Letter to my son
Dear Son,
The last week of school before spring break, you eagerly showed me the Easter card you made. "Mommy, it's an Easter egg with praying hands. Open it. Looks, there's a picture of a cross. But nobody is on the cross, so that means Jesus is alive." It was beautiful. We are so fortunate you go to a school that values faith and is willing to teach to young children.
The Easter card helped... in a very sad situation. Aunt Kim's mom passed away right before Easter. Mommy and Daddy discussed if you should come with us to Aunt Kim's mom's funeral. We agreed that you should be there. We wanted you to be prepared, "Aunt Kim is saying good bye to her mommy. Her mommy is no longer here on earth but in heaven with Jesus. Remember the Easter card and how Jesus wasn't on the cross and he is alive? Kim's mommy is alive and Jesus is taking care of her in heaven. But Aunt Kim will miss her mommy and that's going to make Aunt Kim sad. We're going to give Aunt Kim a hug and let her know that we are here for her and that she is loved."
You seemed to understand. We walked in; you saw Kim, went right to her and gave her a hug. You saw her crying. You saw Mommy crying too. You whispered that you might cry as well. You saw Aunt Kim's mommy and looked at her. You didn't ask any questions, but you looked for a while. Oma and Opa came as well. Aunt Kim and Mommy have been friends since the 7th grade. Our families are family, though not by blood.
I don't know how much you understood, but you didn't run wild or act up. You gave hugs and looked so sad when we cried. I'm very appreciative of your behavior.
It felt strange to go from a funeral to a family gathering, but that's what we did. You enjoyed the visit, the games, the egg hunt and the Easter bunny. Both Mommy and Daddy had family gatherings and you were thrilled with each. We are very lucky that the Bunny visits Opa's family and we have some really cute pictures, "Better than the mall bunny" according to Daddy.
This week is special, because TJ is staying with Oma and Opa for a couple of weeks and you are off of school this week. You love TJ. TJ doesn't say he loves you, but he shows it.... when we arrived at Oma and Opa's house this morning, TJ was crying, because he couldn't get the door open and he wanted you to come over to him. Watching the two of you play is so sweet.
When the church had it's Easter egg hunt, they allowed children into the yard by age, "Anyone under the age of 1, anyone under the age of 2...." You said, "I have to wait a long time, because I'm a big boy now." Later I realized that the church group stopped at the age of 6 or 7.... I don't have many more years for you to innocently love Easter bunnies and egg hunts.
You are at the perfect age to understand and innocently accept the simple joys of the holidays. It's beautiful and it makes me feel young again. You are older than most of your cousins on your daddy's side, who are too young to fully grasp about the eggs and bunny. You are younger than most of the cousins on your mommy's side, most of them don't participate in egg hunts any more.
You are at that perfect age and I want to soak up these memories, the youth, the joy, the magic and I want you to have the memories of the magic too. It's what my parents lovingly gave my brother and me. I was fortunate and I want this for you too.
You have taught me something... don't ever stop believing. To see life and laughter through your eyes is a lesson for me.
Love Always,
Mommy
The last week of school before spring break, you eagerly showed me the Easter card you made. "Mommy, it's an Easter egg with praying hands. Open it. Looks, there's a picture of a cross. But nobody is on the cross, so that means Jesus is alive." It was beautiful. We are so fortunate you go to a school that values faith and is willing to teach to young children.
The Easter card helped... in a very sad situation. Aunt Kim's mom passed away right before Easter. Mommy and Daddy discussed if you should come with us to Aunt Kim's mom's funeral. We agreed that you should be there. We wanted you to be prepared, "Aunt Kim is saying good bye to her mommy. Her mommy is no longer here on earth but in heaven with Jesus. Remember the Easter card and how Jesus wasn't on the cross and he is alive? Kim's mommy is alive and Jesus is taking care of her in heaven. But Aunt Kim will miss her mommy and that's going to make Aunt Kim sad. We're going to give Aunt Kim a hug and let her know that we are here for her and that she is loved."
You seemed to understand. We walked in; you saw Kim, went right to her and gave her a hug. You saw her crying. You saw Mommy crying too. You whispered that you might cry as well. You saw Aunt Kim's mommy and looked at her. You didn't ask any questions, but you looked for a while. Oma and Opa came as well. Aunt Kim and Mommy have been friends since the 7th grade. Our families are family, though not by blood.
I don't know how much you understood, but you didn't run wild or act up. You gave hugs and looked so sad when we cried. I'm very appreciative of your behavior.
It felt strange to go from a funeral to a family gathering, but that's what we did. You enjoyed the visit, the games, the egg hunt and the Easter bunny. Both Mommy and Daddy had family gatherings and you were thrilled with each. We are very lucky that the Bunny visits Opa's family and we have some really cute pictures, "Better than the mall bunny" according to Daddy.
This week is special, because TJ is staying with Oma and Opa for a couple of weeks and you are off of school this week. You love TJ. TJ doesn't say he loves you, but he shows it.... when we arrived at Oma and Opa's house this morning, TJ was crying, because he couldn't get the door open and he wanted you to come over to him. Watching the two of you play is so sweet.
When the church had it's Easter egg hunt, they allowed children into the yard by age, "Anyone under the age of 1, anyone under the age of 2...." You said, "I have to wait a long time, because I'm a big boy now." Later I realized that the church group stopped at the age of 6 or 7.... I don't have many more years for you to innocently love Easter bunnies and egg hunts.
You are at the perfect age to understand and innocently accept the simple joys of the holidays. It's beautiful and it makes me feel young again. You are older than most of your cousins on your daddy's side, who are too young to fully grasp about the eggs and bunny. You are younger than most of the cousins on your mommy's side, most of them don't participate in egg hunts any more.
You are at that perfect age and I want to soak up these memories, the youth, the joy, the magic and I want you to have the memories of the magic too. It's what my parents lovingly gave my brother and me. I was fortunate and I want this for you too.
You have taught me something... don't ever stop believing. To see life and laughter through your eyes is a lesson for me.
Love Always,
Mommy
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