Why don't you want the family china?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is funny that you are posting about this because our conversation around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day was about the china, crystal and silver. We talked about the heritage of the items and the stories we associate with them.

I read an article a few years ago in WaPo that said that people are turning away from the old stuff. For some reason our family is different. My sister and mother and I are in the midst of scouring E-bay, Replacements, estate sales and every other place we can think of to add to our sets so that as our families get bigger with weddings and babies and such that we can handle the population explosion. Our children are also asking about specific sets (Nana's china, Great-Grandma's china, PeePaw's crystal). So we are also working under the philosophy that we want sets of 12-14 of everything to pass along. It is a pretty tall order.

As we were setting up on Thursday, I asked the kids what they thought about using all of this "old fashioned" stuff. One of the teen boys said that it was "stunning" and the rest of the kids agreed. I think they were right. The table looked absolutely stunning with 100 year-old crystal and china and silver. And it pleased us all that we had such a wonderful connection with those relatives who have gone before us.

Anyway, we look at it as our effort at reuse and renew. I think my grandparents and great-grandparents would be thrilled! Sorry if I'm offering a different take than the title but I did want to chime in with the perspective of our family, which as per usual seems to be going against the current.

Well, our family was volunteering in a 3rd world country building houses for the needed while your monster family in your home drains the resources on this planet. But keep throwing away money on China and silver. And your use or “reuse and renew” makes me ill.

Puh-lease. While I don't want my 'family china', those who do certainly can claim the 're-use' medal. This PP is certainly not throwing her money away. Better to buy something old and re-use it than waste money on airfare on a 'poverty' trip and claim it was to help others. I can't imagine where your unskilled labor was better than what could be sourced locally. If you really wanted to 'help' you should have just donated the money you spent on airfare.

[Anonymous]

I have my own. My mom and MIL are still using theirs. Every person who wants china should pick their own pattern. I don't think this is mysterious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is funny that you are posting about this because our conversation around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day was about the china, crystal and silver. We talked about the heritage of the items and the stories we associate with them.

I read an article a few years ago in WaPo that said that people are turning away from the old stuff. For some reason our family is different. My sister and mother and I are in the midst of scouring E-bay, Replacements, estate sales and every other place we can think of to add to our sets so that as our families get bigger with weddings and babies and such that we can handle the population explosion. Our children are also asking about specific sets (Nana's china, Great-Grandma's china, PeePaw's crystal). So we are also working under the philosophy that we want sets of 12-14 of everything to pass along. It is a pretty tall order.

As we were setting up on Thursday, I asked the kids what they thought about using all of this "old fashioned" stuff. One of the teen boys said that it was "stunning" and the rest of the kids agreed. I think they were right. The table looked absolutely stunning with 100 year-old crystal and china and silver. And it pleased us all that we had such a wonderful connection with those relatives who have gone before us.

Anyway, we look at it as our effort at reuse and renew. I think my grandparents and great-grandparents would be thrilled! Sorry if I'm offering a different take than the title but I did want to chime in with the perspective of our family, which as per usual seems to be going against the current.

Well, our family was volunteering in a 3rd world country building houses for the needed while your monster family in your home drains the resources on this planet. But keep throwing away money on China and silver. And your use or “reuse and renew” makes me ill.

Did you swim to said country? Or did you fly, using massive amounts of fuel?

Do you live in a yurt, or a nice, heated home? Are you on an iPhone or similar right now, you massive hypocrite?

-NP

EXACTLY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mother has this sort of mentality. She keeps, and expects me and my brother to keep, all these 'family' things. For years, I did. Until, I realized that I had no room for the stuff I liked because I was keeping everyone else's stuff. I was on track to having a house just like my mothers - filled with stuff that had belonged to someone else, many of whom I never knew, but very little that reflected me or my tastes. My half sister (different mothers) gave me the courage to start getting rid of it. I took a picture of the item and sent it to relatives, giving them first right of refusal. If no one wanted it, I got rid of it.

