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Hope Chest
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Have any of you done or are currently doing hope chests for your daughters? I have always pondered the idea, but never quite sure if it is practical enough to follow through with. I don’t want to start something and it falls by the wayside, but it might be worth doing if it becomes special over the years.
Thoughts?
Hey simple home,
My daughter is only 4 so I’m not doing this yet but we do plan on it. My (not totally fleshed out idea) is to start giving her hope chest items starting at age 12-one per birthday and one per Christmas. At 16, we plan on getting her the actual hope chest (don’t know where it will be stored until then : ) and asking friends/relatives to make the presents appropriate for a hope chest. I also want to get her involved in making things for the chest herself-hoping to start some basic skills in the next couple years (she’s not quite to the fine motor capabilities yet) which will hopefully progress to being able to make soem nice stuff.
We do something similar with our boys. They start getting tools when they turn 12. We plan on getting them a nice tool chest (the really big ones) when they are 16. That way they will have a good supply of the tools they need when they start their own house.
-Rebecca
Rebecca, that is what we did with out girls and it worked well, we did not get the chest immediately either – one reason being we were moving with the military every few years and things got damaged easily in the transit from Europe to US. My mother made things for them prior to her death, and we have added to that, we have a nice collection now. I have also saved special books through the years, and have them on one side of our basement library area – they will then have a set of classic literature each and children’s books. I think it is a lovely idea, and th girls have enjoyed as they got older adding to their own chest. Linda
Thanks for starting an interesting topic! I had a Hope Chest growing up and think that the value is as much in it’s being a symbol of a feminine focus and goals in life as it is practical preparation.
You really (because of space limitations even in a big hope chest!) can’t collect that much practical stuff to run a home. But i really believe you can fill it with special, beautiful, meaningful items that will start to turn a daughters heart towards her future calling of Biblical femininity. Our culture so undervalues the feminine virtues that I think it is so important to activly work to counteract that mindset.
It could be a great place to collect her special handicraft projects over the years and give them a sense of purpose, also I hope to give my girls a library of what I consider the best books on the womanly arts to read as they get older and then start to build their hope chest library.
I love that a hope chest isn’t just a physical item but a mindset. I certainly benefitted from mine and look forward to continuing the tradition with my girls.
My father, who enjoys woodworking, is making a hope chest for each granddaughter in her mid-teen years. They get together to discuss size, design, color of stain, type of wood, hardware, etc. and he custom makes it according to that granddaughter’s tastes. Quite an heirloom and special time of memories.
We do hope chests for our girls as well. My 19 yo’s chest is full to overflowing at this point, though that includes all of the pans she has been given for her own cake decorating business. DD19 was given her great grandmother’s hope chest. DD17 has been looking for a hope chest for a while, but has yet to settle on one – dh and I would very much like to make that a gift to her this year. We also have books set aside for each of our children – they box up their books from childhood to use with their own children, my son included.
Each of my girls has chosen a dish pattern that they desire and family members have given those to the girls for gifts. They have also chosen silverware, pans, glasses, etc. as well as making embroidered dish towels, crocheted/ knitted dish cloths, etc. We have tried to make it as simple as possible for family members desiring to purchase gifts for them by using Amazon lists. I have the app on my computer near the address bar so that any item can be added to their Amazon list, not just items found on Amazon. It’s a handy dandy little gadget, family and friends know when something has been purchased from their list so there aren’t duplicates, and they know the girls would like it. It’s an all around winner.
Also, not to hijack the thread or change the tone… for anyone who has a daughter who would like Fiestaware dishes, we’ve ordered from this site multiple times. If you need to talk to the customer service person(s), they aren’t the cheeriest people, but the orders have always been right, packaged well, and exactly as described. The prices are worth the possible chat with the CS, and, I’ve been able to pick up dishes from retired colors as well, which is very nice. (Note: I do not benefit at all from sharing this site with you.)
WOW! Reading all of your responses excites me. You all are such thoughtful moms! I hope to give my daughters the same treasured memories, like Ladyofthehouse said so well, it is “a mindset”.
My father in law likes to do woodworking too, maybe I should graciously ask him to ponder making chests for my girls.
Thank you again!
Oh, I forgot to say that I like Rebecca’s idea too about the “tool chest” for the boys. :). I was thinking that in addition to tools, other special things could also added, like his favorite boy books, his baby keepsakes, etc.
We will do this for our girls as well. I love all of these ideas! I also like the tool chest idea for boys, very practical. I did this for myself some, and I have friends whose families did it for them. It really helps out!
On a side note, make sure the child knows how to use the items…. heeheehee
Just kidding, I love this idea and have been thinking about it for awhile.OKAY. TOOOOO cool. I (heart) the idea of tool chests! Never thought of that but it’s brilliant. We are going to do a hope chest for DD too. I am hoping my husbands uncle will help with the chests. He made us an amazing blanket box as a wedding gift and a beautiful cradle when DD was born. I think he will be keen to take our hope chest commissions too. I am so glad to see this thread as it is something we need to remeber to save for now!
You know, one of the things that we are putting in our kids chest is a cookbook of the family recipes that we use often…it’s like comfort food and family love when one is starting out on their own… =)
Sheraz,
My mom did that for me when I got married. It was SO nice having all the recipes I grew up with. I still have it but it’s pretty beat up now. The neat thing is that it’s written in her hand-a nice keepsake!
-Rebecca
Something else that you can do is to have a “coming of age” party for the child. I know this has been done for 16 bd party. Have adults that are important in your child’s life and the life of your family (and their friends). For a young man the guests are encouraged to choose a tool that represents a life lesson they’d like to pass along. At the party, the guest presents the gift and shares the life lesson.
Same basic idea only with women and girls present for a daughter.
Just kidding, I love this idea and have been thinking about it for awhile.
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