Why do the MommyWars go on?
There are 2 types of MommyWars. My kid is more ____ than your kid. With infants, we all want the kid who is the biggest or the smallest, the best or the worst sleeper, some sort of superlative. It isn’t enough that we have a child of God with an immortal soul suddenly gifted to our care; we need this kid to be “more special” than other kids, even though God made those kids too. You’re Doing It All Wrong. Pick a battle: bottle or breast; co-sleep or crib; disposable or cloth diapers; attachment parenting or child abuse (just kidding); stay-at-home or work; plan your kids meticulously or fill your quiver; etc. In short, for every snarky MommyWar post you read, it can be categorized as either Competitive Parenting or Judging As Sport. I...
Read MoreWhat I’m learning about hosting a party
I live in a small house. It’s about 1100 square feet, about half of that taken up by bedrooms. So, when I decide to host a party for the 24 relatives who live within five minutes of my house, it takes some consideration. Here are things I’ve learned: When your combined kitchen/dining room is one of the two rooms available to guests, plan a menu that allows you to put the food out and stack the dirty dishes for later. No matter what your mother says, you do not need to serve a menu that includes multiple roasts and vegetable sides. Borrow extra chairs and card tables if possible. Serve foods that can be eaten while seated but not at a table. Place food and drink buffets so that traffic does not crash in on itself. There should be a way of getting from...
Read MoreWhat you need to plan a family
Today I was looking at an online ad for Walgreens, and noticed a section of it was for “Sexual Wellness.” It said, “Save on products to enhance intimacy and plan a family.” The products in this category are: Condoms & Contraceptives Lubricants & Moisturizers Vibrators & Adult Toys Mood Setters Sexual Wellness Supplements Intimate Care (douche, medications, tampons, waxing) I am trying to figure out how one could use most of these items to “enhance intimacy” or “plan a family.” Of course lubrication is helpful for couples who need it, and treating a yeast infection could theoretically enhance sexual satisfaction or fertility. But the fact is, 95% of what is listed in this category is aimed at reducing...
Read MoreLove, Love, Love!
Let me be honest. I’m really not that nice of a person. I have a few friends who are really, truly, I mean it! nice, but I’m really not like them. Exhibit A: Someone gives one of us a really lame gift. My nice friend’s response: Oh, thank you! It is so thoughtful of you to think of me! (Meanwhile, in her head: It’s so nice they even thought of me! God is so good!) My response: Oh, thank you! (Meanwhile, in my head: I doubt I can even regift a piece of crap like this. Why would anyone give me a shadowbox with a homemade origami swan inside?) It’s true, I really have no gratitude for anything that isn’t pretty much what I would have chosen for myself. I write nice thank you notes, but I often don’t really mean what I write...
Read More7 Quick Takes Friday
1. Fierce is halfway through his two week winter break. Woot! We’ve been in new-baby-zombie-land and at least now we can do that together. I think the whole “going to work” thing is overrated. 2. My grandmother started hospice care this last week and is showing signs of being antibiotic-resistant. She has been falling deeper into dementia since at least 2007, maybe longer. It struck me this last week when I went to take Wolfie and Zoe for a visit (Zoe is named after my grandmother), how hard things have been for so long. My grandmother requires full-time care and my grandfather, who is still sharp as a tack, needs company and emotional support. I am grateful for the summer of 2006, when I stayed with grandparents while working at an office...
Read MoreThose Holy Women
There are a couple of women in my life who glow with the love and joy of Christianity in practice. For example, my friend Lisa is expecting her sixth baby this August; no matter what her kids are doing, she is patient and kind. When asked about her cheerfulness in the face of nails-on-a-chalkboard-whining, she responds simply, “I love my life.” I met her when she was a single woman working as a Catholic missionary on my college campus. When I went through some difficult things in college, Lisa was present. She never seemed to offer me advice or answers, but her joy illuminated my way. When I was treated badly by a priest, and was utterly shocked that a member of the cloth could be unkind, it was Lisa’s joy that kept me grounded in my faith. When...
Read MoreThe difference between backyard chicken eggs and “slave eggs”
My dad calls conventionally raised eggs “slave eggs.” Until our chickens started laying in September, we were paying a premium for “cage free” and “vegetarian-fed” eggs. This is a picture of 1 conventional egg and 2 of our early backyard eggs. Note that the conventional egg yolk broke, just falling into the bowl. When I scramble our eggs, I actually have to work to get the yolk and whites to mix because the yolk is so strong. The eggs are now regular size, but the color remains strong. The shells are so thick that I have to smash them on the counter to make a crack. Well done...
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