When the Past Knocks Twice: How Ratajacks Faced a Crisis

Background

Crises rarely arrive on schedule, and for some families, they arrive more than once—each time revealing new truths about resilience, fear, and decision-making. In a family business, one thing is certain: challenges will arise. That's a more optimistic way to put it, but the truth remains: stuff happens. The key is how you respond to the crisis. Will you continue doing things the same way, change, adapt, or close your doors and move on? This is a story about my family’s business, Ratajack’s, and how they faced a crisis.

The First Shock

In the late 1960s, a young girl named Madeline, that’s me, in the first grade, learned the meaning of fear on an otherwise ordinary school day. My playground was located directly across from my grandparents’ home and family business, which had been established since 1908.

The business, founded by the matriarch Maryanna Ratajack (or the Polish version, Rataczyak), has faced challenges and overcome them every time, from two World Wars, the Great Depression, to the riots of the 1960s. They faced adversity and demonstrated resilience to prevail.

But when I was little, I wasn’t aware of the stories of family strength. During recess, I saw an ambulance parked across the street. My grandfather, bloodied and motionless, was being carried away on a stretcher. Was he dead?

Stunned and sobbing, I was scolded by my teacher, Sister Octaviana, to “compose myself.” The rest of the school day felt like a prison sentence as I waited for answers.

When the final bell rang, I ran home. My mother met me at the door and quickly told me nothing serious had happened—my grandfather was “okay.” It wasn’t until years later that I discovered the truth: my grandfather had been shot during a robbery. A World War I veteran, he had endured gunfire before and survived again, choosing not to burden his granddaughter with the truth until I was old enough to bear it.

The Second Knock

Years later, in the winter chill of an Illinois Monday, the family store—Ratajacks—was once again the scene of danger. Snow-damp coats hung heavy on customers’ shoulders as Charlotte, my older sister, cheerfully worked the cash register. Beside her, Uncle Mitch manned the second register, still carrying the memory of a past robbery when a gunman had struck him in the head.

The door opened—not with the usual blast of cold air, but with a quiet, tense presence. A man stepped forward and calmly demanded, “Give me the money.”

Charlotte, still in high school, instinctively pressed the silent alarm. Mitch, recognizing the stakes, quietly instructed her to hand over the cash. The man left without further incident, disappearing into the snowy night.

Though the danger had passed, its impact lingered. Customers stayed away. Closing time became a ritual of checking and rechecking locks. Mitch avoided the front door. Charlotte’s heart raced whenever it opened. After lengthy family discussions, the decision was made to sell the store, marking not only the end of a business chapter but also the culmination of a family legacy.

Analysis

Both incidents forced the family to confront fear, uncertainty, and hard decisions. In the first, the choice was to shield a child from a traumatic truth. In the second, the choice was whether to stay in a business that carried real personal risk.

Discussion Questions

Managing Truth and Protection

When is it appropriate to withhold information from someone “for their own good”?

Why do you think the family stories of resilience weren’t shared? At what age should difficult stories be discussed?

Decision-Making Under Repeated Threat

How should a family decide whether to continue or exit a business after a traumatic event? Should family historical legacy be a consideration?

What factors—emotional, financial, and safety-related—should weigh most heavily in such a decision? Why?

Recovery and Resilience

Why do you think that Charlotte was so well-trained on what to do during a robbery? And how do you think she was able to remain calm?

How might the family have supported each other better in the aftermath to reduce long-term anxiety?

Conclusion

This story about my family’s business, Ratajack’s, demonstrates that crises are inevitable—what truly matters is how we respond. In the face of challenges, resilience and adaptability aren’t just virtues; they are essentials. Whether we choose to confront, adapt, or walk away, our response shapes our destiny. Ultimately, it’s our decisions in moments of crisis that define who we are and forge our future.