My mother is appalled and would sometimes take what I'm ready to get rid of. She claims I'm getting rid of my kids' heritage. I think of it as allowing my kids the freedom to develop their own tastes and not be burdened by items belonging that hold no feeling/memories for them. I've kept a couple of larger pieces and still have a lot of small pieces - like the cowbell from the old family farm. We take it to all the games! Now THAT is a great family item! It not only has a nice story, we have our own memories of it.

That sounds very cool and it is a great story! Very cool! I also like your idea of pictures to send out for rights of first refusal!

I loved reading this. More cow bell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is funny that you are posting about this because our conversation around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day was about the china, crystal and silver. We talked about the heritage of the items and the stories we associate with them.

I read an article a few years ago in WaPo that said that people are turning away from the old stuff. For some reason our family is different. My sister and mother and I are in the midst of scouring E-bay, Replacements, estate sales and every other place we can think of to add to our sets so that as our families get bigger with weddings and babies and such that we can handle the population explosion. Our children are also asking about specific sets (Nana's china, Great-Grandma's china, PeePaw's crystal). So we are also working under the philosophy that we want sets of 12-14 of everything to pass along. It is a pretty tall order.

As we were setting up on Thursday, I asked the kids what they thought about using all of this "old fashioned" stuff. One of the teen boys said that it was "stunning" and the rest of the kids agreed. I think they were right. The table looked absolutely stunning with 100 year-old crystal and china and silver. And it pleased us all that we had such a wonderful connection with those relatives who have gone before us.

Anyway, we look at it as our effort at reuse and renew. I think my grandparents and great-grandparents would be thrilled! Sorry if I'm offering a different take than the title but I did want to chime in with the perspective of our family, which as per usual seems to be going against the current.

Well, our family was volunteering in a 3rd world country building houses for the needed while your monster family in your home drains the resources on this planet. But keep throwing away money on China and silver. And your use or “reuse and renew” makes me ill.

Did you swim to said country? Or did you fly, using massive amounts of fuel?

Do you live in a yurt, or a nice, heated home? Are you on an iPhone or similar right now, you massive hypocrite?

-NP

Come on. If you are truly working with these populations, you would know that these nations prefer "developing." Not to be PC. To be encouraging.

EXACTLY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is funny that you are posting about this because our conversation around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day was about the china, crystal and silver. We talked about the heritage of the items and the stories we associate with them.

I read an article a few years ago in WaPo that said that people are turning away from the old stuff. For some reason our family is different. My sister and mother and I are in the midst of scouring E-bay, Replacements, estate sales and every other place we can think of to add to our sets so that as our families get bigger with weddings and babies and such that we can handle the population explosion. Our children are also asking about specific sets (Nana's china, Great-Grandma's china, PeePaw's crystal). So we are also working under the philosophy that we want sets of 12-14 of everything to pass along. It is a pretty tall order.

As we were setting up on Thursday, I asked the kids what they thought about using all of this "old fashioned" stuff. One of the teen boys said that it was "stunning" and the rest of the kids agreed. I think they were right. The table looked absolutely stunning with 100 year-old crystal and china and silver. And it pleased us all that we had such a wonderful connection with those relatives who have gone before us.

Anyway, we look at it as our effort at reuse and renew. I think my grandparents and great-grandparents would be thrilled! Sorry if I'm offering a different take than the title but I did want to chime in with the perspective of our family, which as per usual seems to be going against the current.

Well, our family was volunteering in a 3rd world country building houses for the needed while your monster family in your home drains the resources on this planet. But keep throwing away money on China and silver. And your use or “reuse and renew” makes me ill.

Did you swim to said country? Or did you fly, using massive amounts of fuel?

Do you live in a yurt, or a nice, heated home? Are you on an iPhone or similar right now, you massive hypocrite?

