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Diaper Pins, because you need sterling silver on a wet diaper

2/21/2014

For those not aware (and by that I mean my children) these are diaper pins. Mine to be exact. You'd be able to see my JLB initials elegantly engraved on the front if I were to clean them. However, I live in fear of being the DON'T example on The Antiques Roadshow, so tarnished they remain!

I don't know if my mother actually used these or not. Another in a long line of questions I wish she were still around to answer. It would be awfully convenient if Higher Power would devise a quickie question and answer system with the deceased. Like a walkie talkie to the dead. Nothing deep and meaningful. No "Why didn't you ever tell me you loved me?" stuff. Just a quick in-and-out: "Mom did you actually use sterling silver diaper pins on a poopy, stinky baby?"

At least my children will know that I did not use these diaper pins; I didn't even use cloth diapers - they can thank me later for killing the planet. And by the time I have grandchildren, I'm sure cloth will be so fully back in style that these (hopefully cleaned) pins can hold a soggy diaper in place.

But more than likely, I'll be the one needing diapers by then so - ha! - jokes on me. I will have to use them after all... Always good to see an heirloom come full circle ;)

Copyright (c) 2014, Family at Your Fingertips, Jodi Bash

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Personal Style: A Tale of Two Brooches

2/6/2014

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Left: my grandmother's brooch, Right: my mother's

If these two pieces of jewelry don't illustrate the difference in my mother and her mother's character, I'm not sure what would. My grandmother was loud, gaudy, and extremely fun! My mother preferred the company of a few friends to a crowd. She would roll her eyes at my grandmother's over-the-top Christmas sweaters and her love of wrapping each sock individually just so we'd have more to open. And my mother was also extremely fun.

These women had more in common than either would have preferred to admit. The benefit of the next generation is we don't have to pick sides. I can love both these brooches and appreciate the beauty/gaudy nature of each one. I know that there's a LOT of both these women in me. Probably more than I even realize.

I look now at my oldest daughter and her choice of clothes, decor, jewelry. She's none to shy about telling me that, when she grown up, her house will "match" unlike mine. She has certain color scheme requirements for her room; and recently took many childhood art pieces off her wall because they "just didn't go." And that's okay. We all have to find our own preferences and we'll naturally reject some of what we knew growing up.

I know that someday my daughter will appreciate the history of these "non-matching" heirlooms. I also know that her house will undoubtedly look quite different than mine. Every time I visit I'll just have to leave another vastly important heirloom to keep up the clutter!

Copyright (c) 2014, Family at Your Fingertips, Jodi Bash

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Diaper Pins, because you need sterling silver on a wet diaper

Personal Style: A Tale of Two Brooches

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