The Sweetness of Family

This time of year, temperatures are rising noticeably across Greece, and anyone who has spent time in a warm climate knows that everything becomes a little more demanding. Getting around, staying focused, even spending time outdoors requires a bit more effort. Yet it is also a season when more people venture outside, and there is something comforting about that. The streets become livelier, and somehow you feel a little less alone. 

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This is also the time of year when schools in Greece close for the summer and remain closed until early September. From my office window, I can see the grounds of my old primary school, and as you will see in the photographs, preparations are underway for a celebration. Music fills the air, children gather with their parents, siblings, and friends, and together with their teachers they say goodbye to the graduating students. There is even a barbecue, and in recent years many schools have adopted what they affectionately call a "souvlaki party."

I am genuinely happy to see schools organising events like these. In a way, they help children feel more connected to the place where they spend so much of their daily lives. Things were very different when I was a child, around twenty years ago. There were no organised celebrations of this kind. Either such events were not allowed, or nobody dared to organise them. 

The end of the school year felt more like a collective sigh of relief. Students were happy to escape their teachers after a demanding year, and teachers were equally happy to enjoy some peace and quiet away from the little creatures who shouted all day and stubbornly refused to learn the alphabet. Times have changed, and in this respect, I believe they have changed for the better.

We also celebrated the birthday of my beloved mother. This year felt different because our little one is no longer a baby but a lively little boy. Mary and I gave her a small gift, a tea set decorated with floral scenes that reminded us of traditional English designs. We spent a lovely day together, sharing food and blowing out birthday candles. Nikolas enjoyed this tradition so much that he continued throughout the entire evening. By the end of the day, we must have celebrated more than twenty birthdays judging by the number of times we lit and blew out the candle.

As I reflected on the day, I found myself thinking about how beautiful it is when families can be together. Grandparents, parents, and grandchildren sharing the same table and the same moments. Many families are deprived of this blessing. Sometimes it is because they no longer spend time together. 

Other times, however, it is because the differences between them have become too great, or because older generations become overly involved in the lives of the younger ones. They may feel strongly about how their grandchildren should be raised or how their children's families should function. And often, it is there that relationships begin to fracture.

An ancient Greek saying tells us that "everything in moderation." In my view, communication within a family is beautiful and necessary, but it is equally important to allow a healthy distance between the new family and the family it came from, so that the new household can grow, make its own decisions, and function independently. We have saved a generous portion of the delicious sweets for all of you, and as you read these words, I hope you can almost taste their sweetness.

And finally, to my beloved mother, who sacrifices so much simply to see us smile, and who has always been there for me throughout my life, a steady rock whenever I needed her, I wish you from the depths of my heart a very happy birthday, good health, and nothing but beautiful moments.

Mom, I love you. ❤️

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— Mary & Chris