Mamaloetje

· 11 Jul 2021

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War

Yesterday we were in Camjac, a small farming village 15 minutes away. Next to the church was a picnic table where we sat down. A little food, a drink and the kids were able to spend their energy on the lawn right away.

The three oldest girls found the monument, which is very interesting. Cees walked with them and told them about the “why” of the monument.
The kids are lucky with a father who knows a lot about the wars - he could lose a lot of science with them.

The girls were heavily impressed.. So many young men, far too young to die, especially for something stupid as a war - a game for power.

“Mom.., did you know a 19-year-old boy died here?? He's the youngest, the oldest one standing on the stones is a gentleman of 46 years old. Very young too..”
“It's incredibly sad.., don't you think?”
“I really don't get it,” Anieka sighed, “it's just not right..”
“I know, wijffie.”
“Did you know that World War I lasted from 1914 to 1918?. I know that and I also know that I think it's really stupid that all those men died. Maybe the mors had just become daddy, or maybe they already had older children. And then war comes and they just die!”
“I totally agree with you. War is stupid and unnecessary.”
“How much grief the moms will have had? And the dads? And their kids? It's not fair, is it?!?!”
“It certainly wasn't fair.! But there the great mates who wanted more power just had..”.
“Shits! Yes, they just had a lot of crap, mom!”
“I wanted to choose other words, but you're actually saying it well..”
“Did you know that World War II began in 1940 and didn't stop until 1945?? It lasted even longer than World War I.! But here in France, people were not as hard as they were in the first world war. Do you know how that comes?? Well, during the first one they went to fight. Then they didn't want to give themselves a win, but in World War II they surrendered very quickly. I think they were afraid that so many people would die again, so then they chose not to fight so hard.”
“And all for power, Niek.. Can you imagine that?”
“Well not actually.. You might think you have power over another person, but you're still free to do what you want.”
“To some extent, Pieka.”
“You think you have power over us too, Mom. But if you put us in bed and we need to sleep, then Amelie and I are still going to talk. So you don't have any power over us.! And that was the same thing in the war. If people had just lifted their middle fingers and continued, no one could have taken power.”
“I think it was something different in the wars, but you're right somewhere!”
“Yes, I'm sure I'm right. People just don't have to join. And no one should be forced to join. Ready!”. “Anieka, I hate to see you end up in politics, but it would be a nice place for you.”
“Well really not! I like to raise my middle finger and I shouldn't do that there.”
“You're a special kid, Piekaatje. A special copy.”
“Yes Mom, with two very long middle fingers!”
“Good, keep those fingers for a long time!”
“I'm going to pick flowers for all those men, mom. I'm going to put it at that monument.”
“Good, that's really sweet of you.”
“I hate them, but still I think they should have lifted their middle finger.”
“Are you going to pick flowers?. That's really sweet of you.”

Anieka drew the most beautiful flowers out of the grass until she had a beautiful bunch. (Yes, I know - let alone those flowers! But this time I didn't mind, because all the flowers got a nice destination.)
My dear 8 year old walked to the monument and laid down her picked bush.
“These are for all of you. You have to share them honestly. I don't know where you are right now, but if anyone ever tells you to fight again, you just have to raise your middle finger. I will, just not to mom and dad, because they don't like that. I'm leaving now. Maybe I'll come to see you again, and I'll take flowers from our garden. Ok? Well, bye!”

With big steps, Anieka walked to me: “shall we go, mom?? I'm done here.”
“Good idea, Anieka, but first I want a hug from you. A very fat one!”