Pigtails. Aren’t I cute?
This is me, age 5, Kindergarten. I adored that sweater in every way that a little girl can adore an article of clothing. The buttons were white hearts hand-painted with some pinky, girly, swirly somethings. And I was as cute as those buttons for a day or two—until my mom was fed up with finding two eyelet ribbons in my back pack at the end of every day instead wrapped around my rubberbands. She threatened to cut off my hair if I didn’t stop pulling out my pigtails. Or my braids. Or my Mindys. Remember Mindys? Mindys were the hairstyle made famous by Mindy of Mork and Mindy. Kind of half-ponytails instead of barrettes. You don’t see them much anymore, but Jen was a huge fan of Mindys. I’m sure I have a picture of that around here too somewhere. (Snicker, snicker.)
Well, I didn’t listen to my mom. I did not heed her warning about keeping my little piggies in or getting a chop. Is this the beginning of a trend in my life? I like to think it started much…earlier. Yes, much earlier.
This is what my rebellion got me at age five.
Yikes. Still cute?
She chopped my hair. Crop, crop, crop cut. And away went the cute little buttons and the girlie-girl bows—except for that black thing around my neck. What is that? Accessorizing? I would have always believed that it was a part of the ensemble until I met up with Jen the other day for our upcoming Local News story. After our interview and our bloggity chit-chat we had some time to go through an old box of photographs and memorabilia sent over by my uncle, our father’s only brother. Our dad died 10 years ago and Tom recently sent us a glorious box of memories. After passing many pictures through my hands I noticed a trend. And it wasn’t about my rebellion (although it was certainly apparent in many of the photos who the wild child was). No, this trend had to do with clothing. Recycled clothing, I might say. Notice something?
Frock. Who’s cuter?
Of all the pieces of clothing to hold on to, and pull over my head six years later, this really isn’t one of the worst. I know, I’m a little embarrassed about that too! But let us just examine here. Ah, yes. Accessorizing. Jen seems to have gotten a Gold Medal on her chest. And me? A black ribbon tied around my neck. Hmm. Prophetic?
Never mind. Times have changed. For instance, I’m searching through my wardrobe to find a pair of jeans to bring up to Jen tonight. You know, a pair that is skinny enough so as not to fall off her svelte bod, and long enough so as to cover all the inches of her very, very long legs. The girl’s 5’10″ people. This is no small feat.
In all honesty it’s endearing that I wore many of the same threads that my sister wore when we were young. Because we are six years apart in age, we didn’t share clothes and toys and dolls at the same time. I got the hand-me-downs. The faded Osh Kosh jumpers, the black buckle shoes, the white ruffled shirts. There were a few fights between us that resulted in Jen screaming at me to give all her clothes back—clothes that were much too small for her, mind you—and me kicking a hole in the bathroom door protesting her request. We’d call our mother at the school and plead our cases separately. Who knows what we fought about. We were sisters. Sisters fight from time to time. But sisters also form a bond that is lasting through these fights.
The fights, and the clothes, are part of our deep connection to one another. And as I dress my baby for bedtime at night, pulling on the same jammies that my oldest once wore, I think of this. I doubt that when the boys are adults they will look back at photographs of themselves and remark on the repeated wardrobe choices: the red Christmas sleeper with the white embroidered reindeer, the blue corduroy overalls, the favorite fleece jacket with a quilted hood and black toggles. These are the clothes that I will remember. These are the clothes that carry memories. They are worn once and hidden away in an attic until they are needed again. As I pull these familiar threads over Ethan’s head, a rush of welcome memories pours through me. And I love that this happens. And I will miss it when it’s over. And I will look at the pictures I’ve taken along the way with as much fondness as I look at the pictures of my sister and me.
Note.
If Momalom’s Mom can do it, so can you!
Head on over to Gravatar.com and set up an avatar for yourself that will carry you, and your pretty face, from blog to blog. It will make our conversations here that much more fun. So listen to my teacher mom and tackle that extra assignment for today.
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Ah, sisters. As the middle of five sisters and mom of two girls, I love this post. I’ve written about it time and time again, but there is something magical about sisters. You have so many rich metaphors here. I come to this blog each and every day (not only because I signed up to do so!) but because the writing is exquisite and because I get a snapshot of two sisters, two remarkable sisters. I would love, love, love it if I could blog with one or more of my sisters, if I could thread my words, wonders, and wishes with theirs.
