Sunday, April 12, 2009

A letter to my children on Easter Sunday 2009

Dearest children,

Today I told you how proud I was of you.

Before the sun rose and before your warm toes reached the ground I sleeplessly searched around for my contacts and prepared for the day ahead. I made sure my diaper bag was packed and equipped to handle any emergency that could arise during a two hour long resurrection mass held at Kościół Najświętszej Trójcy (Holy Trinity in Chicago, IL) spoken in Polish very early on Easter Sunday.

I was nervous.


The procession of priests, alter boys, nuns, and dignitaries into the standing-room only cathedral took a little over thirty minutes and full of questions from inquisitive Jay. "Not everyone believes in God, right?" "How does an organ work?" "How exactly did Jesus come alive?" "Why is everyone speaking in Chicagoish?"

My sweetest Fifi, you adored the music, which came as no surprise as you started the morning off singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in the moonlight surrounding Babcia and Dziadek's room. When the trumpets triumphantly sounded in the silent church of hundreds it took your breath away and you innocently gasped "oh, woooooow" out loud enough for dozens of people around us to chuckle with happiness.

Nearly an hour into the mass and as the sun rose you Lola confidently started to stir. One, two, three warnings and your smile melted my authority. You, the true testament of my soul, heard my silent cries and sat quietly lost in your world.


Of course, things weren't always perfect during the 120 minutes of the early morning mass spoken in a language that you did not understand in a Roman Catholic Polish church.


And with that alone, dearest children, I am so very proud of you. You were perfectly adaptable and only minimally whinny during a very sacred tradition that was so foreign from our weekly mass but so part of our history. I apologize for seeming so nervous.

Forever yours,
Proud Mama

43classy comments:

Jessica said...

Love these pictures, ohMommy! They are beautiful! That seems like such a neat memory for your kids!

Maura said...

Sweet! Definitely a great memory. :-)

MsMommy said...

Wow, wow, and wow. First, a quick blip to say stunning dresses, and Mr. Jay looks quite dapper to boot. Second, I'm questioning your gender, because it took cajones of unimaginable size to take 3 little ones, let alone ONE toddler, to a two-hour mass! My four get antsy during a blink-and-you'll-miss-it United Methodist service. And lastly, I so covet the culture and language you are able to impart on your children. The closest mine get is trying to decipher the Heehaw north Mississippi dialect that MY HUSBAND'S family uses. Another lovely post from the lovely family!

Marinka said...

How wonderful. And give credit where it's due, mom. To you. Beautiful pics!

Marinka said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jessica said...

Your children are rock stars! I have trouble getting my 7 year old to sit still during a regular Mass when we go visit the grandparents. I can't imagine 120 minutes!

Rhea said...

Their Easter outfits are adorable! And what an amazing cathedral! I love this Easter tradition of yours. And I don't blame you for being nervous, because you just never know with kids, but I'm so glad it all went well.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

I'm so glad they adapted so well for you. Good job, momma!

And Happy Easter.

amanda said...

absolutely love the pictures. i'd be proud of your babies too!!

GypsiAdventure said...

How wonderful that your children got a chance to experience that moment. What a beautiful start to a beautiful Easter Morning. :)
~K

Lisa said...

you are one brave mama! the pictures give a glimpse into a beautiful morning indeed!

Becca said...

Wow. Those are absolutely gorgeous pictures. What a sweet memory.

Heather said...

What a wonderful memory you painted for us with your words and your photos.

Jo Ashline said...

I love how our heritage, faith, and culture, entwine our lives, though we live hundreds of miles away and have not seen each other in over a decade. Looking at your photos and reading your post, I relate to it all, as we too sat in our local Polish parish, at sunrise mass, dressed to the hilt, praising Jesus's ressurection!

Amen my Polish Sister!

Indy said...

Wow. I second MsMommy. Balls. My kiddos barely made it 1/2 way through until "Jr. Church." Did you drink before? Prozac? Secret stash of pain pills? What's your secret?

Indy said...

And Flea, beautiful dresses! Love them!

Courtney said...

Your children are beautiful...you have every right to be proud of them, I think any mommy would be beaming!

Kelly said...

