Sunday, May 11, 2008

A Private Letter to my Mama.

Kochana Mamusia,

Today is Mother's Day and you are 5,000 miles away from me, taking care of your aging mother and father in rural Poland.

This alone is a true testament to the kind of person you truly are.

I can't verbally wish you a Happy Mother's Day. I can't physically hug you to tell you how much I love you.

But rest assured I know and appreciate what you have done for me.

I know that it must have been incredibly painful for you to clean houses during that first summer in America, while Kash and I were in daycare. I can't even imagine the feelings you felt that summer as you observed happy American children enjoying their mothers while you made their beds and scrubbed their bathrooms.

I know that you must have thought that I was an un-grateful American teenager when you lovingly packed smelly goose liver pate sandwiches for my high school lunch and realized that I threw them out. Oh. What I would do now for some smelly goose liver pate, smothered on top of rye bread.

I can't even imagine the strength it took to leave behind a familiar language, comfortable surroundings, and a loving family in your young twenties to move across an ocean for us. I. Just. Can't. Even. Imagine. A simple trip to the mall with three children makes me break out in sweat.

I can't even imagine what you must have thought when the vice-Principal of my high school called to let you know that I was "unaccounted for" and presumed "ditching school." You see... I was trying my best to fit into the American culture and celebrate "senior ditch day." I now understand how disappointed you must have felt not understanding how students could disrespect education. I am so sorry. For the reference, the Jerry Springer show did not delight.

I love how your reminded me, my entire life, that I was different from everyone else. Not in an elitist way, but in a loving way that reinforced why we came to this country. I might have given you a snotty look as a teenager when you said "We are the BlahblahSKI family and we are not average." It only took me 30 years to understand the true meaning behind your words. We are not your average family.

I love.

I love you. Even though, as a typical Polish family we might not hug enough and kiss in public and pronounce our undefeated love to one another. I just want you to know that I am becoming a little more American with each day. I am longing to hug and kiss you with obnoxious emotions. "COME HERE AND GIVE ME A HUG!!!!!" Sacrastically prounced with a thick Chicago accent.

I love you now, more than ever, as I am someone's "kochana mamusia." I can now, only begin to imagine, the feelings that you have wrestled with for 31 years.

Happy Mother's Day, Mamusia. Without you, I am not myself.

Kochama Ciebie,
OHmommy

54classy comments:

suchsimplepleasures said...

happy mothers day to your wonderful mother and her wonderful daughter!!
xoxo

Rachel said...

You are an excellent and amazing tribute to the mother that she was and still is.
This was beautiful.
You two are lucky to have each other, just as your children are lucky to have you.
Happy Mother's Day darling one.

Buttermouth said...

I couldn't agree more with this post.

But man...those liver sandwiches really did stink up the lunchroom.

Rhea said...

OhMommy,

This was a wonderful letter to your mother (except for the liver part). It often takes becoming a mother to fully appreciate what our mothers have done for us. I wish it didn't take so long...or was such a painful process, but at least that magic moment finally occurs, and we as daughters suddenly have the light come on over our heads. AHA!

Like you, my mom amazes me, and I can only hope to turn out like her, with her strength and amazingness.

This was so touching and so wonderful, and thank you for sharing it with us. It was wonderful!

Beth from the Funny Farm said...

Seriously, we would get along so well in real life I think. I think I sound like your mother talking to my own children. :-)

Happy Mother's Day to you.

MommyTime said...

What a lovely tribute. Happy Mother's Day!

Out of curiosity: are you teaching your children to speak Polish?

Unknown said...

Beautiful!

Happy Mother's Day to you and your Mama!!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful tribute to your mother! Happy Mother's Day! Hugs!

Miss Lisa said...

How sweet!
I need to call my mom :)

just jamie said...

You made me go get tears in my Mother's Day mimosa ...

*That* was an incredibly moving letter. Clearly your heart is swollen with admiration for such a strong woman.

Happy Mother's Day OhMommy!

Jolyn said...

That. was. beautiful.

And Happy Mother's Day to you, too!

Frances said...

That was beautiful.

Happy Mother's Day!

Ashlee said...

What a wonderful post for your mother. It sounds like she is an amazing woman. Happy Momma's Day to you too!

Happy Days said...

Happy Mother's Day to both of you! That was a beautiful letter!

carrie said...

"Without you, I am not myself."

I love that.

Happy Mother's Day to you and your Mama!

Lisa said...

That was beyond loving & sweet. Isn't is crazy how being a mom is the only way we can truly understand our parents' love for us???

Happy Mothers Day, OHMommy! You deserve a lovely one :)

Dawn said...

What a wonderful letter! Happy Mother's Day to both you and your mom. :-)

April said...

Oh, man, you made me want to cry!! I have to stop reading blogs today. They're all so sweet - but yours is just too much for me.
To the very classy lady, Happy Mother's Day!

Unknown said...

Happy Mother's Day, Ohmommy. And a Happy Mother's Day to (I can only do this phonetically) Bobcha.

