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Are Teenagers Necessary?

Says You: Is the "teenager" a product of bad parenting?

A column on “Teenagerism” in the National Catholic Register two weeks ago reminded me to call The Myth of The Teenager to your attention. The author, Michael Platt, observes that the word “teenager” entered Webster’s only after World War II, and was the product of a sea change in parental attitudes rather than any necessary psychological condition. Prior to that time, instead of “teenagers” we had “youths.” The essential distinction being that youths, while immature and inexperienced, want to grow... READ MORE

Little Time

Children grow up fast

Lisa’s post about her son hitting a milestone has me pondering the rapidity with which children grow up.  It’s a cliche, I know, but when our daughter Camilla was a newborn, so fussy that every week felt like it had at least twelve days and twelve endless nights in it, we had trouble with the idea that children grow up fast.  One time when we were in the middle of a many-hour cry-fest, my husband asked me plaintively, “Will she always be a baby?” My feeling was: yes, she will.

Now our little baby... READ MORE

Blueberry Days

savoring the last sights and tastes of summer.

“I am thinking of a story right now,” Gabby said to me as we picked blueberries beneath a bright and endless sky yesterday morning.

As August days do here in New Hampshire, the day had started out cold. But now the growing strength of the nearly midday sun warmed our shoulders and coaxed us out of layers.

“What story?” I asked as I unzipped the baby’s sweatshirt and parked him in front of a loaded berry bush.

“A little story I like to read about Sal,” she smiled at me before skipping away... READ MORE

Helpful Hints

group blog reading made easy

I posted some information in this week’s Coffee Talk that might be useful to all readers, so I thought I should share it here too.

For those who are used to reading our bloggers’ personal blogs, navigating through the group blog format here at Faith & Family Live! might be a bit overwhelming.

If you prefer to read only one blogger at a time, you can do that here. Clicking on the name of any blogger in the “posted by” section at the top of a blog post, brings you to “their” page that shows only their posts.

See here: Rachel, Rebecca, Lisa, Arwen or Danielle. Happy reading!

Lunch Box Blues

This mom's got the blues over "bag vs. box"

I knew it was inevitable…

Adam took off for his first full day of eighth grade this morning with his lunch in tow, nondescriptly tucked into a brown paper bag.  His trusty insulated lunchbox and cool reusable containers tossed aside in favor of something more socially acceptable.

I shouldn’t have been surprised!  I remember Eric making the transition from box to bag back when he was in junior high.  For some reason, at our school, bag rules and box is for geeks.  Of course, sitting next to the... READ MORE

2008 Writing Contest

Write an essay, win a prize!

Reminder to all teachers, students, and parents—the 2008 Faith & Family Writing Contest is now underway! Kids in grades 3-8 are eligible to enter.

This year’s essay topic is: “What does the pope expect from young people in America today?”

See here for entry instructions and other details.

Last year’s essay topic was: “Caught Being Good.”

Third grader Matthew Sweer of Conway, Arkansas won first place in the lower grade category. Here’s his prize winning essay:

“An upright man gives thought... READ MORE

Watch What You Say

any words you speak could be your last

Got 20 minutes? Watch this. It starts out as an absolutely charming discussion of how to appreciate classical music, but it’s really about effective evangelization and how we treat people. The closing anecdote is killer.

With a polite nod to The Anchoress for pointing this out.

Nap Attack

It happens to the best of us.

The Bishops Speak

"The Catholic Church Is A Pro-Life Church"

It’s rare for a bishop to directly and publicly rebuke any public figure for a host of reasons both pastoral and pragmatic. So we have to sit up and take notice when a growing chorus of bishops singles out a specific politician --Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi-- for correction. For those who haven’t followed the story, last week Speaker Pelosi, questioned on Meet the Press about when life begins, had this to say:

as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long... READ MORE

Listen Up

In a recent Catholic Spotlight podcast, I spoke with Chris Cash about the September/October issue of Faith & Family magazine.

You can listen here.


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Faith & Family Live!

P1030783 Our new daily blog is where everyday moms offer one another inspiration, support, and encouragement in Catholic living. Any mom grappling with the meaning of life or the cleaning of laundry is welcome here. Meet our bloggers, check out our magazine, and come on in! READ MORE

 
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