Matchy Matchy
When I was little, my grandparents would get all of the cousins red and white striped Christmas pajamas. There are pictures of us all in a row from oldest to youngest in front of the tree on Christmas Eve in all of our matchy matchy splendor. There are 5 of us with about a 12 year age range between us all. Kim, the oldest, was a super trouper with this one. The picture I’m thinking of is of her at about 14 years old and Danny, the youngest, at about 2 years old. Phew. . . 14 year old me would have had *nothing* to do with that picture!
I also have in mind a picture of my mother and I wearing matching skirts. She made the skirts herself out of a wicked awesome muted mauve flower print circa 1982. We were going to a special dinner at my grandmother’s Women’s University Club. I seem to remember having to wear tights and feeling nervous about my manners!
If I can get my mom to find these pictures, I’ll put them up here later.
The point is, despite the matchiness of my younger years, I’ve somehow avoided this with Abby, save perhaps a few Halloween costumes!. My in-laws gave me a warm, cloud printed fleece bathrobe several years back. Then, a few months ago, I randomly found a very similar robe in Abby’s size at my local thrift store. And, thus, our first (serendipitous) matchy-matchy clothing item. On Fridays, we practice “lazy morning.” It’s the only weekday morning that doesn’t have anything scheduled until almost lunch time and we wear our bathrobes around the house until at least 10am, usually closer to 11am. Bathrobes and slippers.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the rituals we stumble into around here. There are, of course, purposeful traditions, but sometimes the ones that stick are accidental. “Lazy morning” is an accidental ritual. I do love it though and I imagine it’ll be around until Abby starts Kindergarten next year. Then I’ll think wistfully about the lazy, bathrobe and slipper Friday mornings of her pre-school days.
What sorts of rituals do you have in your house? Do you remember any from childhood? Tell me in the comments, I’d love to hear about what’s stuck with you!
Growing up, Sunday dinner was a ‘big’ deal at home — a full blown out meal, with the cloth napkins and everything. Now, it’s a kids’ cooking evening here. Sometimes, they heat up leftovers; sometimes, they make a simple dish (crack a few cans of soup and slice bread); sometimes, they cook a frozen lasagna. It’s fun, and they are learning more complex cooking things as they get older.
Funny how new rituals can be the opposite of old ones, sometimes.
Ooo, I love it Amelia. I know Abby will dive right into that one when she’s a wee older and could handle the whole meal by herself. Thanks for sharing!
My paternal grandmother was big on the matchy matchy for my cousins too, and I seem to have inherited that gene. I love the boys in matching stuff (e.g the freakalicious t-shirt).
Other than eating breakfast and dinner together we haven’t created too many formal daily rituals yet. Our family life has been too disjointed or maybe the boys are still a bit young for us to establish much for the holidays, either. I’m still happily mooching decorations and meals off my mom and sister.