communion

this weekend was a big weekend for mckenna.
she made her first holy communion.
actually the rest of her class made it on saturday,
but mckenna, my eternal tomboy, just could not bring herself to wear the white frilly dress and the veil.
(ok that was an understatement)
she had specially asked her teachers if she could make her communion without the dress...
apparently that was a problem because she would have to wear the dress in order to be a part of the ceremony (which i kinda think is a little weird but ok)
so yesterday during mass, without the dress she received her first communion.

so although it squashed my mother's dreams of mckenna one day wearing my communion dress that she has been saving for 30 years,

i am so proud of my little girl.

Comments

[kara s.]

donna! congrats on your daughter's first communion. what a blessed day! :] she's growing up so fast!

ps-tell your mom you have one more chance with peyton!

[Leslie]

I think it's absolutely rotten that she HAD to wear the dress to participate with her class. That makes me sad! At my kids' school, the foofy white dress is completely optional. In fact, they discourage the expense! (Of course, it seems that most of the girls get them anyways.) Congratulations to Miss McKenna on such a special occasion. And bravo to her for remaining true to herself!

[Laura]

Congratulations to McKenna and many blessings to her and your family! It is sad to think that the school could not get passed the dress issue, when the entire purpose of the celebration is "communion", not girl's in white dresses! Perhaps Payton will wear the dress your mom has saved . . .

[Applemimi]

she's beautiful ! congrats !

[Sally in Mass]

Congratulations McKenna! May God bless you!

[Jill]

GOOD FOR YOU, mom! Way to support your daughter. And boo to the fru-fru pushers. I'm a diff. religion to maybe because of this I thought the obnoxious/near-wedding outfits and nieces/nephews 1st comm. were a crime.

[Cherylanne]

Congratulations McKenna! Way to do things your own way :-)

[jennifer h]

Congratulatuons McKenna! what an awesome day for the family!!

[Sharon]

Yey McKenna,
I'm all for being yourself hunny. It's the best thing you can be.
Donna,
you must be so proud.
Sharon (UK)

[Linda]

Wow McKenna I would have done the same thing, 33 years ago!!! Yea for you! You have one great Mom! Watch for next year - I am willing to bet you have started a trend!!!

[tami]

i am so glad she stood up for what she wanted (and that you let her ) and you didn't give in.

[Jess Hess]

God Bless you McKenna. I can't wait to see my little girls make their First Communion in a couple of years. I had to squash my mother's dreams when they were Baptized. I dressed them in pink and yellow. Everyone there thought I was weird, but the priest said I could. It's OK to be yourself. God loves you no matter what.

[chrys]

What a Blessing!!!!!

What's more important the ceremony or the actual receiving? I say the receiving!!!!

Blessings to Mckenna!

[Maureen F]

Congrats - what a nice occassion. High five to McKenna for sticking to her guns !!! God Bless

[Tania]

Way to go McKenna! Good for you for standing up for yourself.

God SO does NOT care what you wear!

[Debra abel]

Congratulations. I wish we would have had the option back when, but we didn't. Still it made for a "special" day, just about her. How nice for all of you!

[Maryangella]

Congratulations to Mckenna on her First Communion.
It is so great to see that you respected her wishes and did NOT force her to wear the white dress.

[Heather T.]

Blessings to McKenna!

[[email protected]]

McKenna you rock girl!! Way to go to be independent and think for yourself. That is awesome on your first communion. Congrats! You too Donna.

[Sashah]

Bucking Catholic traditions and you're proud....figures.

[deibster]

Donna that's the best story EVER. Congrats to McKenna!

[maryk]

Hi Donna

My Tess tried a few dresses on days before but couldn't do it, the tears were overflowing. After all, it is HER day and God doesn't care what we wear, its about the sacriment....Well she wore a pair of white capri's and a white shirt and she walked down the aisle with all the other children....and was as happy as any of the other kids....I think its shameful that the church wouldn't let her receive with the others on the day.......

[StacyS.]

Congrats to McKenna! Our little C who is now almost 8 just had his first Reconciliation:)
Take care,
StacyS. (Alberta, Canada)

[Angie]

Way to go, McKenna!
It's hard to stick up for your beliefs/feelings, but important to do so.
I've never heard of the dresses not being optional. I know they're not mandatory for our church (also Catholic).
Enjoy your new achievement in the church.

[susan]

Ok I have to admit I was thinking..where's the white dress..but after reading the post I had tears in my eyes..and what is really important is the moment not the dress..God Bless you McKenna your a true original like your MOM!

