Rant Alert: Why do people send old clothes for your kids? | Page 2 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Rant Alert: Why do people send old clothes for your kids?

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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 10:21
I'm not a stuck up b*&(^! but I hate it when people pass on their kid's old clothes :( Esp when its my first born. Hate it when people put you on the spot its so hard to say no. Just received a suitcase full of old musty clothes somebody sent me for my daughter :( Rant over! Sorry for the negative energy Who are you apologising to regarding your negative energy? I hope this thread has shown you a light and you can sit back and reevaluate what you have written and a lesson in life. There are soo many in the world who have nothing, children freezing to death in worn torn countries, parents scraping to put food on the table let alone be able to afford clothes. Kindness costs nothing but the rewards are great.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 10:20
I think it depends on the quality of clothes people pass on. If you get a suitcase of clothes that are in a bad condition, stained, faded, torn, than I too would not be happy about it, it's insulting. Trying to see if I'm missing something here.......why would you be insulted? I've been passed down clothes before that aren't in great condition. I've either passed them to charity if they are passable or binned them if not. It's never crossed my mind to be insulted.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 09:15
I am sorry but to rant about people giving you passed down clothing for your kids......... You should have the good grace to be thankful that you have the good fortune to be in a position to cloth your children.There are many who can't and would be over the moon if someone handed down clothing to their children. Why don't you tell those who are giving you the clothes to please stop if it annoys you that much ,sure that will go down really well. As another posted said pay more attention to buying a NEW car seat FAR more important than ranting about hand me down clothing. edited by Nomad on 03/03/2014 Exactly!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 09:14
This reminds me of that episode of Master Chef Australia when the Dalai Lama went on as a guest judge. Short story is that one of the contestants really stuffed up her dish and served him what was basically a slop of food. The Dalai Lama graciously took a bite and later told all the contestants that according to his beliefs he can't pick this over that. Instead he accepts everything and appreciates the effort regardless of the outcome. I think sometimes we forget to appreciate small gestures of kindness because it's not what we personally would do. Maybe it took a lot of effort on her part to give you these clothes, whatever their condition. It's not so hard to just be grateful. Is it?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 07:55
I am sorry but to rant about people giving you passed down clothing for your kids......... You should have the good grace to be thankful that you have the good fortune to be in a position to cloth your children.There are many who can't and would be over the moon if someone handed down clothing to their children. Why don't you tell those who are giving you the clothes to please stop if it annoys you that much ,sure that will go down really well. As another posted said pay more attention to buying a NEW car seat FAR more important than ranting about hand me down clothing. <em>edited by Nomad on 03/03/2014</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 07:36
I think it depends on the quality of clothes people pass on. If you get a suitcase of clothes that are in a bad condition, stained, faded, torn, than I too would not be happy about it, it's insulting. A friend passes on clothes to my kids, they are always in great condition, freshly washed and ironed. I them pass on to my niece, but only clothes that are in really good condition, I would never pass on something that needs to be repaired or has stains etc. My girls too love wearing clothes from friends and cousins.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 07:30
I'm sure they don't intend to annoy you by passing down the clothes. When I'm having a clear out I can't bare to throw anything away so I always try to recycle and pass on to someone who may need Them. It sounds like this is what has happened here. Just pass them on to a charity and feel good that you are helping others. 90% of my DD's dresses came from her slightly older friends. She loves them as she wants to look pretty like her friends :)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 March 2014 - 00:23
Wow! Yes, you do come across as stuck up! And ungrateful! I only have one child, so she is my first AND last born. 90% of her clothes have been second hand, well actually they have come from a friend of my sister's little girl, then through my two nieces and then onto my little one, so she is a FOURTH hand Rose, gasp, horror!! And I say thank you very much for each and EVERY piece. Some is not to my taste so I pass it on. But it is a lovely, kind gesture for them to think of me and to pass the things on. I also have several friends with older girls who have without asking (gasp, horror again!) given me a bag of clothes. Just take the things, say a huge thank you with a big smile and then pass them on and just be grateful that you are so rich that you can afford to buy brand new stuff for the rest of your childs life... Although your disdain for second hand things doesn't seem to extend to car seats which is quite bizarre as I would rather fork out for a brand new car seat than rant about people kindly giving you second hand clothes!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 17:18