Cheers to sisters, real and metaphorical!
Twitter: ADonnRowley
Yes, it is a gift to be able to do this with Jen. More than a gift. It keeps me afloat these days. It has strengthened our bond ten-fold. I couldn’t be happier about or sisterhood right now. Our friendship. Our path together.
When I long for daughters, and for a budding sisterhood in my own home, I have to remember that I am lucky for all that I have in Jen. We are something special. I have no doubt about that.
I wonder, have you approached any of your own sisters about writing with you? I imagine that with FOUR SISTERS it would be a bit more complicated than it is with me and Jen. :)
Cheers indeed!
Twitter: Momalom
Alas, no sisters for me. Just two brothers, one older and one younger. And now I am the mother of two boys. My life is saturated in testosterone. Sigh.
But the idea of memories living in clothing really resonates with me. Whenever Big Boy outgrew special articles of clothing, I mourned the passing of time and the loss of that bit of innocence. Now I rejoice when I pull those same items over Tiny Baby’s gigantic head. It’s as though Big Boy’s babyhood lives on in through his brother – and the past and present are linked through 100% cotton fibers.
Twitter: Motherese
Sisters! What can I say? I have one that is almost two years to the day younger than I am. Guess what my parents did in December? We fought and ignored each other as children. We had each others’ backs as teens. I married and had my own family. She did not but she acts like my family is her family – because truthfully, it is. I work from home and get by on less than she pays in rent a month. She works from corporate multi-national corporation and loves her job.
We have been close and not so close but we will always be SISTERS!
Thanks for today’s entry, Sarah!
Twitter: NickiinNY
Jen and I have been close and not so close and close again. Always sisters, yes, but we have gone through our phases and come out stronger than ever. Actually, I think Jen writes about it a bit in our About page.
I know you are totally digging the photos, too. Aren’t you?
And thank you for the post on your site and the picture of our OLD HOUSE! The Photo of me in the pink sweater brings memories of all things sweet, including the front porch of that house you photographed. And nights spent in a sleeping bag next to my brother during a rainstorm – on.that.porch. :)
Twitter: Momalom
Sarah – I do love the photos. I posted some photos of me through the years on my blog. These were almost all – with the exception of some high school shots – as an adult.
http://nickisnook.net/2009/11/04/me-through-the-years/
Twitter: NickiinNY
Testosterone. It is my entire world at home. Probably another reason that I latch onto Jen’s every word. It is the only estrogen that I can get…and through the phone, no less.
I talk about my wish for a daughter, but in all honesty I would really like TWO. So that they can be sisters. And I can watch their sisterhood grow!
Twitter: Momalom
Just an older brother for me. And oh how I LONGED for a sister when I was growing up. Someone to share clothes with, play dress up with, giggle with and just “get” me. I tried my whole growing up life, and actually am still trying, to build a friendship with my brother that we both felt vested in and it never really worked. I doubt it’s because we’re brother/sister, more that our personalities just sadly clash but it’s such a dream of mine to have the friendship in a sibling that you and Jen have.
And now I have one of each. I watch the two of them and hope and pray they grow up as friends (or at least become friends later). It’s a bond like no other. One that I envy in so many of my friends. It might help having the girl first since she’s so doting and loving toward her little brother but who knows. They won’t share clothes or toys or girlie secrets (or maybe they will… not that there’s anything wrong with that!) but hopefully they’ll share themselves.
As for the clothes… even though I’m DONE having kids, I can’t seem to part with any of their clothes. So many memories are attached to all of them. I still pull them out of the bins and longingly remember the occasion when they wore them. I can’t bare to imagine someone else wearing them outside of my family. (Aaaaannnndd we’re back at the hoarding issue AGAIN…)
You’re lucky to have one another – that’s for sure.
Twitter: dramaformama
ps… any idea why my gravatar on your blog is different from the other blogs? I changed it but this chick and her dog keep popping back up!
Twitter: dramaformama
Looks like it’s right now, Becca. Takes a few minutes to update!
I was wondering what was up with the chick and the dog. :)
PS from ME: Hysterical post yesterday about your husband and things about him that WEREN’T IN THE BROCHURE. Hysterical!
