Parents of many children have tricks they use to cut costs, and to keep order and sanity. When I was growing up in a family of seven children, one trick my mother used was to dress the girls all in the same outfit.
While it made for a great family photo, it also meant that that little pudgy one on the end (me) ended up wearing the same dress passed down from above for the next decade.
In case you wanted to know, that’s a pink tulip with a green stem on the front of that dress. Ask me how I can remember that little fact after so many years.
Here is another holiday photo and yup, I ended up wearing this snappy dress style for the next few years (for the record, I hated the feel of that “fake velvet” in front.) At least this one, though, had a bit more panache.
It was useless to argue. “Not going to throw a good dress out.” I can still hear my mother say.
When I’m gown up, I’d start my mantra, I am NEVER …
But then I left the house and all the things I thought were cruel to subject children to, all of the sudden started to make sense once I started having baby after baby, my own little flock.
Many kids cost money. Many kids get lost in crowds unless you know what to look for .
And besides, many kids dressed alike makes for a great family photo.
What is it they say about what comes around – goes around?
Gotta keep those chicks in line.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