[susan]

If you don't have something nice to say.don't say anything at all..gee this blog is getting a little nasty..this was about a little girl..please

[Monica]

As a Catholic, I understand the tradition/symbolism of waering white, but not being able to participate with the others? That seems unfair. Glad to see it didn't upset McKenna one bit, and she got to make her first communion regardless! That is the most important part! God Bless you on your special day McKenna! (Tell her my 5 year old daughter uses the white middle of the oreos to play communion at home, that will make her smile! :)

[ronee]

wait..you mean tyra really could have gotten out of wearing the dress! and i love that mckenna..knew that having the whole ceremony thing wasn't needed! way to raise an outstanding daughter!
xoxo
ronee

[Sharon F. Oakland, CA]

Congratulations McKenna and
Donna and Bill on being her
own person and on her
first communion.

[Sandrine alias Didine]

Congratulations ! No matter of dresser or not, the important is what is in the heart !
Donna, I sent a message to your shop contact form about the shipping cost for magnet. Did you received it ?? thanks

[scrap-impulse]

Way to got, both of you ! My daughter was just the same, but she walked between all those dresses in her pants, head high and it really made my heart melt.

[debi @ life in my studio]

Congratulations McKenna!
And...I can totally relate
to the dress thing. I'm a
pants girl too!

[Nellie Hulsman-Lodders]

congrat with her communion! Wondering if you have a picture of you in your communion dress... hope you'll share! ;-)

Love,
Nellie

[Karen]

Congrats McKenna!
GOD sees our hearts, not
just on this day, but every-
day. McKenna, you are a
lovely girl, remember
to always be true to
yourself and to
GOD.

Blessings

[Heidi]

Donna-

That story is too funny. Good job on being such a supportive Mom and for allowing your children to be so strong and confident in who they are. Isn't that exactly what we want for them? And you can tell McKenna that I thought she looked amazing in her white capris and navy blue shirt. Very mature!

Wish I could be there this weekend! I can't wait to hear all about it from Katie!

Heidi

[Christine]

Way to go McKenna! Congratulations! :) That is much better than the dress my mom made me wear...and then dyed PEACH for me to wear the following Easter. *sigh* LOL!

[Jackie, Pearland, TX]

That is so funny she chose not to wear the dress, but glad she still was able to make 'her first communion'. who says it has to be one way. I of course, loved the white dresses! Congrats on the First Communion.

[k8scraps]

God Bless Mckenna! What a spirited little independent one you have there!

It's not about the dress......how amazing to know that at that age.

k8

[Trapscrappy]

From another blog:

Just checked into DD's blog. I'm not catholic, but that is SHAMEFUL to teach a child that kind of disrespect. Too bad is she couldn't bring herself to wear the frilly dress. It's called respect for the sacredness of the communion. That is what is SO wrong with a lot of the kids today. If they don't want to do something, their parents don't make a fuss. I think it's called letting the inmates run the asylum. I think that's especially true in this case!! It especially shows her parent's lack of commitment to their religion. INCREDIBLE!

[Stefani]

Good for her for knowing it's not about the dress! :)

[rosie]

honestly, I think you are way off-if Communion required a special way of dressing, then every person taking communion every week should only be wearing white dresses and suits. Most people are far from that!

The white dresses are a tradition, not a requirement and she let her daughter follow her heart-she deserves to receive her first holy communion without the dress if she chooses (and bravo to your parish for actually making an accomodation) I think they listened to their daughter and struck a compromise with their particular church. She didn't show up in a black dress on communion day to thumb her nose at tradition-she simply receveived the sacrament the next day in her own way. The dress is not necessary for the sacrament!

Thanks goodness Jesus didn't require the disciples to wear suits and ties at the last supper (first communion!)

[rosie]

Oh, and God Bless McKenna on her (very) special day!

[Pam]

Well I say good for her! Good for McKenna doing things her own way and still wanting to participate in the real meaning and core of the communion. It is the inner meaning not the outer trappings that are important, or at least that is what I think. The priest seems happy with her anyway.
Pam

[Caryl Hope]

How sad that you have to go this low... talk about DISRESPECT. May you remember to look in the mirror first and wipe off the mud on your face before you tell others there's a speck on theirs...

And McKenna, I'm glad you are able to understand that in this world it's not always black and white and that it's ok to be true to yourself and there is such a thing as compromise. Way to go girl!

Donna, it feels good that parents like you are listening to their children and guiding them instead of telling them what to do. They have a voice and you recognize and acknowledge it. God bless to you and your family!