Twitter: Momalom
I’m still seeing the damn chick and her dog but if you see me… that’s what matters.
Glad you liked the post yesterday. I know all husbands do things that are unexpected but really, sometimes he leaves me wondering…
Twitter: dramaformama
You.Are.Funny. Back on the hoarding issue AGAIN. I love it!
There are all kinds of relationships, aren’t there? I mean, even if we are born sister/sister, brother/brother, brother/sister it doesn’t mean that we will form any one kind of relationship. It is all tainted by who we are, what our personalities are, and our upbringing. What I want more than anything for my children is kinship in their brotherhood. I have always been worried about it. Fixated on it. And now I am so happy to find myself already explaining this in an appropriate way to my oldest son. And so naturally. I talk about his brothers and all that they mean to him, now and forever. And I know if I just keep it up, keep highlighting the importance of family, keep holding the family together as a unit – even when three boys are off at three different games or practice every afternoon – that they will grow up just as I picture: arms slung around one another on a fall day standing in front of the house so their mama can take a proud picture. Boys. Teenagers. Men. I’m so daunted. But I know, because of all that Jen has told me, that it is my purpose. To raise strong, good-hearted boys.
Twitter: Momalom
Oh this is so wonderful!
My sister is so dear to me. And she has two girls. It is one of my real regrets that my daughter won’t have a sister (her brother is pretty hilarious and awesome, but he is a boy).
My mind is full now of images of my sister & I in the same clothes. The striped turtleneck. The apple appliqued jacket. The velvet dress. Ah, memories! Thank you.
Twitter: lemead
Oh how I would love to see a picture of you AND your sister in the apple appliqued jacket. Won’t you send one my way? :)
The memories are so rich, aren’t they? So very rich and I feel so very lucky.
And one more thing…you’re young…go for a third. (big grin) That way you’ll either have a set of brothers or a set of sisters. See the logic? hahahahahha
Twitter: Momalom
I envy you the relationship you have with Jen. There’s something special about the way sisters know each other– really KNOW.
And God, the hand-me-downs! I got them from not only my sister, but my cousin. I don’t think I wore anything new until the 4th grade…
4th grade, yes. That sounds about right.
I think I just need a female in this house. Even if it’s not the daughter that I want. Maybe I’ll hire a live-in just so things can feel a bit more homey. I really don’t think my husband would mind. And I’m not even thinking about the whole two chicks sexual aspect when I say that. At least I’d stop talking about baby girls.
Hmm.
Twitter: Momalom
What a delicious, satisfying post – again! No sisters for me either, but I will say that with two boys close in age, I still enjoyed picking out clothes for them – especially sweaters at holiday time, when they were little. The elder would never wear hand-me-downs (from friends) – the hard-headed scoundrel! My younger, fortunately, couldn’t care less, which has given double-life to most of the boy things we’ve had over the years. I’ve also been privileged to observe not only their likenesses (there are many), but the ways in which they are dramatically different, yet still brothers.
They will have a sibling closeness – I hope – that will serve them for life. Something I didn’t have, but thrilled I’ve been able to encourage in them.
Twitter: BigLittleWolf
Thank you for bringing the conversation into the brotherhood realm. I wanted Sarah to include something like that here. About her boys and their forming bonds. Another post, she said. Let’s hope. I think having children close in age forms a special kind of bond, no matter the sexes. I have seen it with my kids, Sarah’s, friends’… Maybe ANOTHER post!
Twitter: MomalomJen
Like Jen, I am glad that you mentioned brothers. Important for many reasons, really. Don’t want to alienate those of us who don’t have either sisters or daughters (ahem, i would obviously be part of the latter) and I did want to touch on brotherhood…but it IS for another post.
I need to hear stories of sons. Oh sibling closeness. Of boys close in age. I struggle over here and wonder what the future holds and it is little details like these of your boys that make me smile and sigh.
Mmm…
Twitter: Momalom
I was the older sister, so the hand-me-downs went south, but since my younger sister was WAY more fashion forward than I was, I don’t think she often wore them. I was the one with the short haircut like you. :)
Twitter: nevertruetales
LOL. Fashion forward. And short haircuts. Hmm, I guess I was a little bit of both of you guys then. More importantly, are you sisters close now? Strong friendship? Very different or sometimes quite similar?
