About a holiday soon forgotten?

Easter came ...and sort of just went this year. Perhaps it was the snow and cold weather that finally found its way to our country (formerly known as the country where polar bears walk around on the streets but where we rarely see snow during the winter season nowadays, and where swimming pools have become increasingly popular) that took us by surprise. Or perhaps it is the fact that Easter is a holiday that has lost some of its grandeur in present time. I bet when you were in my age Easter was a holiday that was of great importance to people in general.
Take Good Friday, for instance. I've heard the stories about what a dull day Good Friday used to be back in the days. Families went to church and sat there for ours repenting their sins and mourning the man who suffered and died to redeem common men. The only things shown on TV were really morose kind of shows that didn't aim to entertain anyone but to remind people about the austerity of Easter. It used to be the longest day of the year because it was such a solemn day.
In present time Good Friday is as any other Sunday, with all shops open between 10 to 5. Most churches are what you would probably think of as spacious with few visitors in relation to our countries' population. It's actually difficult to find anything to remind us about why this day is holy. I managed to tune in one radio station that actually aired a divine service while the other channels aired shows focusing on how to decorate your Easter eggs or what kind of candy we favor in our candy eggs.
Another thing that is striking is how little we decorate our homes. I've seen pictures from the time when grandpa was a child and from your Easter decorated home with twigs filled with colored feathers, porcelain Easter bunnies and chickens. Beautifully colored eggs and yellow table clothes. But on the other hand you had all the time in the world to prepare for Easter.
This year I worked till 4 p m on the Thursday before Good Friday. Finally at home I rushed to the supermarket to buy food for the weekend. I actually remembered to buy twig and feathers this year, and some decoration egg. Finally at home I had a late dinner and fell asleep on the couch.
On Good Friday morning I vacuumed the entire apartment and decorated the living room with feathers and yellow table clothes. When the kids woke up and saw what I had done my three-year old asked me when Santa was coming. Okay, so I have one thing to teach him about when it comes to our different holidays. Maybe it's time to talk about God...
The rest of the day I spent in the kitchen preparing a good meal for the family. If anyone wonder what my lazy husband was doing I can assure you he didn't get any more rest than I did. He took care of the kids and of one week's dirty laundry. No rest. No serenity in sight.
I do however believe that even if we live in a secularized society where the actual cause for celebration is soon to be forgotten there is still a need for some spirituality and for actual time to contemplate our lives and values. In my imagination you had much more of both time and spirituality even though you probably lived a much harder life than I do today. The difference is that in your days you were allowed, one might say even forced to rest on a few days every year. That's something we lack today.

This is it so far...

Ok...this is what we accomplished so far. As you can see not that much has happened since you visisted us two years ago:


Our crib:

Our spare room 8or T's room as I call it. this is also the computer spot

The terrace with our Lancaster pumpkin

This is our kitchen with the balcony from where we can actully see Globen and (a less attractive) industrial area.

This is our bathroom now, with floor tiles and everything. Recognize the painting? T says it gives the room a hotell feeling...

This is the master bedroom. Check out the book piles!

Recognize the painitng (2)? Yepp, it's the charity one! So we actually did find a spot for it...

Lars's piano found a new home with us, to my and the boy's delight

...as did grandma's furniture. We like to call the mix of style eclectic, but it's just an excuse for mix without match!

The boys' room with another family treasure.

The boys' room.

The diningroom table was moved from the kitchen to...the diningroom.

The hall way

Well, thats about it. You'll see it for yourselves in about one month!

Another day at the daycare centre

Ester
Today as I was picking up my oldest son at kindergarten, it suddenly dawned on me that you have never been in a similar situation. When you were about my age (or to be honest had children in the age of 0-3) day care centers weren’t even invented. In fact I believe that the first, organized institutions for taking care of other peoples babies in Sweden were founded in the1970’s. As I struggled with my headstrong three-year-old, trying to convince him to put on his outdoor outfit in order not to freeze his buttocks off, meanwhile my 10 month old boy was tasting (with delight) dirty mud from the entree floor I asked myself what you would have said if you had caught me in the action? Would you have blamed me for losing my temper, ending up bribing my son with ice cream if only he’d put that damned wellington boot on? Would you have tried to help me out in that awkward situation that only a three year old, sulky boy can create? My firm belief is the latter, at least if I resemble you in the slightest way. The sad thing though is that I also think you would pity me. Me and all other mums in the busy world of today, where family is run like a company.
Every single day I dread the near future of our family, The future where I too will work full time, hurrying to and from kindergarten, desperately tryimg to have some sort of quality time with the family. The harsh truth is that my sons’ teachers will see more of my boys everyday than I and their father will. And this will go on during their most vunerable time of life, their childhood years when family is supposed to be more important than ever. Surely they will have the nicest teachers and surely they will turn out utterly skilled in social competence, but still…
Even so I walk my oldest son to kindergarten every day, although I’m on maternity leave and am lucky enough to live in a country where it is possible for parents to stay at home for a good 18 months if they wish to. The reason to this is not that I don’t want to have him at home with me and his baby brother, but because it’s customary and you will not see another kid in his age around the neighbourhood during daytime.
In a way I envy you, Ester. Even though you didn’t have the same chance as I did to choose a career and to strive for equal rights between the sexes I still believe that your life sometimes had more quality than mine. At least I’m sure it was less stressful.