Today Sara and I went shopping for her First Communion dress. This was a big deal for both of us. I wore my mother's First Communion dress. All I remember was how itchy it was and I was annoyed I didn't get to pick it out myself. Now, as the mother, I wish we still had that itchy dress so Sara could continue the tradition and wear the dress that her mother and grandmother wore for this momentous occasion. She never got to meet my mom. She passed away when I was 15. She has heard all the stories and seen pictures. Her favorite stories are about me being born on the bathroom floor and my mom going to the grocery store wearing 2 different shoes and not caring. As I watched her twirl and preen and debate over dresses, I couldn't help but wish my mom was there to share in this experience. It would have been nice to have a tie-breaker vote, too. It also made me look back at my First Communion. I remember my parents, grandparents and brothers being there and having a big party afterwards. I felt like a "big kid" for the first time. Because we want Sara to experience the big family celebration that goes with being a Roche and having a large Midwest family, Paul and I have decided to have two First Communions. Her first one will be in Granger at our church here. My dad and Paul's sister, Nan, will attend and help us celebrate. Then we will head to Michigan for First Communion #2. Sara has a very close relationship with our pastor there (and not just because he hosts doughnut Sundays). He really knows how to connect with young parishioners and Sara really responds to him. When I asked him if it was possible to have two First Communions, he didn't bat an eye before agreeing. St. James in Novi still feels like our home parish. After that event, we will have the mandatory family and friend party. Sara has only celebrated one birthday without our family and she was NOT happy about it. She told me her 7 year birthday didn't feel real because we didn't have the typical Sunday dinner with my dad and brother's family. Somehow when she turned 4, my dad got to celebrate it twice (with 2 cakes). What can I say? The girl knows how to party and my dad does not know how to say no to her.
I don't remember your mom wearing two different shoes, but I do remember her very clearly from her days at school--she was so involved and so nice to me...I LOVE the 2 first communions idea.
ReplyDeleteI may be following your blog twice. I am not a two time stalker, I promise. I guess I just love reading about you!
ReplyDeleteStalk away! It makes me feel loved.
ReplyDeletei made my First holy communion in 1969 at age 9 and wore a cute poofy,above the knees,communion dress with a head wreath and veil attached,white gloves,lace anklets and white 'mary jane' shoes.My parish considered the communion dress as an extension of the baptism gown or dress we were baptized in as babies,so all of us girls had to wear a cloth diaper and the Playtex toddler-XL size rubberpants with our under shirt under our dresses.the morning of the ceremony,i took a bath,then laid on my bed while mom pinned the diaper on me then pulled the rubberpants up my legs and over the diaper.Prior to the ceremony,all of us girls had to be checked by the Rel.Ed.Director for the diaper and rubberpants.My mom put my entire outfit away in a big white box.My daughter,tina,made her First holy communion in 1994 at age 11,and since the styles had changed,i bought her a longer dress,but she wore my veil with the lace anklets and the shoes.the diaper was still white so she wore it,but my rubberpants had yellowed,so i got her a youth size pair to wear over it.she looked gorgeous in her outfit that day.
ReplyDelete