I have another post brewing about how Jen and I complement each other so well. It has taken many years to see this, but now it is so clear. In all the right ways.
Twitter: Momalom
A small request readers.
Bre did not join us yesterday because she is going through a bit of a struggle in her own life. Would you take a moment to read her post and respond. You’ll understand why. Just go. Thanks.
http://achievingmyself.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/a-melancholy-moon/
Twitter: Momalom
My sister and I are four years apart (also almost to the day, Nicki–my parents golden time was apparently August, because my brother and I also share a birthday, two years apart…but I digress ;))
Anyway, my sister and I weren’t that close growing up, but as adults, we have become such good friends, for which I am eternally grateful. I desperately wish we lived in closer vicinity to one another, but we are able to talk on the phone almost daily.
Ah JenLo, I am sure it is a December thing and all my father’s doing. I have two half sisters, also, that I did not grow up with. One is another September birthday so three out of four in September.
Twitter: NickiinNY
It’s those darn holidays. Ya know? The drinking, the celebrating, the time off. And, nine months later … (My two daughters had the same due dates, and were born four years and four days apart, at the end of September.)
Anywho… Yes, I can only hope that my children continue to be close. That, to me, will be a great success of parenthood, I think.
Twitter: MomalomJen
I have three sisters but am only close with one of them. One is only 18 months older but it feels like we are lightyears apart. This is a woman who shredded my clothes if she thought I looked to nice in them and consistently worked to shred my self-esteem in all other situations. I sometimes wonder how it would feel if she were to die. Would I mourn for the lost chance to connect with her, or feel relief that the enemy standing right behind me my entire life is no longer there.
With that said, I have a four-years-younger sister who is my best friend, sister, and daughter. I wound up doing a lot of the parent work with her so I feel a connection so strong with her that I can’t quite explain it except to say that she can say anything to me and my arms will always be open and ready for her. Luckily, she feels the same way about me.
Then there’s the third sister who is 11 (half-sibling) and just entered our sphere. I don’t know what my relationship with her will be, but I’m hoping to carve a path somewhere between the other two extremes.
Twitter: millermix
Kelly. What a challenge for you. But how amazing that you have so many different kinds of relationships within the sisterhood. I often wonder what it would be like to have more than one sister. I know it would change the dynamic(s) a lot. I am looking forward to watching my two girls grow up and hope that they form a special bond. But I’m also glad they have a brother, too. There’s something about an older brother, I think.
Twitter: MomalomJen
There are 16 years between me and my sister, so she lucked out completely. I have a picture that looks eerily like your top picture. Someday I’ll be brave enough to post that sucker. I have pictures that have similar accessorizing and it leads me to believe that people didn’t know what the hell they were thinking.
No, people definitely did not know what they hell they were doing. I mean really…mauve sofas? Gold carpeting? Green velvet jumpers? Okay, I’m not gonna take any more jabs at my mom, she was young. (snicker snicker)
Get brave. Post it. Cause really, why not? It’s just good for a laugh right? I know I’m laughing about that green jumper up there. Have seen both of those pictures many, MANY times before and never really paid attention to the details.
Twitter: Momalom
What about this sister from another mother. Where are my clothes?
Whaddya need? Between me and Sarah, we can probably hook you up.
Twitter: MomalomJen
Lovely post. I didn’t share many clothes with my sister, since she was ten years my senior (though I do remember my mom forcing me into some of her 70′s era jumpers and corduroy pants in the mid-80s) but there were a few items she wore as a teenager that I surreptitiously took and kept after she went off to college.
I love the ritual of passing clothes down through my boys. It gives me such a warm feeling to put my youngest into a shirt his biggest brother wore around the same age. Since we had four boys and then a girl, she isn’t wearing nearly as many of the hand-me-downs as the others, but there are a few pair of blue jammies that she’s getting a lot of use out of…
Twitter: meaganfrancis
Yes. The ritual. Clothes that pass from dressers to attics and back again. Clothes that grace one little body, then another, then another – looking more loved on each passing down. I know it will end as the boys get older and rougher. In many ways it is already starting, as many of the t-shirts are stretched out and the pants tattered around the edges. But the favorite pieces, the ones I remember without having to look at the pictures, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to let them go.
