Sunday 21 August 2011

My Mother Didn't tell Me Children and Church Laugh Make Sunday

I used to go to church...and when my kids came along I tried to instill in them the "faith"...I remember as a child my mother getting us all dressed in our Sunday best...we would walk into church in a fine little row- My Dad, me, my bother, my sister, my brother, and my Mother holding up the rear so we didn't stray. We sat in the church pew in order and obediently recited our prayers and the tried to be good. There were a few instances of fidgeting and poking but my Dad would give the "look" and all settled quickly.


I ,on the other hand, would pack up a bag for the kids... cheerio's, juice, books, crayons, paper...and try to make church a little less...difficult for me really....


It was Easter Sunday and the service I picked was one with a folk group. The kids seemed a bit more content to sit for an hour when the music was a bit more upbeat than the usual hymn-ish type choir.


Of course I was late and rushing them into the church, backpack filled with playthings we found my parents- my Dad shaking his head at the thought of snacks and toys in church . All was progressing nicely...except it was the day of the longest gospel...so fidgeting started and the magic backpack opened. But to my chagrin I had neglected to restock the paper, and crayons...Oh no!!!!


I discreetly whisper to my mom and ask for a pen. She and I rummage through our purses and come up with a pencil and a pen and hand the kids the church bulletins to draw on. Phew... catastrophe avoided....


The service progresses and son number one and two, on the floor between my mom and I state very loudly..."Mommy, Grandma look what we draw"..."Shhhhh..." I say...and sit son number two between my mom and I- as my Dad shoots "the look"...and then from the corner of my eye I see my mother's shoulders shaking...head down, and kleenex dabbing her eyes...bulletin in hand from son number one. 


Without looking at me she hands me the bulletin...and there in all it's glory is my son's understanding of Easter. On the bulletin is a cross with Jesus on it ...and now surrounding it are word bubbles..."Help, help, get me down.", "This hurts", "Can someone get me down please." and below his childlike rendition of Easter Bunny with a basket and a word bubble "hey Jesus, I have eggs, want some?" "No Bunny can you get me down?"


I try to contain myself, biting my lip until it hurts...I pray to God not to let me break out in hysterical laughter...now my mother is laughing harder and turning red...My son...seeing his effect loudly proclaims.."Mommy, why you laughing. Mommy, tell me why you laugh." With that I lose it and the whole church is filled with the sounds of my mother and me laughing....The service stops for a moment, my father is mortified as everyone is now looking at us.


We pull it together enough to get through the final blessing and leave the church as quickly as possible...and as we are leaving my son number two waves to the crucifix and pipes up ..."Bye Jesus, Easter Bunny coming to get you down." 


Renewed fits of laughter, my mother and I get to the car and doubling over in hysterics...I say to her...you never told me how hard it was to contain kids and church laugh....



My Mother Didn't Tell Me I'd Find the Biggest Joy in a Mocha Frappicino

It was a late start to the day ...and my blood pressure was rising...I was late for a meeting of epic proportions...I rushed through the house picking up the things I needed and shoving them in my bag...grabbed my sunglasses and raced to the car.


The morning traffic as usual- stop and go...I felt the road rage bubbling to the surface as some creep cut me off. As usual the news informing of construction here and road closures there...and the newest horrendous crime for the day...


Finally rush through the parking lot, the elevators and the masses of morning commuters and make it to the meeting only 15 mins late- hair frizzy, suit crumpled, and certainly not feeling very corporate. After an hour and a half of heated discussion it seemed the objective of the meeting was lost in personal agendas and another scheduled for next week...


Feeling quite deflated that my amazingly wonderful idea was on the brink of total disaster I wandered into the cafe in the lobby and ordered a mocha frappicino...making my way through the crowds I found a spot to sit and contemplate and try to devise a strategy for next week...


As I furiously tapped out notes on my laptop I heard a woman ask if she could take the other seat at my table. "Sure," I replied...she popped her daughter in the chair and I offered to watch her while she ordered her coffee..."


Are you sure?"...
"Absolutely, it's not a big deal..I had little kids once too."


The women spoke to her daughter quietly and the little girl shook her head and sat in the chair.


She was a beautiful little girl about four with chestnut hair and brown eyes. She looked curiously all around the cafe and held her teddy very close.


"What's your name?" I asked
"Merideth" she replied
"Hi Merideth, i'm Brandy. What's your Teddy's name?"
"He is Frances."
 "Wow...he is pretty cool."

Meredith was shy. She would answer questions but never look at me, keeping her sight focused on all the activity in the cafe. We continued the question answer game and I learned Meredith liked cheerios for breakfast, playing in the park with her friend John, and eating chocolate chip ice cream.


Her Mom returned and sat- thanked me profusely for watching Meredith. I dove back into my laptop and got a bit lost in my work...when I felt a little hand on my arm, tugging at my sleeve...


"Hey, Meredith." 
"Don't bother the lady, she's working" her Mom scolded
"It's okay."


Meredith reached her hands to my face- I sat her on my lap...and it was in that moment I realized something different about her eyes. She ran her hands all over the contours of my face. 


"You're pretty" she said
"Why, thank you so are you."

She smiled. We sat there for half an hour. Meredith's mom explaining the challenges of a blind child, and the joys of it too. Meredith happily drinking her milk, talking to Frances and once in a while perching herself on my lap to touch my hair, or face.


As quickly as it had begun, it was over and Meredith's mom thanked me again and said...
"She rarely takes to strangers." 


I hugged Meredith goodbye and told her it was a pleasure meeting her. She held out Frances for a hug too...and then she and her Mom disappeared into the day...and I was left thinking...I had just experienced a humbling moment and a testament to the strength of overcoming those things we think insurmountable...


My Mother didn't tell me I'd find the biggest joy in a mocha frappicino...and that day I did.