Number 22 Crossed Off – Mom’s China

Mom's china pattern

My Mom’s china was something we grew up with. The china was a source of pride and joy for her. For all of the major holidays and dinner parties my parents hosted, the various plates to bowls were carefully placed on the crotchet tablecloth table at each seat. At each side of the settings were the various forks, knives and spoons for the different courses that were being served.  Then the different crystal glasses came out from water, to wine, red and white, to champagne placed in their appropriate order just above the plates. By the time our table was set, even the Queen of England would have been proud to sit at my Mom’s table. 

The china was a gift from my Dad to her on one of their first anniversaries. By the time I was 4 years old, Mom added to the set and it grew to a service of 16 place settings. And, yes, one of the houses we lived in the dining room table was big enough to set out all 16 place settings though the table cloth was not big enough for that table.

The table cloth was one that my Mom crotched herself. It was also the one when I was very little that I got creative and cut out some

Famous Tablecloth

 of the little flowers. Yes, I did get into trouble for being so creative.   

Made in Occupied Japan

majority of the pieces is “Made in Occupied Japan.”

So what to do with 16 place settings of china? I certainly wouldn’t sell it.

I know I will pass this china down to my own daughter who will in turn pass it down to her own daughter, my granddaughter. But neither needs 16 place settings either so I needed a better solution than just that.

I decided that my sister should also have a part of this. She can pass it down to her own daughter and her daughter in turn can pass it down to her daughter, my sister’s granddaughter. But more than that, I’m sure my sister has her own different memories about this china to also pass down as well.

Is there something in your family that brings back memories of your parents? Memories that are different from your siblings? That something special that was a part of your family tradition?