Twitter: Momalom
My mom made a shirtwaist dress for me out of a bunch of remnants. Each section of the dress was a different color. I LOVED that dress! I wore it for my Kindergarden picture with my little pixie haircut all askew and a piece of hair sticking out to the side. When my sister wore the same dress for her picture three years later, she was devastated that her hair didn’t stick out the same way.
Damn, I wish I had those pictures to scan in. And I wish I had that dress to put on my baby girl.
This is perfect. And priceless. The patchwork dress. The Kindergarten picture. The hair. And your sister’s reaction. I love all of it.
Twitter: Momalom
For a while Jen and I were posting little tidbits of our IM sessions. We ought to start doing it again. It was fun. And I love to hear the back and forth banter between friends, family and loved ones.
I was just poking around some of our old posts and found this. A little piece of sisterhood. Seemed appropriate to share here again.
http://momalom.com/2009/08/its-the-minutae-that-gets-in-the-way-of-the-big-picture/
Twitter: Momalom
I didn’t learn the first time and totally lost the comment I just left. Argh! Anyway, count this as a blessing as I was literally rambling nonsensically but in short I was saying I could relate and this is a great post, as usual! I love the photos!
Read my response to BOREDMommy down there. The darn server is timing out. If you click the back button, refresh the page (after copying your comment just in case) and then re-submit the comment you should be ok. It is STILL there if you click the back button. You just have to hit reply again.
I’m sorry I missed the rambling. Thank you for putting in another comment! And I totally love the Gravatar!
Twitter: Momalom
Oh, the topic of sisters! I have been toying with a post on this for a while and you two have inspired me in the direction I want to go. I have 5 sisters (and 4 brothers). The relationships that have impacted me the most are between my older and just-beneath-me younger sister. We each have gone in different directions in our lives, and perhaps grown apart.
I think we all three hope to be each others “keepers” but independence and the idiosyncrasies in our personalities have kept us from being close. Right now my younger sister is going through a struggle but will not let us in, it is very disheartening. However, it has helped my older sister and I feel connected in a small way.
My other sisters are 14-, 8-, and 5- years-old. My relationship with them is still developing. I have “mothered” them more than anything. I am learning how to be a good older sister to them.
Twitter: ambrosiat
Wa-wa-wa-wow! 10 kids? All together? FIVE sisters? This I cannot imagine. Can NOT. Wow.
The mothering you have done to the smaller ones. The criss-cross of connections. That’s a lot of relationships. A LOT of people to keep track of. A lot of fighting. A lot of love. A lot of just about everything. And because you have such a large family I can only imagine how intricate it is…therefore you should indeed write about it. A way to work through it all?
Twitter: Momalom
Argggh, It happened again!! When am I going to learn to save my writing before I try to send it.
At any rate, I, too was rambling away. The gist is, I was at the mercy of my mother’s sense of style, the fashion of the times, and her limited pocketbook, as were my girls. It was all smocked dresses and white anklets and saddle shoes for me. And my sisters wore my hand-me-downs until they were old enough to choose for themselves.
My girls suffered the same wardrobe restrictions as I did – mother’s taste, fashion, budget – as well as a very generous grandmother with little taste, but a penchant for a good bargain. Yes, the green velveteen jumper and ruffled white blouse came from her. I don’t know about the black ribbon and gold medal. Maybe Jen and Sarah’s own fashion sense?
But here’s my thought. If clothes make the man, maybe sharing clothes makes a sisterhood. ? If not a war.
Perfecto, Mom! Love it.
Gold medal & black ribbon part of our own fashion sense? Hmm. I suppose I can see it. Neither of us were ever that interested in style so I wouldn’t be surprised.
:)
Twitter: Momalom
my sister’s facebook status this morning was “I have an AMAZING sister, but shhhh.. let’s keep it a secret.”
this, from the girl who chased after me wielding a steak knife when i was 10 and she was 14. why? because i wouldn’t get off the phone when she wanted to use it.
i sure do love her.
you two were surely made for each other.
and reading this? makes me love jen more and more.
shhh…don’t tell her. i’m a bit more lovey than she is.
:)
Twitter: Momalom
AWWWW.. how cute are you two?! I always wanted a sister (I have one older brother) so much. Maybe not so much for the hand-me-downs as for the ability to be able to post something lovely like this in my adult years! I’ve often wondered if women with sisters (especially those that are close to their sisters) have qualitatively different relationships with other women compared to women who don’t have sisters? I digress.
