My Back Won't Always Hurt Like This
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Saturday, August 11, 2012
When Camilla was a newborn she screamed for hours. Starting when she was three weeks old our evenings were filled with it: pacing, rocking, bouncing, driving around the neighborhood at midnight. We’d try anything to get our precious child to calm down.
During that time I read somewhere that infant fussiness peaks at six to eight weeks and I thought despondently, “We will not make it. That is a forever... READ MORE
Just Enough
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Wednesday, June 06, 2012
This little food-for-thought post over at Bearing Blog has had me pondering for a few days now. “The decline of grace” discusses the idea that God giving us the grace we need to handle our lives’ challenges means that when our we pass from a more trying state of life into an easier one, the grace we receive also diminishes. We’re given exactly as much as we need, is the idea. No more.
The theology-major... READ MORE
Children's Book Book Club
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I love the idea of online book clubs, but in practice they’re hard. Typing up my thoughts about an entire novel takes too much time.
Still, talking about books is fun, and last week as I listened to my sister reading aloud to my children, I realized: children’s books are full of insights, but short enough that you can discuss them in a single post and comments.
An idea was born: how about Children’s... READ MORE
Twins Are One!
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Friday, May 18, 2012
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My husband had a countdown on his phone for months. Every so often he gave me an update. It was a big deal when we hit the halfway point, and three-quarters, and less than two months left. Last week, with mere days to go, I didn’t need updates. I could count for myself.
Linus Michael and Ambrose John were born just after midnight on May 12th last year. Last Saturday, they were one year old. ONE WHOLE... READ MORE
Curveballs Come
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
2011 was a rough year for our family. Blessed, incredibly so, but rough. Baby twins are not for the faint of heart, and much of the year was a blur for me.
When 2012 began, my husband and I breathed a sigh of relief, because this was going to be our year. This year life would be simple and predictable - and easier as the twins got older - and we’d be able to relax and enjoy our little family.
Except... READ MORE
A 2012 Try
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Are you a perfectionist?
I am, of the frustrated sort, and it makes the start of a new year difficult. On the one hand, I’m tempted to make exhaustive lists of ways to improve myself this year. On the other hand, I dread the guilt I’d inevitably feel as the resolutions fell, one by one.
In recent years I’ve sidestepped this problem by avoiding particular resolutions in favor of more general ones.... READ MORE
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