[vanessa]

Good for McKenna, religion her way. God does not look at the frilly dresses he looks at the heart. Go McKenna, I proud of her. Donna and Bill are going a GREAT job as parents, keep up the good work!!! God Bless you Downey Family.

[Joanne]

Hooray for mckenna.....good for her for already knowing her style and sticking to it!!! Also congrats on the communion....wow, that brought back lots of memories. I think you have a very self-confident young lady on your hands! Good job to you and bill for instilling that in her.

[o-girl]

Good for McKenna...God doesn't care what you wear. What matters is that she believes and has faith. I'm sorry, but, imho, the Catholic church's man-made rules chafe my hide. I'm married to a Catholic man and I'm non-denominational Christian. Bless you & Bill for raising smart, lovely, kind people and for instilling belief of Jesus in them.

[Shawna]

Letting kids make their own rules is why the world is the way it is today. Sad.

[jenn]

Congratulations to McKenna and many blessings to her!!!

xo

[Sherri P eh]

OOooh, well if some of you think Donna is one bad Catholic (and parent) then you won't like me! While my kids were baptized in the Catholic church, they've both made their 1st communions in the Lutheran church, wearing whatever they pleased! I would love to share the group shot of the kids on that special day. White dresses, Uggs, and everything in between. But they all wore a white carnation boutenierre. Our church is big on outreach and serving the community, mission trips and service Saturdays. And that's what my kids are learning. Donna and Bill, you're not indulging McKenna, you're guiding her individuality. We don't need more sheep, we need more leaders, and I believe that's where she's headed. She's her own person because she's encouraged to be. I know God isn't tsk tsking, and we shouldn't be either.

[Laura]

I love a girl who knows her own mind & a Mom who supports her!!!

Blessing to your family.

[Jenni G.]

Congratulations McKenna.

[Tracy V]

Congratulations to McKenna on receiving her first Holy Communion! My daughter will receive her's tomorrow. Such an exciting time!

[The Scrapbook Zone]

tradition isn't a bad thing. Try it sometime? I myself am appalled that you didn't share your memories of your church learnings as a child with your daughter. My son recently received his first communion and me as his mother really talked up the tradition of the event-the boys in their suits and the girls in their dresses. Trust me I was a tomboy and didn't want to wear the dress but wear it I did to celebrate my faith. The more you let your kids control you the worse our world will become.

[Michelle Hart]

i think it's so awesome that you honored your daughter's personality and preferences. it's just the way god respects each of us as individuals. you are a great mom!

[Sandra]

Had no idea you were Catholic! That's cool! Congrats to McKenna. I think by her not wearing a white dress is awesome. Go on with your bad self little McK!!!

[Gabbie]

and you felt the need to post that - WHY?

The fact that you came here and posted it says so much more about YOU than it does about a little girl making her first holy communion.

Mckenna, you rock, and so does your mum for believing in you. Stay true to you.

[susiebarber]

Congratulations Mckenna on receiving Jesus for the first time!

[karen]

love that mckenna knows that faith comes from the inside.....and traditions can change! congratulations, mckenna!! and congratulations, donna! another milestone in your childs life! i can feel your pride!

[robinw]

Wow, what an amazing girl!! I admire her confidence to stand up in what she believes in! You go grrl!

[Jennifer]

Congratulations McKenna!! How proud you must be of her! It was her special event, so nice to hear she was able to do it the way that made her feel most comfortable!

[Holly P.]

Donna, I could hear the backlash from the naysayers before I even clicked on the comment section of your post. While the discussion on where to draw the line between respect for religion, and allowing children to be individuals is an interesting one, it’s probably best reserved for another forum.
McKenna, you are beautiful, congratulations!

[Sharon]

HI Donna,
You've been quiet lately although I'm sure you have your reasons.
I always live by "if you can't say anything nice then say nothing at all" Maybe others should too.

Missing the ispiration you bring here to the UK through your blog. Hope to see you blogging again soon.

Sharon (UK)

[Monica Gunn]

Congratulations to McKenna! I just made my first communion and confirmation too! (I'm 41.) We coordinated... I wore a navy dress with a white sweater.

Donna, your kids are just too cute!

[Amy]

What the heck does a white dress and veil have to do with God? I really sometimes wonder what people are thinking! Good for McKenna sticking up for what she believes is right, and I agree with her. God doesn't care what you wear!

[[email protected]]

I have to tell you Donna. I miss your posts. I keep checking the blog several times a day to see how Inspired went. Can't wait until you catch your breath and come back to blogging.

[flowergirldressforless]

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