I can definitely relate to the posts re: the attachment I have over some of my kids clothes, like the dress my daughter wore on her first Easter or the cute little plaid sweater my son wore to his sister’s birthday party. They have a visceral memory for me. I also must confess that my son wears some of my daughter’s hand-me-downs! It’s true. I liked to buy my daughter less traditional (read: non-frilly, non-pink) clothes. So some of her shorts, shirts, jeans, etc. are gender neutral (sort of). Her first pair of crocs were red Mickey Mouse ones. My son is wearing them now. I could be setting them up for therapy later, who knows. Anyway, thanks again ladies for letting us join you on this journey!
Really interesting thoughts on the women with sisters vs women without sisters and the kind of relationships they have because of both…either? I know that my sisterhood affects my other relationships now more than ever – because we are finally so CLOSE. Before now, my other relationships affected my sisterhood, and not always positively.
About your son wearing your daughter’s hand-me-downs, or vice versa! – there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that! Are you kidding me. Go read my girl posts…I don’t long for a daughter for the frills, that’s for sure, so I agree with everything you are doing. And they will only seek therapy for ANYTHING if they are insecure about any aspect of life – and hard to say this, but we teach them that I think. Honesty. Acceptance. Love. I can do this parenting thing if I remember all that comes with each of those things.
Twitter: Momalom
First thing: oh my cuteness, the pigtails!
I have sisters, but they’re so much younger that the hand-me-downs had long been tossed out. None of us has ever worn the same clothes.
At our house, though, my girls have all worn the same wardrobe until the clothes wear out. I can hardly stand to weed out the stained clothes– girl#1 wore that! and girl#2! and they’ll never be that little again! and if I throw away the clothes now that girl#3 has spilled spaghetti sauce down the front, will I lose my last connection to their long-past collective babyhood? Sigh. Clothing management is emotionally wrenching. (Uh… maybe that’s just me.)
Twitter: makingthingsup
Oh my. Of course you will not lose your connection to that long-lost collective babyhood. If that were the case then I would have saved that entire load of laundry I had to throw out because it got moldy. Note: you CANNOT leave a load of laundry in the washing machine, which is in the garage, in the summer, in FLORIDA, in 100 degrees. Mold will grow and ruin everything.
Sigh. Clothing management consumes me. And it is more than seasonal. It is more than age-related. Especially when you have MULTIPLE CHILDREN.
Three girls? You just heard me sigh. (Oh my poor boys…if they could read this would they think I not love them? Oh boys, I love you and your “peanuts” fondly.)
Twitter: Momalom
I only have a “little” brother (he’s 41, can I still call him little??) And growing up I don’t remember ever wanting a sister. I wanted a big brother, who could look out for me and take care of me. Maybe that was a reaction to a brother six years younger – what a pest!
Anyway, now when I’d kind of like to have a sister, I have good friends who fill that role for me. Guys are great, but sometimes you just need sisters to let your hair down with!
And clothing. I have boxes of baby clothes that I can’t bear to part with. I did go through it and pass a lot of it along, but there are some outfits I just can’t let go. I can still see the 14yo who now towers over me in that adorable blue number with the bear face on the tush. And I remember clothes I loved from my own childhood. Wh’d have thought? I’m definitely not a fashionista (to the dismay of my daughter). But something about certain outfits holds a world of memories.
Twitter: CZRiley
Yes. Sisters to let your hair down with. Yes!
It’s funny that you wanted a big brother to look out for you. To save you from the pesky little brother. There’s lots of that in my own house right now. Two big brothers, two little brothers. One that plays both roles. There’s lots of hitting and grabbing and stealing of toys. I’m not sure that clothing will have the same memories for them as it will have for me, but I’m pretty sure they’ll remember the way they wrestled like puppy dogs. And if they don’t, I’ll remind them. As I clutch that little ducky onesie to my chest. :)
Twitter: Momalom
This reminds me of the pumpkin costume, the gorilla costume, the monkey jammies, the christmas jammies, the tigger overalls, the grey thermal onesie…
You’re right, so many memories are wrapped up in what our kids wear. I can look at a piece of clothing and remember where we lived, what life was like, how happy or stressed or tired we were, and the funny things the kids did when they were that age.