Secret Agent Mama said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Happy Mother's Day, my friend!

Karen said...

That was wonderful! Isn't is amazing what we learn about our parents as we grow up? And how much more respect we have for them?

Unknown said...

Happy Mother's Day my dearest Polish sister!

I know EXACTLY how you felt growing up. And now I appreciate my Polish mother so much more than I ever have. I would never change my childhood for anything!

Victoria said...

So. Sweet.

Happy Mama's Day to you and your strong mother.

v.

Wendi said...

What a beautiful letter!

Thank you for sharing!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to one of my favorite Mommy's: OHMommy

Indy said...

OHmommy, what a sweet and loving letter to your mom. I didn't know your mom was over in Poland. I hope I remember to ask you about it. With mommybrain, I can't be too sure. Your mom will love this letter. A great gift for her and your kiddos.

Mom said...

What a wonderful way to tell your mother how much you love her. Happy Mother's Day!

Flea said...

Happy Mother's Day, OHmommy. That was a wonderful post. And now I'm craving goose liver pate. Mmmm.

Eve Grey said...

That brought tears to my eyes. What a lucky daughter you are & what a blessed mom you have.

Blessings From Above said...

Wow, what an amazing tribute to an obviously amazing woman.

You really put it in perspective when you mentioned that it is difficult to head to the mall with the little ones (so true!). Yet your mom managed to move half way around the world with little ones AND a language barrier.

Happy Mother's day to you and your Mamusia!

Val said...

What a great letter to your mama. That was so sweet!

Unknown said...

Happy mother's day to you and your mamusia!! Two wonderful women whom I dearly love!

I never got to experience liverwurst sandwiches. Instead I was send with a 1/4 loaf of Polish rye with a link of kabanos! I too, like you, was guilty of throwing them out in Jr. High. Now I never waste a single solitary bite!!!

Ruth said...

What a beautiful letter to your dear Mother! I love how as we grow & experience new life circumstances (like marriage & parenthood), we can begin to see a bit more & more of what our Moms have gone through for us, and we learn to appreciate (as well as understand) them more.

Happy Mommy's Day to you!

Laski said...

What a wonderful tribute. A stop and think post like no other . . .

And Happy Mother's Day to you, another wonderful mother . . .

Unknown said...

Oh my, that was incredibly touching, Ohmommy. What a wonderful tribute to your mom. I hope she gets to see this.

Amy said...

This was a beautiful letter to an obviously great mother from an obviously great mother!!

Hope you had a great Mother's Day!!

Jeni said...

Such a beautiful post! Hope you make sure your Mom sees this and can feel the love it it that comes through in your words.
Peace -and here's hoping you - and Your Mom too - had a wonderful Mother's Day!

ssgreylord said...

Moms can be incredible. Yours especially. You are incredible to have found the words to communicate your appreciation. Keep on writing form the heart...

Narci D said...

Aww, what a sweet tribute! Happy Mother's Day!

Mama Smurf said...

That was beautiful. I sincerely hope your mother reads your blog...it would be a shame for her to miss out on that.

Cynthia said...

Happy Mother's Day to you both!

Anonymous said...

My family is Polish as well, and we don't do the hugging and kissing in public either. I remember my father saying that he never learned to hug his children because his parents didn't believe in those gestures. They used to say, "Children will know we love them because we raised them with morals and a strong work ethic."

I still smirk when I think about it. Such a different generation than our own.

Don Mills Diva said...

What a gorgeous post - you have made your mother proud!

MarĂ­a said...

So sweet! Hope you both had wonderful Mother's Days.

Stephanie said...

Such a lovely letter to your momma! Happy Mother's Day to you both!

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day to you AND your mom!!

CC said...

So sweet! happy mother's day!

Burgh Baby said...

Hope you had a fantastic Mother's Day!

The Engert Family said...

That is beautiful!! Hope you had a wonderful day.
xoxoxoxoxo

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

I love this post! I was way too intimidated to try a mother's day post, I punted.

We traveled to Poland when my two oldest kids were 2 and 4. No real reason, we just had friends who lived there working for the state dept. We loved Warsaw but FELL in love with Krakow! I would love to go back. I have the most amazing hand carved nativity set we carried home from there!

Thanks for bringing back my memories!

All we learned to say was (and I'm spelling phonetically here, cuz there is NOOOOO way I could spell anything Polish correct!) Jenkooya!
I know it starts with a Dzien and then I loose it! My kids can still count a little. Oh, and zwotty potties, can't forget that!

Oops, this got long!

3 Peanuts said...

You are so blessed to have such a wonderful Mom! I can feel your love in every word of this letter.

Hugs to you. Happy belated Mother's Day!''

Kim

Anonymous said...

What a heartfelt letter of love and gratitude! Thank you for sharing with us.

Crystal D said...

happy belated mother's day to the classiest mom in stilettos i know.

Kim said...

I just got to your blog.. i feel terrible.. this was such a beautiful post ohmommy.

i hope you had a blessed Happy Mother's Day.. xoxox

ConverseMomma said...

You are all love, darling!

 

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