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Strange habit of other Grandmother

(95 Posts)
LilyoftheValley Sun 25-Feb-24 01:49:59

I am shortly to become a Grandmother. I have never met any of the father's family who are uncommunicative to say the least!

I was told today, that the other Grandmother has kept the umbilical cord, or part of, the cord from each of her grandchildren! has anyone else heard of this peculiarity? Why on this earth would anyone do such a grisly thing. I wonder if it is used as a toy at Halloween or to chew on?!

LilyoftheValley Fri 01-Mar-24 22:03:51

Not a cultural thing. The family live about 40 miles from me. I was informed that they were booking the church and doing the reception and the son - we do not get on! said, in my hearing, Tell her that there is no room at the wedding for her but she can come to the evening do if she likes". Things are even more complicated now the tiny is around. Dear little mite. Thank you all for your concern.

Etoile2701 Fri 01-Mar-24 17:46:21

How strange!

NotSpaghetti Fri 01-Mar-24 09:46:14

This is unusual to say the least The other Grandma was planning MY daughter's wedding - unless it's a cultural thing?

I'm nearly certain that my parents met my future in-laws the night before we were married. They lived 400 miles apart and had no need to meet till then.

LilyoftheValley Thu 29-Feb-24 09:51:15

Thank you.

Joseann Wed 28-Feb-24 22:39:31

Congratulations!! 👶

LilyoftheValley Wed 28-Feb-24 22:07:56

To everyone who was kind enough to reply! Many apologies for this late reply to you all. Things are really hectic here. Little one born yesterday.

Really strange situation; I have never been introduced to any of the family. The other Grandma was planning MY daughter's wedding about a year ago! I received no communication from her at all. The message received from the groom to be was "There is no room for her at the wedding but she can come along to the evening do if she wishes!!

Very different sort of people!!

maddyone Tue 27-Feb-24 10:07:34

I know Granmarderby but I was recently bereaved, the flat had already been sold before mum died, because she asked me to sell it as she was then in a care home, my sister was being very difficult as usual (she accused me of taking things she had said she wanted, which I had to pack up and send to her. I did not take anything she wanted) but she wanted no part of clearing the flat, whilst making it very clear she wanted the money as soon as possible and even told the solicitor I would not give her the money. There was a mountain of stuff to clear, and I was reduced to tears by just being in the flat on several occasions. My sister making such horrible accusations made me extremely stressed too. It was not a good time, and there also other things going on in my life that were difficult and emotional to deal with, with regard to my daughter who is currently living in New Zealand and undergoing a very difficult divorce. My sister made nasty comments about her not coming to the funeral.
It was a difficult time.

Granmarderby10 Tue 27-Feb-24 09:47:13

Mmm it is a sad fact that those who feel no connection to the “stuff” should probably not be encouraged to “tidy up” ….without strict instructions.
I don”t call it helping if it wasn’t what I wanted.

maddyone Tue 27-Feb-24 09:05:47

NotSpaghetti hold on to those boxes until you feel able to go through them.

maddyone Tue 27-Feb-24 09:04:47

In the end I found going through all the stuff quite traumatic and difficult and so my husband did a lot of it and unfortunately he got rid of things I would have liked to keep. It’s my own fault.
One thing I was very disappointed about and didn’t remember until later was a small pair of clogs that were carved by a farmer in Holland in the war for my dad. They weren’t meant to be worn. They had 1945 burnt on to the front of them. My father was billeted at the farm before going to the front line. He told me the farmer had ten children and several soldiers billeted with him, and the farmer and his wife made huge vats of porridge every morning to feed everyone.
I regret letting my husband do so much now, I should have shown more backbone and done more. I always wanted those clogs but now they’re gone.

Yoginimeisje Tue 27-Feb-24 08:50:55

I was talking about the umbilical cord above, seems the thread has moved on.
I found some baby booties in a lovely silk pouch when I cleared out my m&d's bungalow, not sure if they were from me & my sister or my mums, but they were beautiful.

Yoginimeisje Tue 27-Feb-24 08:46:22

I have heard of this. Keeping it in a glass box or such. I think it's awful!

NotSpaghetti Tue 27-Feb-24 00:11:34

maddyone I still have boxes from my parents that I've not been able to sort yet.
Lots of my baby things included (but no hair or similar). The house was cleared years ago.

maddyone Mon 26-Feb-24 23:38:13

NotSpaghetti
I wish I’d thought of that, but too late now. I was quite overcome going through all her things, it was too sad. When I found the plaits I was really touched because mum never wanted anyone to see her sentimental side and was known in the family for being forthright (bossy grin) but I found all the cards from when my sister and I were born and various other sentimental things she’d kept. I wanted to keep so much of it but had to be realistic. It wouldn’t be fair to my children to leave even more things for them to sort.

maddyone Mon 26-Feb-24 23:32:41

Germanshepherdsmum

You’re not 96 are you maddy?

Oh no grin I got mixed up, I was thinking of her age.

NotSpaghetti Mon 26-Feb-24 21:57:06

Maddy if they are still in good condition you could gift them to one of the wig-making charities.
My grandson sent his long locks to a children's one a few years ago.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 26-Feb-24 19:35:28

You’re not 96 are you maddy?

maddyone Mon 26-Feb-24 18:30:36

When my mum died eighteen months ago and I was going through her things, I found my long plaits, which were cut off when I was six and decided I wanted short hair. She kept them for nearly ninety years.

jocork Mon 26-Feb-24 18:08:41

I kept my children's baby teeth. They were each wrapped in tissue and labelled, then we had mice. The drawer they were in was found by the mice who nibbled the neatly wrapped packages. I can't remember if I threw them out when I cleaned out the drawer!

Grams2five Mon 26-Feb-24 16:27:11

I mean I definitely find it odd and I think if either grandmother has asked me for this I’d have said no, sorry I already binned it. Or it must have fallen off in a nappy. Sorry. (Not really) just because it’s a but gross to me. But it’s up to the mother if she cares

mrsgreenfingers56 Mon 26-Feb-24 16:17:31

Find this most odd. Frankly bizarre, dear me there are some strange people about.

Oreo Mon 26-Feb-24 15:50:13

Aveline

Seems very odd. Witchcraft?

I was wondering if it was a different culture 😂

Grandma70s Mon 26-Feb-24 15:40:05

I had locks of hair from three generations. Interesting to compare the colours. I did keep baby teeth, too, but have no idea where any of these things are now.

Mamardoit Mon 26-Feb-24 15:28:10

Umbilical cord. No I was quite happy to bin those.

Mamardoit Mon 26-Feb-24 15:25:53

Marmight

I have a collection of baby teeth which the tooth fairy exchanged for £. They’re all mixed up and I have no idea which belongs to which ‘child’ 🤣. I really should get rid, but ………

Me too but I put them is separate containers. It seemed ok at the time but now I do think it's a strange thing to have done. I can't put them in the bin but I need to do something with them.

Keeping a lock of hair seems fine. I still have the one my mum kept from my first haircut. I also have the cards from the hospital cots and the wrist bands. They are included along with new baby cards in each child's first photo album. I kept individual photo albums for each child until they went to university or started work.