Sibling Gifts
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Friday, October 14, 2011
Once or twice a year all my siblings and I are in the same place.
Last weekend was one of those times. The six of us went out to dinner for my youngest sister’s birthday. We laughed so hard my stomach ached afterward, but my eyes also welled up a couple times as we shared stories and support and joy at being together.
What a gift my parents gave us in each other.
One of the hard things for me as... READ MORE
Can I?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, September 01, 2011
A friend of mine mentioned that her five-month-old has recently ramped up his night wakings. He’s her third child, and she’s baffled. Shouldn’t she have the hang of this by now?
I dunno, I told her. I have four kids, and I certainly don’t feel like I have the hang of things.
Later, I realized that’s both true and untrue.
Four kids in, I’ve concluded it’s impossible to “get the hang” of babies in general.... READ MORE
Learning from the Couch
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Being a mother is a busy, busy job.
My husband and I try to build a certain amount of slow, quiet time into our lives. (My theory is that God must think this is important, or he wouldn’t have designed children to need more sleep than adults!) As long as our routine is plugging along, I get enough slowing-down to keep myself from being frazzled and out of control.
But still: busy, busy, busy. Except... READ MORE
Different yet Similar
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Monday, February 21, 2011
I love getting advice from more experienced parents, especially ones who’ve had or known lots of children.
Why? Because I’ve found they’re good at reminding me of something I, as a novice mom, often forget: that every child is unique.
I know. It seems obvious. But in practice I’ve found it easily slips my mind. I assume I know how to handle an issue with child #2 because child #1 went through a similar... READ MORE
Hoop Dreams
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, December 01, 2010
We had two basketball games tonight—our two oldest sons play for their middle school. We were at the gym for hours where we experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
I say “we” of course because it is our school. But also because my husband coaches our oldest.This year, his team is really, really good. That makes losing really, really tough.
For the last few years, the team has struggled.... READ MORE
Honk if You Love Me
Posted by Lynn Wehner in Faith on Monday, November 15, 2010
Honk. Flap, flap, flap. Honk. Flap, flap, flap.
Did you hear that? Fall is pressing forward, and here in New England an annual migration fills the air with the sounds of feathered friends.
At an evening retreat I attended years ago, a priest gave a reflection about the preaching those geese do as they fly overhead. You never knew, did you?
As the years have passed, I’ve held onto the facts he mentioned.... READ MORE
Writing My Own Story
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Tuesday, October 19, 2010
I have several friends who like blogs, but don’t read ones written by other Catholic mothers.
“I can’t take the pressure,” they say. “Their lives look so perfect, and it makes me feel badly that mine’s not like that.”
Personally, I do read - and am inspired by - blogs by other Catholic moms. But I understand my friends’ point of view. It can be intimidating.
I’ve been part of the Internet community... READ MORE
Let's Communicate
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, October 15, 2010
Paul and I are speaking at an Engaged Encounter tonight—we’re talking about communication.
We have been presenting at these kinds of gatherings for over five years, and I was reflecting today that some of the things I included a few years ago I no longer do. In some areas, Paul and I have changed, Lord willing for the better. Part of that, I think, it just maturity and part of it is lessons learned. I used to think a big part of good communication was talking about everything. Now I realize that honesty is indeed the best policy, but that sometimes you can overdo it. Learning to let it go can be equally effective.
What about you? Can you pinpoint an area of married life where you or your spouse have had an A-ha moment—for the better?
Little Musicians
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Monday, September 27, 2010
My daughter’s birthday is coming up, and she wants a drum.
It takes little to push me into audio-overload, so the idea of a drum makes me cringe, but I want to support her desire to have more music in her life.
(I hope she appreciates that I give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that it’s more music she wants. Even though, being almost-four, what she probably wants is not more music but more... READ MORE
Missing Kid Moments
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, September 07, 2010
We took the kids to the zoo on Friday and while we were watching the penguins, we lost Camilla.
I’d been standing behind her and moved a few feet away to get a better view. She must have turned around a second later and, unable to find me, taken off looking for us. I think I realized she was missing about two minutes later.
Fortunately we were in a dead-end area of the zoo, so there was only one way... READ MORE