"Nanay, this is Amber's shirt, " my little Ina said the other day. My smart daughter was referring to a shirt that still looks new but has been used by her big sister before and she was of course surprised when I was making her wear it. This has happened not only once or twice or thrice but several times to her and sometimes she doesn't need to ask why she's wearing Amber's old pants or shoes or dress because she knows that my answer would always be "it doesn't fit Amber anymore," she even beats me to saying it. My funny Ina.
This funny scene made me think of the hand-me-downs that I used to have. Of course when I talk about hand-me-downs I also refer to ukay-ukay or segunda-mano. I am the eldest and I only have one sister, although I remembered borrowing some of my sister Liezl's clothes before, I also remembered giving her some not on purpose but because she often uses it until I forget that it's mine or sometimes it's the other way around. I also remembered getting hand-me-downs from... surprise, surprise, my Mother, no less. Never mind the size, it's more of the comfort that her "pambahay" clothes gives me that matters. I use it inside the house only, of course.
I used to visit ukay-ukay stalls when I was single. I can say, I know how to choose and somehow all my purchases were worth the sweat, smell and dust that I have to endure. I can say I made all our old clothes to good use. We donated some of our clothes to Caritas Manila. They have boxes for this that are located in churches. There is that feeling that somehow we made some people happy.
Having two kids with only two years gap has its "perks." It saves money and energy. My daughters used the same stroller/car seat, wooden crib, high chair and of course, clothes and shoes. Sometimes when you have small kids one forgets that they grow so fast. When you only have one child, you tend to "overbuy." Of course, if you can't really help buying, it helps when you buy bigger sizes, like 2 or three times bigger. You're lucky if you have another child, the "guilt" that went with the crowded cabinet gives you a sigh of relief.
Before I decide to give my little girl her big sister's stuff, I have my own set of rules. I make sure it doesn't look old and its color is still okay or not "kupas." It should have no stains, lost buttons or holes in it. Most of Amber's clothes for going out are usually used for Ina's house clothes. The shoes should have no stains, marks or not overused. Luckily, most of Amber's old shoes were used only twice or thrice that it usually looks quite new. Not bad, not bad at all considering most of my girls' stuff are a little expensive. Saves us money, indeed.
Having hand-me-downs is not bad at all. My girls are not complaining and no one's talking except for the reminding from my Ina.
This funny scene made me think of the hand-me-downs that I used to have. Of course when I talk about hand-me-downs I also refer to ukay-ukay or segunda-mano. I am the eldest and I only have one sister, although I remembered borrowing some of my sister Liezl's clothes before, I also remembered giving her some not on purpose but because she often uses it until I forget that it's mine or sometimes it's the other way around. I also remembered getting hand-me-downs from... surprise, surprise, my Mother, no less. Never mind the size, it's more of the comfort that her "pambahay" clothes gives me that matters. I use it inside the house only, of course.
I used to visit ukay-ukay stalls when I was single. I can say, I know how to choose and somehow all my purchases were worth the sweat, smell and dust that I have to endure. I can say I made all our old clothes to good use. We donated some of our clothes to Caritas Manila. They have boxes for this that are located in churches. There is that feeling that somehow we made some people happy.
Having two kids with only two years gap has its "perks." It saves money and energy. My daughters used the same stroller/car seat, wooden crib, high chair and of course, clothes and shoes. Sometimes when you have small kids one forgets that they grow so fast. When you only have one child, you tend to "overbuy." Of course, if you can't really help buying, it helps when you buy bigger sizes, like 2 or three times bigger. You're lucky if you have another child, the "guilt" that went with the crowded cabinet gives you a sigh of relief.
Before I decide to give my little girl her big sister's stuff, I have my own set of rules. I make sure it doesn't look old and its color is still okay or not "kupas." It should have no stains, lost buttons or holes in it. Most of Amber's clothes for going out are usually used for Ina's house clothes. The shoes should have no stains, marks or not overused. Luckily, most of Amber's old shoes were used only twice or thrice that it usually looks quite new. Not bad, not bad at all considering most of my girls' stuff are a little expensive. Saves us money, indeed.
Having hand-me-downs is not bad at all. My girls are not complaining and no one's talking except for the reminding from my Ina.
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