Early in our marriage, Cliff was confused about why he found my nightgown under my pillow. I told him that as far as I could remember, my mother always had me put my nightgown or pajamas there so I'd know where it was.
For some reason he didn't seem to like that tradition, and couldn't believe anyone would do that.
I asked him what was wrong with it, and he never gave me any reason why he thought it was weird. One time a preacher at the church I was going to mentioned putting his pajamas under his pillow; I couldn't wait to tell Cliff there was someone else who did that, but now I wonder... maybe it wasn't something a lot of moms wanted their kids to do.
I do understand why he never heard of such a thing, though: He never wore pajamas to bed in his life.
Those of you who care to, would you let me know if that's something you do, or have even heard of?
My Grandma taught me the exact same thing. It was to save on laundry and keep our simple beds tidy.
ReplyDeleteYes, it wasn't so easy for that generation to wash clothes!
DeleteAs a child, we put them in a drawer. Now that I live alone, mine are laying flat at the foot of my bed. Think the change is probably because I'm lazy.
ReplyDeleteWell, the foot of the bed means you know where they are.
DeleteI always did the exact same thing for years and years, from my childhood until just a few years ago. Now I put them in my drawer. But Gary puts his either under the pillow or under the bed covers by the pillow. Rebecca in SW MO
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of doing that. My kids leave theirs on the floor and my wife puts hers in the clothes basket to retrieve that evening when changing. I don't wear pajamas so it hasn't been an issue for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure it's an old custom to keep women from having to wash so many clothes in a washtub. Even when I was small, all the women I knew and remember did their washing on Monday.
DeleteNever heard of that, but it seems logical. Might be the best thing to do in a large household, especially if beds were shared. At least a kid knows where they are, or should be. We must ask The Waltons! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI loved the Waltons!
DeleteI've heard of it, but we never had pajamas or nightgowns when I was young. Not poor mouthing, but we barely had decent day clothes until I was maybe 10 years old when my daddy quit drinking. We wore oversized hand me down shirts or whatever came to hand to bed, and in the winter time when it was bitterly cold we sometimes slept fully dressed for warmth. As a teen and adult, I mostly just tossed my gown or pajamas on the foot of the bed to retrieve that night when I got ready for bed. Nowadays I wear pajamas or what is sometimes fancily called lounge wear all day long at home and then for sleeping. When I shower I just change one set of pajamas for another unless I have to go out for shopping or a doctor's appointment. I'm much more content to just stay at home in my pajamas though I have to admit.
ReplyDeleteWe were never hungry, and mother made my dresses out of chicken feed sacks, but we weren't quite as poor as you were.
DeleteHow weird! I've always put my PJs under my pillow. I don't remember if that's how I was trained or it's just what I have done since I was a child. I will ask my mom if she told me to do that!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet it was from your mom. These days it isn't so necessary to worry about washing clothes. Many people, mayby most people, only wear pajamas one or two times and them toss them in the dirty clothes pile. My mother said when she got home from school she immediately hung her dress up so she could wear it another day. Her mother washed clothes in a tub, so they tried to keep everything clean enough that they could wear it 2 or 3 times.
DeleteNo, I never heard of that. Seems like a good idea, though.
ReplyDeleteAre you my friend SIM???? I'm honored to have you commenting.
DeleteYes, I was taught to put nightgown under pillow. My mother didn’t want nightgowns that had been worn ( and not laundered) to be placed into drawer with nightgowns that had been washed. Due to health, I wear gowns / pjs all the time now . I hadn’t thought about the “ under the pillow “ in forever.
ReplyDeleteI love thinking about the time when I was a kid, remembering things that will be lost after I'm gone.
DeleteYes, you’re so right . So much things will be lost. There are sooo many questions I wish I had asked my mother and many, many questions I so wish I had asked my grandparents. There is nobody left to ask. I know several lil tidbits about family history and customs and when I’m gone - nobody will know .
DeleteYES..i Did that too. Either mother or her mother taught me that custom..
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there are so many of us who remember.
DeleteMy pajamas are mostly what I wear as I am in bed 85% of the time. I still love getting dressed in something different. I honestly don’t remember what we did with our night clothes when I was young.
ReplyDeleteWhen it's hot around here, I mostly were Muu-muu type dresses because they are so cool. I call them hippy dresses.
DeleteHi Donna, I really liked your song 🎶 This heat has me staying inside more. I can’t deal with heat anymore.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it. I think we are going to be a little cooler for the next few days.
DeleteI did it again, Gabby Gengler
ReplyDeleteputting pj's under the pillow was just a way of tidying up the bed... but what about pj cases? I've read about them but never used one.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of PJ cases.
DeleteSo I decided to google Pajama Case.... boy are they varied from vintage to super cute. Some were animals with a place to hold the pj's!!
DeleteI don't wear a nightgown, just old stretch shorts and an old tee shirt that work as my pj's. The ones I love the most (because they are the most comfortable) are the ones that are the most ragged and with the most holes!!! ( I hope I never have to run out of the house during the night!) And yes, I have always put my pj's under my pillow!!!
ReplyDeleteAs a child I always put my pajamas under my pillow. I put my nightgown under my pillow for year’s as an adult, but then I got hook’s for the bathroom door for towels and it had an extra hook so I started hanging my nightgown on it. I taught my girl’s and then my grandson’s to put their pajamas under their pillow too.
ReplyDeleteMom taught us kids to put our pajamas under our pillow too!
ReplyDeleteMe too...under the pillow as a child. Occasionally as an adult.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, we always put our pjs under our pillows. I forgot about it until you reminded me. As an adult, i hang my nightgown on a hook behind the bathroom door.
ReplyDelete