Sharing

How often do we go through our day or week, without encountering something wow!
I just had one of those wow moments, reading a blog post where a mother felt the need to shame another mother who she didn't know from a bar of soap!

Read the story here: https://anniemationfloe.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/to-the-mom-who-judged-my-kids-clothes/

What would that women have said to me, had she heard me boast that my daughter's current wardrobe is all hand me downs or gifts and that I didn't need to buy any winter clothes right now!
I didn't grow up poor, but hand me down packets arrived often, both my parents where the youngest siblings. It was always like Christmas, and what didn't fit or didn't suit me, got put right back into the packet and was passed on again. Best part of the hand me down packet was the modelling show, more fun for me than my brother, obviously.
I grew up wearing PEP, Ackerman's and OK or Grande Bazaars clothes, buying from Edgars or Woolworths was for birthdays or special occasions.
Of my favourite memories was going to the big Ackerman's and OK in the centre of town, counting out our Ackerman's money before heading to the tills to pay.
Today, I'm still wearing those brands, only Grande Bazaars has been replaced by Pick 'n Pay, oh and it all comes off their sale racks.
Woolworths and the like are only ever entered with gift voucher in hand or if it's a speciality item.

The story reminds me of the time, while I was working in the States as an aupair, I found a Salvation Army shop and bought a lot of my winter wardrobe. I arrived back at the house so excited about my new clothes and my house mother says, I hope you wash those first.
Looking back now, I remember being puzzled by her attitude to my treasures, but not the least put off or shamed as I'm sure the tone of her remark had hoped to imbue! Needless to say, I moved family's as they felt I wasn't a good fit!

On a Wednesday Jess and I get together to do brainstorming, practice and see to any other class related need that popped up. I was most surprised, as it wasn't something I'd given any thought to, when Jess after putting on a winter jersey, that I'd kept of my moms, turns to me and says.
"I love how we share our things with each other, how we all help each other, lending clothes."
I hadn't actually realised that we did that, but thinking back over the years, it is definitely a trend. Not only with our kids clothes, but with mommy things too.
I know my church moms group has a bag of maternity clothes that floats around, shared between the moms, and various other items that are generally only needed for a short time. But that's community, it's how it's supposed to be isn't it!