Remember

One of the challenges we face in modern society is preserving the meaning of holidays for our children. This is true of Christmas and Easter, but even the National Holidays like President’s Day, Labor Day, and Memorial Day have lost their soul for many Americans. These have become bonus vacation days, rather than a day to reflect, pray and remember. In addition to parades and picnics, it is up to us to impart to our children the import of the sacrifice so many brave men and women have made in the name of freedom and justice.

As Catholics, we also remember that those who have passed continue in a relationship with us in the Communion of Saints. One day last week, I took a walk with my Augustyne. At 5-years-old, he assured me that he would keep up and not compromise my exercise, which isn’t hard since he is in much better shape than I! I took him my usual route, through one of our town’s older cemeteries. Once he learned how to spot the grave of a veteran, he pointed out every flag on the grounds, searching for soldiers and hoping that they died peacefully at home long after the war was over. When we turned back to our street, he said, “I didn’t know that

OBSERVING PLAY

The “big kids” are all out. Little League and choir practice are overlapping and I’m home alone with a 2-year-old. Since we homeschool and work from home, this is not something that happens often. On one hand, I am running around cleaning up broken crayons and a cereal and apple crisp experiment in the play kitchen. On the other hand, I am enjoying some uninterrupted toddler time.

WORTH THE WAIT

Today, after class, the moms, grandmas and I were hanging around and talking as the children ran back and forth in the large hall outside our little classroom. One mother was planning to take her three-year-old shopping for a birthday present for Daddy. Another mother mused that her four young children always buy Dad a present that they would like such as a matchbox car! This reminded me of my mother’s day experience.