What happened to the Christening Robe ?
My Mother and her family are a funny lot. I have the same blood too so I'm sure that there are acquaintances out there who think the same of me. It’s hard to be objective when it comes to appraising your family. It is also easier to be honest with family. Those you love are often the ones who bear the brunt of blunt but heartfelt comments. Ultimately so long as the purpose of the comments are positive then, although potentially hurtful, it is for the greater good to speak out rather than hold it in. This is the way we grow, learn and develop.
The story of the Christening robe is a long one. This story dates back to 1898. My Grandfather was born that year and his mother bought a Christening robe in which to have him Christened. His siblings were also cristened in the robe and as the years went on he married and then had children himself. My Mother was the eldest in her family and she was the first to get Christened in the robe. She was followed by all of her brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, one of her brothers died at a very young age as a result of his pyjamas catching fire while heating himself at the fire during the winter. Jumping forward to the present day. unfortunately, the robe has been disposed of. My mother gave it away to a charity in our home town. I believe it to have been the St. Vincent de Paul organisation so hopefully someone else out there will have the benefit of this 117 year old garment.
Being the eldest in the family, my mother was given the robe by her mother. Obviously, we were all christened in the robe ( my three brothers, three sisters and myself ). When my sister had her children the robe was sent to Brussels where they live to use it over there. The problems began when some of my mothers brothers children had thier own children and wanted ( demanded ) the robe. After lending the robe to them and it was again needed for another of my sisters new born there was a bit of a struggle to get it back. Indeed the Christening ceremony was delayed to ensure that the robe was got. I think the nuisance that was being caused by the posession of the robe just p155ed my mother off so much that she decided to dispose of it.
From my point of view, I couldn't care less about the thing. I'm not yet married and when I do get married and am lucky enough to have children they won't be getting christened so there'll be no need for the darned thing. It'll be interesting to see how over the years my mothers family deal with the disposal of the robe. She has already told her sister who's daughter has had a child that the robe has been disposed of. They seem pretty annoyed at this course of events. She has received very little communication from her family over the years but since this episode there has been even less. Maybe there is a conspiracy of silence towards her at the moment.
I'll try to keep this blog informed as to the developments.
The story of the Christening robe is a long one. This story dates back to 1898. My Grandfather was born that year and his mother bought a Christening robe in which to have him Christened. His siblings were also cristened in the robe and as the years went on he married and then had children himself. My Mother was the eldest in her family and she was the first to get Christened in the robe. She was followed by all of her brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, one of her brothers died at a very young age as a result of his pyjamas catching fire while heating himself at the fire during the winter. Jumping forward to the present day. unfortunately, the robe has been disposed of. My mother gave it away to a charity in our home town. I believe it to have been the St. Vincent de Paul organisation so hopefully someone else out there will have the benefit of this 117 year old garment.
Being the eldest in the family, my mother was given the robe by her mother. Obviously, we were all christened in the robe ( my three brothers, three sisters and myself ). When my sister had her children the robe was sent to Brussels where they live to use it over there. The problems began when some of my mothers brothers children had thier own children and wanted ( demanded ) the robe. After lending the robe to them and it was again needed for another of my sisters new born there was a bit of a struggle to get it back. Indeed the Christening ceremony was delayed to ensure that the robe was got. I think the nuisance that was being caused by the posession of the robe just p155ed my mother off so much that she decided to dispose of it.
From my point of view, I couldn't care less about the thing. I'm not yet married and when I do get married and am lucky enough to have children they won't be getting christened so there'll be no need for the darned thing. It'll be interesting to see how over the years my mothers family deal with the disposal of the robe. She has already told her sister who's daughter has had a child that the robe has been disposed of. They seem pretty annoyed at this course of events. She has received very little communication from her family over the years but since this episode there has been even less. Maybe there is a conspiracy of silence towards her at the moment.
I'll try to keep this blog informed as to the developments.
posted by Budget at 4:16 AM
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