I took this idea to the next level last year for my birthday. My husband gave me four shadow boxes and framed my four kids’ coming home outfits. Now I can look at my “retired jerseys” every time I walk down my “hall of fame.”
Oh Adrienne, I love this idea. Love it! Now, what on earth did my kids come home wearing.
I admit it. I get the bad mommy award. All of their firsts? Not a clue really. Except for the first one walking. I remember that. Momalomsmom’s kitchen when he was 8 months old.
Retired jerseys? Hall of Fame? YOU are awesome!
Twitter: Momalom
This is weird – I already commented to this post hours ago but for some reason it didn’t take! Take TWO:
I love the pics because they totally look like pics I have of myself – pigtails (check) followed by a weird boyish short cut (check check). I also can appreciate your relationship with your sister and the clothes situation. I had the same situation with my younger sister – she wanted everything I ever had (still does) although she was too much of a princess for the whole hand-me-downs thing.
I’m so sorry your comment didn’t go through. Seems there is a glitch with our hosting company right now and while they are “working on it, blah blah blah” I am contemplating switching companies. Like, Um, NOW!
Hint. If you get a server timeout you can click the back button, click the same reply button you clicked the first time, and your comment is still there in the reply box. Then you can copy it, refresh Momalom, and re-paste it.
Okay. That said. Yes to the boyish hair. John reminded me it was the Hammill cut. Ah, yes. Dorothy Hammill. Oh the loveliness. And yes to the clothes and the sisterhood.
I love sharing these experiences with people and knowing that to many it is SO familiar. To those it is not, I love hearing their own stories. We are all so different, yet threaded very much the same. Memory. Time.
Twitter: Momalom
The pictures are totally cracking me up.
I don’t have a gravatar thingy yet because I’m on a computer that doesn’t hold my photos. I’ll try to remember later though, mkay?
It’s funny…I have a hard time remembering so many childhood things. I remember very random things, but I can’t remember the bigger stuff, like hand-me-downs or what my sister and I would fight about. To be honest, friends, I’m more than a little jealous of your relationship. Because my sister and I? Well, we have a relationship, but it’s just…different. She’s my sister and i love her, but we have a difficult time communicating and being in TRUE relationship with each other. I’ve always had that deep connection with my friends that are sisters. I’ve never really had it with my actual sister.
Love,
Debbie Downer
Twitter: HeatheroftheEO
Dear Debbie,
You are not a Downer. Could never be!
I will give you a pass on the gravatar. For now. If you don’t hand in your assignment by Sunday however, you might be penalized. Might, we’ll see. Jury is still undecided on leniency.
Now. As far as sisterhood is concerned. I understand your complexity. Your mismatched connections, perhaps? And what I have to say is this:
HELLO!
and
WELCOME!
and
YOU CAN BE MY SISTER!
And, before you say yes, let me just make you aware of a few things (because I think it’s only fair). (Wait, when did I care about being fair? The kids would really love to hear me say that at home. Sheesh, good thing I’m not at home).
1. Part of this sisterhood is sending out and receiving approximately 54 emails per day. Mind you, they may just read something like this:
“can you fix this?”
OR
And. I’m back.
Will log in momentarily.
How are you doing?
OR
no. no headache. no no no no no no
SHIT
So, you know, totally all about the essential non-essential.
2. All of our conversations will take place in 5-12 minutes chunks due to:
a) Child tantrums, cries, various needs
b) the DEAD ZONE – to be discussed in an upcoming post
c) Exhaustion
However, you are a mother so I am assuming you can cope with all of this and it is not totally unfamiliar
3. There will be LOTS of inside jokes to catch up on. Lots. But I have faith in you. I think you could handle it.
But the sisterhood is in your hands.
Love, Sassafras
:)
(And seriously, what is up with my REMARKABLY LONG replies today? I really don’t have the time for this shit!)
Twitter: Momalom
Please think good thoughts for Anissa Mayhew and her family: http://www.nj.com/parenting/melysa_schmitt/index.ssf/2009/11/mommy_blogger_anissa_mayhew_su.html
Twitter: BigLittleWolf
You can leave a message for Anissa and family on the Caring Bridge website:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/anissamayhew
I can only imagine that every little word helps. From friends, loved ones and complete strangers alike. Go. Write. Pass on hope and love. It is goodwill. It is a universal need.
