Enjoy a window into our Sundays.
I am not a “wave the Italian flag, Italian is the greatest nationality in the world and I’ve watched all of the Godfather movies 100x’s” kind of Italian (I am always a little jealous of people that love their nationality as much as this for any nationality, really). I don’t even speak it except for a few family words (and the curse words). I am more the “family is the most important thing, I’ll hug and kiss you even though I just met you, I’ll talk really fast and use my hands, and I am not quiet” kind of Italian. I am also and proud of it, a”Sunday is spaghetti day” kind of Italian.
Ever since I can remember, Sundays were set aside as Family Day. My Nana and Papa lived down the street from us and going over there meant walking in the door smelling the gravy cooking, seeing my Papa on the couch reading the paper and setting aside the comics for my sisters and me, my Nana in the kitchen cooking and kids (all five of us and my three cousins) scattered in the “green” room or the basement. My Nana and Papa had the biggest, most comfortable couch and I remember either sinking in it and reading a good book or writing stories. The food that my Nana would make could feed an army. Spaghetti, meatballs, sausage, pork, beef…then the best was when she’d surprise us with fried dough or even better, we’d think it was time to go home and she’d bring out a platter of lunch meat or chicken and we’d stay for a few more hours playing or talking and laughing…there was so much laughing. Some of my favorite memories are from those Sundays.
As I got older, sometimes Sundays would be hard. I would want to spend them with friends. Instead of me not going, my family would invite them to dinner. My Nana used to say, “You’ll get older and stop coming. Other things will be more important.” I wanted to prove her wrong and I am so glad that I did. There were Sundays that I missed but I don’t remember many (unless I was away at college).
Sundays are still Family Day but now they are spent at my mom and dad’s house. My mom does a wonderful job of upholding the tradition. She makes enough food to feed an army (though fried dough hasn’t been made in years) and she feeds more people than my Nana did. My mom and dad interact with all 13 of their grandchildren building relationships that my kids are lucky to have. I look forward to Sundays because my sisters and I get to come together with my mom and dad and catch up with each other. We talk on the phone 10 times a day but seeing each other, hugging each other and making each other laugh until our stomachs hurt is better than a phone call. I get to see my kids grow up with their cousins and I know it is a good sign when they cry that it is time to go home. There are obvious pros and cons to being such a tight-knit family. We know there is always someone to vent to or laugh with but we are probably too involved in all of our lives so when something happens to one, it happens to us all (more about that in later posts). I’m sure we are like other families and drive each other crazy sometimes and since we know all of our secrets, we also know all the buttons to push. Sometimes there is not room to allow for growth which can be frustrating. I am still the oldest sister that had to hide food because I’d want one thing that was just mine in a house full of seven (I haven’t done that since I moved out unless you count pretzel m&m’s). I wonder if my sisters feel that parts of themselves that they have outgrown still come up on Sundays? I am sad to say that Nico and Tommy sometimes miss some Sundays because of their schedules (which means Leo does too) but luckily my dad goes to many of their games so the family tie is still held strong. They also get very mad when they miss a Sunday so I know that the “Family Day” concept is being instilled.
I tell my mom and dad all the time how lucky they are that all of their children and grandchildren always want to be with them (they appreciate the reminder so much) because I know there are people that have a hard time being with their families. I don’t take for granted one bit that Leo loves my family and considers my sisters his sisters and enjoys my parents as much as I do. Getting to know my brother-in-laws would be a lot harder if we didn’t see each other every week.
When I count blessings in my life, Sunday dinners are definitely on there and I hope that they remain a tradition for years to come (this reminds me that I have to get the recipe for the gravy). There is nothing like the feeling of coming home to people that you love that love you.
P.S. I didn’t put any pics of my sisters up because I hate when people put pictures up of me without me seeing them first. 
Linking up with Galit at www.theselittlewaves.com and Alison at www.mamawantsthis.com They are two of my favorite blogs to read. Check them out! Thanks for the link up, Ladies!
