Does she know it was a family heirloom?

If not, did you tell her?

That wouldnt change anything. Everyone knows that there is nothing like 4 generations of snot to leave your furniture sparkly clean!

If you've ever watched Fullmetal Alchemist. This is totally something that would happen in the Armstrong Family. *pink sparkles*

If I could favourite this comment I would. ^

Your second question is kind of redundant, don't you think?

I think he's asking if OP told her when they found out what she was using it for.

That's sad; a lot of people don't have appreciation for family heirlooms anymore! You should take it back!

While I agree it's sad she doesn't understand, one does not simply take back a gift.

2 - I'd be inclined to agree with you if it weren't for the fact that I've known some families to keep every damn lint ball passed down to them. If it doesn't have a practical use/value or sentimental value, there's no point in keeping or cherishing it. If you intentionally assign sentimental value to something, rather than let that value come naturally, you're in for a bad time (I'm sure that's where a lot of hoarders come from).

Yes, I agree sometimes families boarder on the brink of hoarding, but this has four generations of memories. Seems pretty special to me!! :)

But it's a snot rag... The memories that came from the noses of 4 people really can't be too special, can they?

@53 - It's possible. Maybe the last 4 generations all met their husbands/wives by letting them use it to clean their nose.

Honestly, though, does that not sound so disgusting to pass down so many generations?
"Here--me, your grandmother, her grandmother, and HER grandmother all cried our husbands goodbye to war as we emptied our boogers out into this precious piece of cloth. We want you to put your boogers in it too and give it to your daughter."
I think sentiment should only exist to the person who lived through a moment with something, not to people who didn't. I just don't get it!

or it was not USED as a snot rag. My Grandma had "pretty handkerchiefs" and ones for use. It may be something that was just a token on weddings (something old something new...)

Sometimes people don't understand the sentimental value of things.

sometimes people give sentimental value to something that shouldn't have any.

Maybe she was sleepwalking? I hope so, because otherwise, that's pretty disrespectful...

I doubt that she was sleepwalking. It's much more likely that she didn't know how valuable it was to OP

Yeah, guess I look really dumb now... to quote Rick Perry, "oops."

I would ask for it back and give it to another family member who would appreciate the sentimental value and history that goes along with it.

It's washable right? Just let her know it's a cheap and unusual family heirloom and wash it. :P

Do you even understand the word sentimental?

Why yes, yes I do, but if a common, white handkerchief is given without explanation, it is hard to have sentimental value for it.

If I had a kid, it'd be like me giving him a dime. There are plenty of dimes in the world and he'll think nothing of it unless I tell him "Your great great grandpappy fought in World War 1 with this. Keep it safe."

It may not be washable depending on what it's made of. And at 4 generations old, it might not live through a trip in the washer.
A handkerchief is not that unusual a gift to a bride, if she's following the "something old, something new" rhyme. And I find it very unlikely that OP would have just given it to her daughter without explaining that it also belonged to grandma and great-grandma.

Who cares, it's just a handkerchief that's provably filled with 4 generations of germs. What a present that is. I mean I'd understand if it was a vase or something that she was mistreating, because that would last and it can be displayed and what not. What are you supposed to do with a handkerchief?

I agree with 57. If it's got some special value to the family, why was it not placed in a box or some type of frame?

I've always said, if you want an heirloom to stay in your family for generations, pick something cheap and common. That way, when the greedy rat-bastard of the family comes along, he won't get a dime and his possibly not greedy son or daughter will still get something.

You gave her the handkerchief.
Now it's her handkerchief.
I'll anyway try to explain her.

Aahh you were good until the last sentence

Good try Buddy.

She's showing you how disappointed she is with the wedding present. Handkerchief?

It was a family heirloom, not just a handkerchief.

Being thumbed down. Theres the classic pradip!:D

I thought the same thing as pradip. I mean, yes, she shouldn't use it as a damn duster, but WTF is she supposed to do with a hanky? They're obsolete anyway, disposable paper tissues are waaaay more sanitary.

A handkerchief?

"In sickness and in health..."

Literally!

Hey at least she cleans her house that's a positive. It could be worse she could be using it as back up toilet paper.