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While Mothers are celebrated all across the world, the exact day varies. In Lithuania the first Sunday in May is dedicated to all the beloved Mothers, while in America it is the following Sunday. On this beautiful Sunday in Lithuania Jurate Kazickas shares her tribute to her dear Mother Alexandra Kazickas.
"On the occasion of Mother’s Day, the Kazickas family honors the memory of their matriarch, Alexandra, in her jubilee year. The mother of five children, she exemplified the best virtues of motherhood: devotion, sacrifice and love.
She always said, “My children are my joy, my happiness and pride.”
Too often she was alone at home in New Rochelle, NY caring for a teen-age daughter and four little boys (under the age of six!) while her husband, Joseph Kazickas, had to travel for business or was busy working for Lithuania’s independence. But she did not complain, instead taking delight in our progress growing up, our little achievements in school, our hobbies and interests. She was always available to calm our fears, soothe our pain, and nurture our dreams of what we could become in life.
She was compassionate, selfless, warm and loving…everything a mother should be.
Let us all remember the dear mothers who are no longer with us and cherish every minute with the mother we can still hug and kiss.
Happy Mother’s Day."
Jurate Kazickas
Here are two lovely poems by famous Lithuanian poets:
To the Mother by Salomeja Neris
Salomeja Neris was also Alexandra Kazickas' German language teacher
No road is too long, no hardship too severe
Swim back as a swan, fly back as a swallow to the fields of home
Say just one word a year
The wide world is empty without you, Mommy
To the Mother by Vyte Nemunelis
Who released me as a colorful butterfly
To flutter over the flowers of the earth
Who showed me the unknown path
To the World? - It’s my Mommy!
Who ran with me restless
Every day like a sunshine of happiness
Over the golden bridges of dreams
And fairy tales? - It’s my Mommy!
Who made my bed of beautiful dreams
With warm bedding,
Who kept vigil by my side every night
Like a guardian angel? - It’s my Mommy!
Photo above: The Kazickas family in 1962 (from the family archives)