I am a stay at home mom, married to my college sweetheart, Leo. We have four kids, Nico, Tommy, Isabella and Gia. We have a son, Rocco that is an angel in Heaven.
AWWW I LOVE this! I’m an only child. I always wanted brothers and sisters . . . maybe that’s why I have 3 children?! My parents did what they thought was right for our family and always took care of me. It is so cool that you all still get together on Sundays – how special! That’s like something right out of a movie!
It is pretty special and yes, sometimes feels like it is out of a movie! Leo is an only child and it was quite the adjustment for him coming into our big family but once he was in, he never looked back.
Aw, I love this!
We had Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s too, when I was a kid. I loved them, because I loved her traditional Chinese cooking.
Sigh, I miss her – she’s been gone over 10 years.
I know what you mean. I miss my Nana. She’s been gone for 21 years.
She would have loved the legacy she left.
Thanks for the link up! It’s one of my favorites!
I commented before, but I think it didn’t go through. Forgive this, if it’s a second comment.
I love the Sunday family day! You portrayed your heart for your family so beautifully here. Very nice post!
It only went through once.
Thank you so much. I had hoped I did it justice so your comment means a lot!
It sounds like you have a great family dynamic, and are so very blessed to be tight knit like that! We don’t get together every week in my family, but we have parties for every occasion under the sun, it seems. Any excuse, right?!
Any excuse is right! With a family this big it seems that we celebrate a birthday every Sunday! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Oh how I love the focus on family here!
It’s inspiring, really, and so what I want to instill for my own family!
Love!
This means so much since you are one of the most inspiring bloggers out there! Thank you!
We used to spend Sundays at my grandmother’s growing up- it’s much different when there’s no family nearby! These are such great memories for your kids.
Ashley recently posted..Vacation dreams vs. summer reality
That’s my biggest hope is that we are making wonderful memories for them to hold onto. Thanks so much for all your help, Ashley!
What an awesome and important family tradition! It’s so nice when families are tightly-knit and close to each other. You are definitely creating so many memories of love and good food, and what else can one ask for in life? =)
Sandra recently posted..Dear Acrophobia
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Not much else you need in life other than love and food.
That is so nice. As a child I remember Friday nights spent with all my aunties and uncles and cousins with pasta or homemade pizza for dinner. So much fun. That is definitely one of the things I miss about living so far from family.
I don’t miss all the family drama!
This comment made me laugh! What is family without a little drama? It’s funny…we all live within 20 minutes of each other, some even closer than that.
This is wonderful! I come from a dysfunctional family but this is the type of family dynamic I am working towards with my little family.
Thanks so much! I am trying to instill it too. I bet you are doing a wonderful job!
I love how you respect your family members and don’t put pics up without asking them first. Great pics and I love the Sunday dinner story to go with it!
Thanks, Missy! It’s one of my least favorite things about Facebook so I try not to do it here.
Oh, I love this whole post! I like to believe I would have these kinds of Sundays if my family had actually stayed in Pittsburgh with the rest of the big Italian family. But part of me is also glad we didn’t
Katie E recently posted..Memories Captured: 18 Months Old
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! It means a lot. Thanks for the kind words. Everyone needs their own space. Glad you did what was right for you.
Fun Sundays! Wish it was like that around here too. I guess that’s why someday I want a big family!
Janice recently posted..And the Father of the Year Award goes to…
It’s why I wanted a big family, too.
Awesome post. I have pizza Fridays with the girls, but it’s not the same as the Sunday deal. The Sunday deal goes from right after church, through the 1 p.m. *and* 4:30 p.m. NFL games, and into the night. My grandmother used to do this when we all lived closer, and I remember, even at a young age, feeling depressed when the sun set, the day was through, and the week was just beginning.
I have great memories of the food and family and fun we had before then, though. Thanks for the reminder. You make me wish I could be Italian once a week.
I definitely hate when it ends and everyone has to go home. I think it is a good sign when the kids cry when they have to leave their cousins. I LOVED your last line!
I reserve the right to be Greek once a week, too, and possibly Hungarian, if the goolash is as good as advertised.