The second Saturday in May they always appeared, side by
side in the refrigerator, in perfect white boxes tied with gold cord. Sometimes
they were roses, sometimes orchids. Always they were chosen to coordinate with
dresses to be worn by my mother and grandmother the next day. They were one way
my father annually honored both his wife and mother on Mother’s Day. The
regularity of this simple gift spoke volumes to me, my brother, and my sister.
It reminded us of the importance of not only loving our mother, and
communicating that on a regular basis, but also setting aside time to honor her
on special occasions. It emphasized to us the importance of remembering.
Two weeks after this event came Memorial Day, a time when we
honor those who have gone before us and given their lives fighting for our
country. Because of them we enjoy the freedoms we have today. Our farm family
frequently spent the day making hay—it was that time of year in Missouri. But
Mom always remembered to get out the flag and fly it from the front porch—no
matter what we were doing. It made us reflect on where our freedom to make hay
came from in the first place.
Hundreds of miles away, at the same time we were making hay,
my husband’s family in Michigan was enjoying a slightly different observance of
the day. His family typically made their semiannual trek to the cemetery on
Memorial Day. Flowers were placed on graves or planted in urns as people walked
among the grave markers and talked quietly of those who had died. It was a day
for remembering.
So how might you do this? Here are just a few ideas to
consider trying this year with your children or grandchildren.
· Attend a Memorial Day parade and talk about why
we celebrate this holiday.
· Fly a flag as a sign of respect for those who
have died so that we might be free.
· Place flowers on the grave of a loved one. Help
children count the number of flags in the cemetery. Talk about why we honor
those who have gone before us.
· Dig out the photo albums and show children
pictures of family members living and deceased. Talk about the stories of their
lives—especially those who may have served in the armed services.
· Remember a veteran. As a family, send a personal
thank-you note to someone who has fought in a war or served in the military.
· Send a care package or cheerful note to someone
you know who is away from home serving in the armed forces.
· Attend a Memorial Day celebration. Listen to or
read a patriotic speech and talk about the meaning of loyalty and allegiance.
Dr. Jennifer Baker is
the founder and Director of Good Dads. She is the wife of one, mother of two, grandmother of eight, and a licensed clinical psychologist at
Lutheran Family & Children Services. She can be reached for comment at
jennifer@gooddads.com
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