up on their computer, and they sent someone to my house, who recovered the entire sofa in new leather. It was like getting a new sofa free.

Super Dad and I spent over an hour in that store sitting on the various rockers. We left without choosing one because I wanted to think about which one to buy. Super Dad had convinced me that the most expensive one was the best one, but I wasn’t sure we should spend that much. A few days later, I called them and bought it over the phone.

The cover would have a ten-year warranty. I already new that I didn’t have to keep track of a receipt and purchase date, the store would do that. In addition, because the rocker is a Berkline, the frame is guaranteed for life. Now that is the kind of furniture we need with eight children living here.

One of the reasons that it cost a little more than the others is because it swivels, reclines, and has heat and massage. I have chronic back pain from breaking my back five years ago and the heat and massage really help. Ami, our toddler, will lie in my chair with the massage turned on and rock herself to sleep when I am at work and she is missing me. Our newly adopted 10 year old even enjoys being rocked occasionally. Thanks Nancy for the rocking chair tips you shared.

Photo Credit Julia Fuller 2007