-NP

Come on. If you are truly working with these populations, you would know that these nations prefer "developing." Not to be PC. To be encouraging.

EXACTLY.

Come on. If you are truly working with these populations, you would know that these nations prefer "developing." Not to be PC. To be encouraging.

[Anonymous]

We won't use it and I'll just have to find somewhere to store it. We already have too much stuff.

[Anonymous]

Mom and dad moved into a house in florida that was more light/bright colors. so the dark Pecan dinning room furniture did not mesh well.

So when DW and I got married. as a wedding gift, we got the china, crystal, silver and furniture. the dinning room suit was mom and dads wedding gift to them from my moms parents. so, family handme down.

We use the dinning room 4-6 times a year. We use the china and crystal 2-3 times a year.

I imagine that when/if my daughter gets married we will pass it along. if she wants it... It is still in pretty good shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well, our family was volunteering in a 3rd world country building houses for the needed while your monster family in your home drains the resources on this planet. But keep throwing away money on China and silver. And your use or “reuse and renew” makes me ill.

I'm not sure why you appear so resentful of other people and how they live their lives.

By the way, by volunteering in a developing country you're actually taking jobs away from the country's citizens. That's the downside of these charity tourism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd love it - I have a 900 square foot house. Where shall I put a second set of dishes?

+1

Also, right now, we have holidays at the grandparents' houses. So I would never really get to use my china. When I start hosting, then I would have a use for it.

Also, I have multiple sets coming to me, and I don't need three or four sets of china.

[Anonymous]

I remember registering for China when I got married 15 years ago. I did it because it's what I thought you were supposed to do. I don't like it, use it and I think it takes up a lot of space in my dining room. There's a huge China cabinet that I don't want anymore because all it does is stir my stupid China that I don't like. I would get rid of it but my I remember registering for China when I got married 15 years ago. I did it because it's what I thought you were supposed to do. I don't like it, use it and I think it takes up a lot of space in my dining room. There's a huge China cabinet that I don't want anymore because all it does is stir my stupid China that I don't like. I would get rid of it but my husband likes it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is funny that you are posting about this because our conversation around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day was about the china, crystal and silver. We talked about the heritage of the items and the stories we associate with them.

I read an article a few years ago in WaPo that said that people are turning away from the old stuff. For some reason our family is different. My sister and mother and I are in the midst of scouring E-bay, Replacements, estate sales and every other place we can think of to add to our sets so that as our families get bigger with weddings and babies and such that we can handle the population explosion. Our children are also asking about specific sets (Nana's china, Great-Grandma's china, PeePaw's crystal). So we are also working under the philosophy that we want sets of 12-14 of everything to pass along. It is a pretty tall order.

As we were setting up on Thursday, I asked the kids what they thought about using all of this "old fashioned" stuff. One of the teen boys said that it was "stunning" and the rest of the kids agreed. I think they were right. The table looked absolutely stunning with 100 year-old crystal and china and silver. And it pleased us all that we had such a wonderful connection with those relatives who have gone before us.

Anyway, we look at it as our effort at reuse and renew. I think my grandparents and great-grandparents would be thrilled! Sorry if I'm offering a different take than the title but I did want to chime in with the perspective of our family, which as per usual seems to be going against the current.

God, you sound smug.

What set you off? The fact that we have it and use it OR the fact that the kids appreciate it?

Given that my great-grandfather brought his entire family here to escape the Holocaust and that with a 6th grade education managed to establish a wonderful foundation for his family, I'll take smug any day. So when we talk about specific items we do say things like 'this was the first set of china that grandma bought when...' and then 'this was the celebration china that grandpa bought grandma when...'.

Our children are fourth generation. It will be over my dead body that they forget what it took our elders to get them what they've got now and what they soon will pass down to their children accompanied by their own accomplishments.

And, btw, your tone? It sounds jealous. But be careful before you ask to walk in my shoes or the shoes of any of my elders. I think that you will find the shoes are much too large and that you won't be able to wear them let alone climb out of them.

