How To Be Happy At Home
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Homemaking on Monday, February 07, 2011
Here’s a story whose end I didn’t see coming. I might have shared it on a podcast already—can’t recall.
When we were younger and were on the political activist social circuit more, I used to delight in responding to the typical Washington, DC party question, “What do you do?” with an unapologetic and smiling, “I’m a housewife.”
I used this response even during the periods of my life when I was working... READ MORE
One Advances, One Retreats
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Blaise will be 19 months old on Thursday, but when he was just 18 months, I was worried a mental breakdown might keep me from making it to this point.
Has anyone else gone through this? Dealing with an 18-month-old who makes you think you’ll lose your mind?
I don’t remember this with my daughter, but when Blaise hit 18 months it was like someone flipped a switch. A BAD switch. His already not-stellar... READ MORE
The Waiting Game
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Family on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I just hung up the telephone with a girlfriend who was lamenting over an experiencing we are sharing together with our sons this year… the “waiting game”. Both of our boys, who have known one another since Kindergarten, are waiting for college admissions decisions. And so are their moms…
Max and Eric are both great students with wonderful prospects. Both have applied to multiple colleges around... READ MORE
God is Everywhere
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
My husband and older boys are going on a camping trip this weekend, the preparations for which have now become my full-time job.
I spent over two hours this morning looking for long john underwear in stores that are now prominently featuring bathing suits. Cold weather clothes were nowhere to be found.
But somehow I managed to squeeze blood from a turnip. I circled and double-backed and picked through... READ MORE
Peace and Joy
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Monday, November 23, 2009
This morning I loaded up two-year-old Henry to do our Thanksgiving shopping. We had to hit two stores—the mega-warehouse followed by our regular grocers.
By the time I neared the wholesale club, I could see the parking lot was already near-capacity. Only the very furthest spaces were still available and I started chiding myself for getting such a late start.
I took a deep breath and decided to say... READ MORE
Days, Weeks, Months
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, November 05, 2009
Today I am sixteen weeks pregnant. Hooray!
Whenever people ask me how far along I am, I can tell them to the day (today I’m sixteen weeks exactly. Tomorrow I will add the +1). Sometimes, when I give the answer in weeks, people feel compelled to convert my calculations into months. So sixteen weeks = four months.
The problem with months, I’ve always found, is that you wind up having to go up to ten months (for the 40 weeks) and for some reason, keeping track of things week to week makes it go back a little faster.
Do you do months or weeks? Or—as I am towards the end—days and hours and then, towards the very end, minutes and seconds…
Out of the Fullness of the Heart
a sweet encounter
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
I saw in the news today the story of a man who caught a fly ball at yesterday’s Phillies game. After catching the ball—a lifetime dream come true—the man handed the ball to his three-year-old daughter and watched in shock as she tossed it back towards the field.
What happens next is the real story—the way he handled his little girl in that moment of abject frustration. In an interview today, I heard the man explain that when he saw the look on his daughter’s face, he could tell she knew she had done something maybe not so good—and he was quick to offer his love.
To me this is a great example of always training our hearts towards kindness and patience—while it isn’t always possible, if that’s our inclination and ultimate goal hopefully that is what will rise to the surface when it really counts.
Toward Kinder, Gentler Parenting
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, August 20, 2009
Bryan does nighttime duty with our toddler, while I take care of the baby. This morning I asked him, “Am I remembering correctly that you were up with Camilla quite a bit last night?”
And he nodded. And sighed. And smiled.
Smiled!
When Camilla was a baby, my husband tried valiantly, but he could not always handle her. Sometimes he’d bring her fussing little self to me and say, “Honey, you’ve got... READ MORE
Best Laid Plans
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Just me on Tuesday, July 28, 2009
As I shared with you last week, I’m currently visiting with my parents in Mississippi. When we planned this visit, we discussed taking a “pilgrimage” to a few Catholic destinations in the area. We planned our itinerary, consulting Mass times, visiting hours for the sites, and the best possible route to take. After my arrival Friday night, we woke up bright and early Saturday morning and were ready... READ MORE
What is that? It may make you cry
Posted by Sr. Patricia Proctor, OSC in Family on Friday, May 01, 2009
