Labor Day 2022
"Mama, what did you say this weekend is?" Four-year old Kate had turned and looked at her mother and asked.
Jane quickly replied, "It's Labor Day, little one."
"K, Mama, thanks!" Kate said as she jumped down off of Jane's lap and ran across the room to her older brother MJ. She asked him, "MJ what do we do on Labor Day?"
"What do you mean, my Katie?"
"I mean do we celebrate or do we have to do something? Labor means work, so that means it is a work day, right?" Kate was curious and a little confused, she remembered a little something about Labor Day from last year but she wasn't sure what exactly she remembered, there were so many holidays to keep up with.
"We do not work on Labor Day. It is a day of celebration. People work hard during the year so Congress wanted to have a day to celebrate all of the workers." MJ explained.
"Wait, MJ before you totally explain. I think we should all hear about it. Can you call a family meeting?" Kate remembered they had said anytime somebody wanted to share something with the family they should call a family meeting.
"Yes, give me a few minutes to let everyone know. Why don't you wait for me on the couch, okay?"
"Okay." Kate agreed and went to sit on the couch and wait for her big brother. It took MJ about ten minutes to gather all the family. They all met in the living room. Kate climbed on Jane's lap once Jane appeared back in the living room. She had gone out to the garage to put something in the car.
MJ announced, "Kate wanted me to explain about Labor Day and she thought that the whole family should hear about it. Is that right Kate?"
"Yes, thank you MJ." Kate smiled at her big brother, she loved him so much.
Lilly and AJ were sitting with Maura. Lilly was on her lap and AJ was wedged along her side. Maura was sitting next to Jane. Jane had her arm wrapped around her and had her hand resting on Lilly's shoulder.
MJ then said, "I don't want to repeat any information from last year, or I should say I will try not to repeat any information. I was just explaining to Kate that Labor Day is not a day for us to work, but rather a day to celebrate the American workers. On June 28, 1894 Congress set aside the first Monday in September as a National Holiday known as Labor Day. Is that right mommy?"
"Yes, darling, that is correct." Maura replied and gave MJ a huge smile. He had taken on answering most of Kate's questions. She still asked Jane and Maura from time to time, but MJ was the person she asked the most questions of.
Jane and Maura loved how all of the children got along. AJ and Lilly had that twin connection and since MJ learned about Kate's headaches, he has been spending quite a bit of time with her. Sometimes they leave everybody else in the family out and it is just the two of them.
MJ continued, "This year we will be celebrating by attending two Red Sox games. They will be playing the Texas Rangers for both games. Mama got us tickets in a box above the first baseline for both games. Saturday our game starts at 4:10 PM and Sunday's game is at 1:35 PM. Does everybody want to go to both games?"
Each child screamed yes. Jane and Maura had to cover their ears. Everybody was laughing and jumping up and down once they retreated from their mother's laps. They knew the box for both games would be a hit with the children.
Maura just looked at their four children. Never in her life did she think that all four children would love the Red Sox as much as their Mama did. It amazed her sometimes how things like that could happen. They each possessed traits from both of them.
Eventually the children all settled down and MJ continued talking, "We are also going to be attending the games with all of our extended family. All of our cousins will be there with their parents as well as Uncle Frost, Aunt Susie, Uncle Korsak and Aunt Kiki."
Kate raised her hand to ask MJ a question. "Yes, Kate. Do you have a question or statement?"
"Yes, are we going to be able to see any fireworks?" That was Kate's favorite part of some of the holidays. She understood that not all holidays had fireworks so she was curious if this one did.
"Yes, Kate the fireworks will be displayed on Thursday September 1st. That will kick off the Labor Day celebration weekend. Monday will have our normal Sunday Rizzoli family dinner." MJ concluded.
Kate raised her hand again and when MJ nodded to her and she asked, "Are Nonna, grand-mére and grand-pére going to come to the games with us?"
"Of course, sorry I forgot to mention them. They are family and they are included in everything we do. It wouldn't be the same without them." MJ explained.
"Thank you, MJ for calling the family meeting for me and telling us about Labor Day." Kate stood and walked over and hugged her big brother.
"You are welcome, my Katie, is there anything else I can do for you or explain to you while the whole family is present?" MJ asked his youngest sister.
"Not at this time, thank you." Kate said and with that she ran upstairs as did the other children. Jane and Maura sat on the couch. Maura nuzzled her head into Jane and Jane wrapped her arm around her and leaned into her.
"Are there any facts that MJ missed about Labor Day?" Jane asked her all knowledgeable wife.
"No, he covered the main facts. Previously I had explained about how fireworks came to be and some other facts. I know he probably wanted to keep it short for Kate. She still has a short attention span." Maura replied.
"Do you think she asked MJ to explain about Labor Day, knowing that you might give her a long explanation and that she didn't want to make you feel bad when she got a little impatient?" Jane asked Maura. Jane was trying to word her question as to not upset her wife. She knew that Kate loved her mommy but the long explanations were a little too much for her short attention span, unless it was something she was fascinated with and then you could talk forever about it and she would love it.
"Yes, I have to remember that Kate is the only one of our four children that is impatient with my long explanations. I have tried to shorten my replies with the children over the years but I get carried away sometimes and want to share all of my knowledge with them."
Jane kissed the top of Maura's head and said, "I know babe, I just don't want you to feel bad. You are not being replaced. She did ask for a family meeting so that her question and answer would be shared with the whole family. She is growing up so fast.
Right then Kate came downstairs and crawled into Jane's lap so that she could look at her mommy. "Mommy, I love your explanations very much. Did MJ miss anything that I should know about Labor Day?"
Maura reached over and pulled Kate into a hug. "No, baby he gave you the important information. Thank you for telling me that you love my explanations. I know they can be long sometimes. I just have so much knowledge in my 'big brain' as your mama calls it and I want to share that with all of my precious babies."
"Mommy, I am not a baby. I am a big girl. I am four now." Kate broke the hug and snuggled back into Jane. She could still see her mommy and she reached for her mommy's hand so she could hold it. Jane and Maura just loved moments like this. Kate loved to sit with the two of them just snuggling. Maura squeezed her hand and Kate closed her eyes and was asleep within minutes.
Jane whispered, "I guess we are having take-out tonight for dinner?"
"Yes, I don't want to disturb her. She looks so comfortable and years from now we will miss these precious moments." Maura said as she leaned into Jane and closed her eyes. Jane just sat there with two of her favorite people cuddled into her. This was one of her favorite ways to spend an evening.