Biddy, please! My family came to escape the Holocaust as well, and I'm also "fourth generation", whatever significance that has (hint: none). Your grandiose, over the top response only reinforces my initial impression that you are smug--have fun tripping around in your large shoes. Hope you don't break a limb when you fall over all that silver, china, and crystal you hoard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This comes up as an example in so many threads and I don't get it. I got my MIL's wedding china and I am beyond thrilled. It is a beautiful service in a classic, tasteful pattern. I use it for all the big holidays. I also got silver and some crystal. We have a sort of butler's pantry area in our kitchen with light-up glass front cabinets and I love to display the glasses. DH and I never did a wedding registry and my family is poor so nothing to hand down. Explain to me why you don't want it.

Because we did a registry. Because my family isn't poor. Because I don't want the china pattern my mom picked out 35 years ago. Because I want to select my own stuff. Anything else?

You sound delightful. And easy to live with.

[Anonymous]

I love china and while I don't really have a place to store the multiple sets I have I have them deep in closets, under beds and bring out as my mood strikes however-though offered-I did not want my parents! I guess as PP said - something along the line of family issues as well as my taste not being theirs. BUT I did accept for one of my daughters as she adores my parents/her grandparents-especially my mom (my other daughter would be thrilled if she were offered my IL's.) My mom died two years ago so it is an extra poignant connection for her as well as a cultural tie (Irish side of family.) I am glad to keep for her and do store it in better conditions than my own 'fine china' but due to space-I may truly pack up and put into deep storage as I'm guessing close to 10 years before she'd even be close to her own home.
I think my DD may want some of my 'dishes' but they'd have options to choose among as there isn't one set

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is funny that you are posting about this because our conversation around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day was about the china, crystal and silver. We talked about the heritage of the items and the stories we associate with them.

I read an article a few years ago in WaPo that said that people are turning away from the old stuff. For some reason our family is different. My sister and mother and I are in the midst of scouring E-bay, Replacements, estate sales and every other place we can think of to add to our sets so that as our families get bigger with weddings and babies and such that we can handle the population explosion. Our children are also asking about specific sets (Nana's china, Great-Grandma's china, PeePaw's crystal). So we are also working under the philosophy that we want sets of 12-14 of everything to pass along. It is a pretty tall order.

As we were setting up on Thursday, I asked the kids what they thought about using all of this "old fashioned" stuff. One of the teen boys said that it was "stunning" and the rest of the kids agreed. I think they were right. The table looked absolutely stunning with 100 year-old crystal and china and silver. And it pleased us all that we had such a wonderful connection with those relatives who have gone before us.

Anyway, we look at it as our effort at reuse and renew. I think my grandparents and great-grandparents would be thrilled! Sorry if I'm offering a different take than the title but I did want to chime in with the perspective of our family, which as per usual seems to be going against the current.

God, you sound smug.

What set you off? The fact that we have it and use it OR the fact that the kids appreciate it?

Given that my great-grandfather brought his entire family here to escape the Holocaust and that with a 6th grade education managed to establish a wonderful foundation for his family, I'll take smug any day. So when we talk about specific items we do say things like 'this was the first set of china that grandma bought when...' and then 'this was the celebration china that grandpa bought grandma when...'.

Our children are fourth generation. It will be over my dead body that they forget what it took our elders to get them what they've got now and what they soon will pass down to their children accompanied by their own accomplishments.

And, btw, your tone? It sounds jealous. But be careful before you ask to walk in my shoes or the shoes of any of my elders. I think that you will find the shoes are much too large and that you won't be able to wear them let alone climb out of them.

Why is your tableware 100 years old if your grandfather bought it after escaping the Holocaust, which wasn't 100 years ago?

I find it hard to imagine a teenaged boy saying that anything is "stunning" but maybe I only know heathens.