BEAUTIFUL KIDS, BEAUTIFUL CHURCH! We have a church in NE Mpls that does an all Polish mass, however since I don't speak Polish I've never attended, but have always wanted to. (I should really learn, they teach it for free at the public library. Pretty lazy of me! Especially when I would go places and people would speak Polish to me after seeing my name. I would stand there like a dope...)
Anyway, beautiful! Very classy! :)

Unknown said...

Glad to hear your Easter Sunday went well. Happy Easter OHMommy!

Unknown said...

Reading your post brought back the memories of when I was a little girl at 5:45 am Mass of the Resurrection at Jaczkowo. Our religion and heritage is rich with customs and traditions which you brought to light in such a beautiful way.

Now don't forget today is Smingus Dyngus, so I'm sending virtual water balloons your way my dear Polish friend.

Wesolego Alleluja!

Kat said...

Aww. I just love those surprising moments when our kids just act so much better than we expected. True blessings.
My boys on the other hand? Were not so great at Easter Sunday mass. But I guess I just had to chalk it up to a lack of sleep and massive sugar crash. ;) At least they looked handsome. :)

Unknown said...

What little angels you have there! : )

I went to the vigil mass at our church on Saturday evening BY MYSELF! And again on Sunday, we went as a family. I love mass at Easter.

I hope you all had a wonderful rest of the day, celebrating together.

Tara R. said...

Your telling of this gave me chills. I love Fifi's reaction to the music. The photos are stunning.

Julie said...

Love the pictures and the dresses you "created" are fab!

Stephanie said...

OoooohMommy, have I mentioned I love your blog? ;oD the children looked gorgeous, too. Here's to well-behaved children. It's not luck, it's hard work!

Stephanie said...

OoooohMommy, have I mentioned I love your blog? ;oD the children looked gorgeous, too. Here's to well-behaved children. It's not luck, it's hard work!

Clare said...

first, they look sooo cute!! and i am way impressed!! it is such a beautiful church!!

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

And they looked gorgeous while doing it, too.

Whew! Glad that went off so well. Hope the rest of the day was fun and that they got to eat candy in their new outfits!

Kash said...

I don't blame them for being stir-crazy an hour into it, I only lasted 30 minutes before I started fidgeting and bothering Uncle Mike. I even got a "shh" from the pani behind me... They were angels! I miss them already.

the mama bird diaries said...

Sounds like a lovely Easter. :)

katydidnot said...

fabulous photos! fabulous girls!

Monica said...

All I have to say is thanks - for missing me and hanging in there while I'm gone for months at a time. you'll ALWAYS be a fave for me. love love. m

Ed said...

They may not know what was said or why--but they will always remember such a special Easter Ceremony. Pretty cool!

2 Little Irish Boys said...

What a beautiful way to celebrate the joy of Easter. Your pics are wonderful and I love that you created such a memorable holiday for yourself and your children!

Jill said...

Gorgeous photos of the kids!! I love the angles... stunning.

Your kids sat about 90 minutes longer than my husband would have lasted!

Wow.

Jodee said...

What a cute post! Your kids are just adorable! My daughter sang The Itsy Bitsy Spider in her loudest voice during Easter Mass this year!

Flea said...

I love the telling of Fifi's wonder at the horns. :) You're raising such sweet children. :)

Karen MEG said...

Wow, this was a wonderful memory, gorgeous photos, and TWO HOUR MASS? Amazing.

Loukia said...

This is a very beautiful post and a lovely letter to your children. You should be very proud! I also keep a journal for my children where I write whatever I want for them. It's a wonderful thing. I'm not Polish; I'm Greek, and we celebrate Easter this coming weekend. I also just wanted to say hello! Found you from Crafty Mom. :) I will be back! (I'm a mom of 2 boys, btw).

Amy said...

These pictures and the dresses are gorgeous!! And you are so very brave to take them to that service. I remember telling my dad that I refused to get married in the Greek Orthodox Church because I wanted the ceremony to be done in 15 minutes and in ENGLISH!

Dziadek said...

List do Mojej Kochanej Coreczki

Kocham Cie i nigdy nie przestane czytac Twojego Blogu,
chyba ze juz nie bede mogl.
I rowniez zawsze jak bedzie mi sie cos niepodobalo, dam Tobie znac o tym ale nie publicznie.
Twoj Tata

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Totally sweet and NOT fake!

just jamie said...

You have so much for which to be proud. So much.

 

Blog Designed by: NW Designs

Original Header and Concept by: Judith Shakes