Hand-me-downs

Growing up as the baby in a 4-child family I know a lot about hand-me-down clothing. My sister Melissa and I shared EVERYTHING including bras and socks. For our parents, this was probably a very cost-effective method of stocking our closets; but for us, it caused nothing but fights.
Oh how I can picture it now…
“You brat! I wanted to wear the pink sweater today!” Followed by kicking, screaming, cursing, etc. We get along so much better these days. Probably because we have our own clothes…
But in our family, the tradition of handed-down clothing goes beyond just daily wear.
My sister wore the wedding gown that was worn by both our Tia Irene and our Uncle Sam’s grandmother. The dress is more than 100 years old and has been modified for each bride who wore it. All of the lace and stitch work on the dress is original. The only reason I myself didn’t wear this dress on my wedding day is because I am a size too big for it.

Uncle Sam's grandmother wearing the gown

Tia Irene wearing the gown

My sister Melissa wearing the gown

Yesterday was another big event that involved recycled clothing.
My family gathered together for my niece Madeline’s baptism. We watched another child in the Pedroso family wear the christening gown that has been passed down for 94 years. My grandmother was the first to wear it on her christening day, and every baby born into the Pedroso family since then has worn the all-lace gown. My mother couldn’t even estimate how many babies have donned the gown. Even the little boys in our family have worn it. So it’s easy to see why yesterday was an emotional day, a day that makes hand-me-downs not seem so bad after all.

Extended family members who have all worn the christening gown, seen above on Madeline Leigh Mullinnix for her baptism yesterday