Twitter: Momalom
with so many comments i hope you’ll get to this one!! wonderful post. i’ve got a couple of comments. i remember the “mindi” well, but in that second picture, you missed another pop-culture tie-in. because you were CLEARLY rocking the dorothy (hamill).
and don’t be so sure that your boys won’t look back and make the hand-me-down note. it’s not just a girl thing (or hell, maybe it is, and i’m just a girly-guy)…clothes are very evocative for us all. with a mere glance or touch of soft fabric frayed with age, all kinds of things rise to the surface. aside from music, nothing draws me back to a time like clothing. nothing.
great post! -jco-
John.
My goodness. OF COURSE I WILL GET THIS COMMENT. I get them all! I relish them ALL! And, even if it weren’t Five for Ten right now you can guarantee at least 75% of the time a personal response of one kind or another – whether here on the blog or via email. We do lots of emailing. Cause, you know, with the three boys running me ragged it’s a whole lot more convenient to whip out my iPhone than my laptop.
That said: What a wonderful thing to say…”Clothes are evocative for us all.” Because yes. Nothing else draws you back in time, back to memory, like clothing. Even as we wince at all those atrocious outfits that were totally hipster at the time, we caress the fond memories that they bring forth.
Twitter: Momalom
Do I get to call you my metaphorical sisters? Because I knew you would be here when I could come back, because I knew you would inspire me to bigger and better things (god, I hope that gravatar works), and just because?…
YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY MADE MY DAY!
Do you hear me screaming over here?
SCREAMING SCREAMS OF JOY!
You.Are.Here.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Twitter: Momalom
I am an only child (DH is a twin… can you imagine how different we are when it comes to alone time and personal space?!?!?!). I loved my childhood and wouldn’t change it. But as an adult I have often wished for this bond and connection. I made my own sisters, but it is still different. I only have my one son right now, and if that is all that god gives us, I will have to be ok with that, but I am very hopeful for a sibling for him. If it happens soon, they would be about 4 years apart. We will just have to see what is in store for our family. Thanks for sharing!!
Twitter: cfoutz
Good luck on conceiving baby number two. My husband and I worked on that one for a while and found out rather surprisingly that we had finally gotten pregnant. Although we had to wait nine more months to see what Mad Max was all about. Oooo boy is he something! Boys 1 and 2 are 4.5 years apart and it’s ok. All age differences have their pros and cons. For sure.
I love that you highlight the differences between you and your husband and your need for alone time and personal space. That made me laugh right out loud. It must be a common thought around there….
I understand your longing for the bond and connection of sisterhood. Although I have Jen, it is the reason that I started this Five for Ten business. More of everything. Connections, communication and sisterhood.
Twitter: Momalom
I so wish I had a sister! I have two younger brothers and regulary I am jealous of their connection. I am thankful though, that I married into a great family where I finally got a sister! My SIL is awesome and definitely one of my best friends. Having a child has brought us closer, especially since she had two already at the time.
SOrry I didn’t comment yesterday. I love this idea but I had the WORST stomach bug/food poisening…blech!
Oh I do hope you are feeling better! Belch, indeed!
Isn’t it great when you get married and make a whole new round of connections? Not everyone is so lucky. My husband was an only child to a single mom and life was pretty simple on the family-front until he met and married me. Now he is proud to say that he’s a part of our loud, BOISTEROUS family. Oh my!
Twitter: Momalom
My computer was not cooperating the last few days (darn it!) so I have come back to try once more to leave my noteses.
I was folding some of Miss Piggy’s clothes and came across a little denim jumper with pink embroidery. I realized it had belonged to her own big sister, nine years her senior! It went from Janice The Flower Child to my cousin’s child to my niece to another cousin’s child, where I lost track of it, and now back to me. It’s nothing special, you know. Just a little dress. But now I know I will never let it go.
My sister used to have to wear my hand-me-downs but then we started growing into our bodies… She has no butt but I do and I have barely-there breasts and she has all-the-way-there ones. Mom always said that I looked better in purple and my sister in pink… Funny. In our adult lives I still pass things to her but it is far fewer articles as our tastes are drastically different.
I love that you were a pigtail rebel! So funny!!