To the mom who had everything. From her favorite child!
by Mary Jo David
As people age and downsize their homes, many have all they can do to find a place for the things they treasure. This might explain why, when you ask your mom or dad what they want for Christmas, you shouldn’t be offended or frustrated when they say, “I have everything I need.”
My mom was known for using that line. Besides, she had me, so she probably did have everything she needed! (She also had plenty of other children, but only one favorite!)
Mom and Dad became engaged right out of high school. As an engagement gift, my grandmother gave my mom a Royal Albert Petit Point creamer and sugar set. By then, the U.S. was becoming embroiled in World War II. My father enlisted to do his part for his country. During part of his training, he was stationed in Missouri. Mom traveled there for a long weekend, and they were married before he headed west for more training and then overseas to join Army Air Corps efforts in the Pacific theater.
As Allied nations concentrated their energies on winning the war, the production of English bone china was, of course, temporarily discontinued. Thankfully, my father returned safely when the war ended, and soon he and my mother started a family. Their priorities quickly changed from bone china to baby bottles.
Even so, the creamer and sugar set was always displayed in a place of honor on the china cabinet shelf. One year, there was an incident. A certain 9-year-old, who shall remain nameless, tried to sneak some loose change from a teacup on the china cabinet shelf. The whole cabinet fell on me…oooops…I mean on “nameless.” Luckily, she wasn’t hurt, but she was sure she was in BIG trouble! Apparently, though, she looked so tragic lying under the downed cabinet that her mom ended up being more relieved than angry when coming to her rescue.
Unfortunately, the poor sugar bowl fared less well and broke into at least six pieces. My dad, who had the patience of Job, managed to glue together all the pieces, except for one tiny chip that remained in the edge. And the creamer and sugar set resumed its rightful place on the china cabinet.
When I grew older and moved away, I’d ask every year what my mom would like for Christmas. Each year, I’d get that same stock answer about her having everything she needed. I took this as a challenge to come up with something that would really wow her one day!
Forty-six years and eight children later, all my mom had to show for her china collection was that creamer and the re-glued sugar bowl from Grandma. Imagine my excitement when I noticed a magazine ad for a company that offered replacement pieces for fine china. These were pre-Internet times, so it was a big deal to call and wait patiently to have them mail me their list of available Petit Point stock. Then came the day when the list arrived in the mail, and BINGO—on that list was a beautiful, delicate Petit Point teapot.
Fast forward to Christmas day that SAME year, and I’ll never forget the priceless look on my mother’s face when she opened her teapot. There were tears. Real tears. The good kind! And dare I mention the looks on my siblings’ faces? SCORE! That teapot cemented my “favorite child” status for years to come!
But most importantly, I learned a valuable lesson—it truly is better to give than to receive.
Over time, my mother received additional Petit Point pieces to complement the circa 1940s creamer and sugar set and the teapot gifted to her by her favorite child! Photo credit: Kevin McMonagle.