For what it's worth, I think you are indeed " a stuck up b*&(^! " If you don't like what is given to you by someone who obviously means well, suck it up, wash it and donate to someone who does appreciate it. Don't rant about it on EW.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 16:45
i always wore hand me downs from my cousins , had toys and even school books ..saved my parents a ton of money especially with having to bring up 3 kids
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 16:08
wow !! I thought no baby ever had enough clothes !! I had lots of things given me when mine were small and I admit it wasn't all in great condition but I appreciated the gesture and it meant I was able to afford other treats as they got bigger...and lets face it - they grow so quickly they don't get enough wear out of most of their wardrobe anyway... but if it makes you feel better to let off steam on here fine....having a new baby can do that to you :D
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 15:27
Hey ladies, I have two boys, adopted 5 kids from my late sister and a friend, am happy when friends send me cloths its saves the cost, I don't mind getting some. :) edited by mara12345 on 02/03/2014 7 Kids! You're an amazing lady mara 12345
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 15:10
Hey ladies, I have two boys, adopted 5 kids from my late sister and a friend, am happy when friends send me cloths its saves the cost, I don't mind getting some. :) <em>edited by mara12345 on 02/03/2014</em>
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 14:32
I loved that my Sisters and Mums friends had children a lot older than me as I got to wear all their trendy hand me down stuff! Just donate as the other posters have said. I don't think it deserves a rant though lol
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 14:17
Well I'm afraid it does sound a bit like you are stuck up, I've had loads passed on from friends and I think it's a lovely gesture, babies wear some things so infrequently it's ridiculous to just do nothing with it. I just sorted through the bits I wanted and the rest has gone to charity. You could quite easily have said to the person ' thanks that's a lovely gesture but we've bought so much already we really don't need it/whatever we don't need I will pass onto charity'. This will be my first too and believe me I've shopped for England but I've also been given stuff, and bought 2nd hand too as I like to think that things are reused and get as much use as possible.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 14:12
Why didn't you just say "No thank you" Zeee? We LOVE getting hand me downs, my children love that the clothes are nice and soft already and that they are wearing something that used to belong to an older friend. Thanks to a couple of lovely friends I'm sorted for clothes for my younger two for about the next three years. I always pass clothes on too although I do always ask and wouldn't be offended at all if someone said no. Just tell them if you don't want them.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 14:11
well Bella maybe then I just am!. So there are people out there like me who don't like receiving old clothes like that. I said the exact same thing to the person who sent me " Thats very sweet of you but being over excited about the baby I have overstocked" The suitcase still came smelling bad and I'm not going to pass it on until I get it washed and cleaned and smelling nice because I want the person(somebody who needs them) to feel nice and not humiliated.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 14:03
Well I'm afraid it does sound a bit like you are stuck up, I've had loads passed on from friends and I think it's a lovely gesture, babies wear some things so infrequently it's ridiculous to just do nothing with it. I just sorted through the bits I wanted and the rest has gone to charity. You could quite easily have said to the person ' thanks that's a lovely gesture but we've bought so much already we really don't need it/whatever we don't need I will pass onto charity'. This will be my first too and believe me I've shopped for England but I've also been given stuff, and bought 2nd hand too as I like to think that things are reused and get as much use as possible.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 13:58
I have given people my children's used clothes. I hope that no one thinks this about me. I did ask before I did it, though, if the person actually wanted them...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 13:50
Wow, ungrateful much? Sounds like people are going out of their way to do what they see as a favour and you're having a rant on EW about it?!?! I guess you don't realise just how privileged you are that you obviously don't need help from friends when setting up for your first-born. It's a big expense, especially the first time round, and a lot of people need all the help they can get. Surely it's not that big of a deal to just accept the gifts with good grace and then quietly donate them to someone who might actually appreciate them? Its better to appreciate then pass on to somebody who needs them, not all are able, I wish I could get them, we have mothers who are struggling in life
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EW GURU
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 13:33
Wow, ungrateful much? Sounds like people are going out of their way to do what they see as a favour and you're having a rant on EW about it?!?! I guess you don't realise just how privileged you are that you obviously don't need help from friends when setting up for your first-born. It's a big expense, especially the first time round, and a lot of people need all the help they can get. Surely it's not that big of a deal to just accept the gifts with good grace and then quietly donate them to someone who might actually appreciate them?
 
 

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