A Not So Dry Run
by Kelly Dolin in Family on Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:46 PM
Friend me on Facebook and you can read riveting updates such as the following:
Three hours ago: Potty training! I’d rather be in the dentist’s chair. We’re going nowhere fast.
One hour ago: I quit. We’ll call this a dry run (figuratively speaking; there was nothing dry about it). Ainsley just pooped in front of the Fed Ex man.
All of this reminds me of Betty White’s comment from a while back: “You know, I have so many people to thank for being here, but I really have to thank Facebook. When I first... READ MORE
Single Dad Wins Super Bowl Tickets
by Robyn Lee in Family on Friday, February 03, 2012 8:46 AM
Sunday is a special day for Catholic Dad, Jimmy Oliveira. Even when his daughter Gina was still very young, he started the family tradition of Sunday Mass and watching the New York Giants game. “When I was a child that was the family tradition growing up. Church and football. When my daughter was born I decided this is going to be our thing. Going to church on Sunday and watching the Giants game,” says Jimmy.
7-year-old Gina, also loves their Sundays. She asked her dad if they would continue their... READ MORE
Fight or Flight
by Kelly Dolin in Family on Saturday, January 21, 2012 3:57 PM
Adrenaline assists the human body in mounting a response in times of trouble. Fight or flight—that’s what we’re supposed to do when facing peril. But what if instead your innate response is pure paralysis?
I’m about twelve years old. I’m window shopping at the mall. I exit one store and stroll into the mall area to wander through a car show. A man walks up and starts reading a display out loud. He makes some kind of small talk—I can’t remember what he said exactly.
I move on. And so does he. He... READ MORE
Thriving!
by Arwen Mosher in Family on Sunday, January 15, 2012 9:13 PM
I’ll admit it: when I read the title and opening paragraphs of Jen Fulwiler’s recent post at the National Catholic Register blog, I stifled a sigh. The piece is called “Moms of Young Children: The Time to Thrive Is Now” and I was afraid I was about to read another screed about how mothers could be fit, organized, and put-together (with harmonious marriages and deep spiritual lives) if only we would self-motivate, prioritize, and Make Time for Us.
I’m a mom of young children. I exhaust myself daily... READ MORE
In Praise of Unknown Engineers
by Jake Frost in Family on Monday, January 09, 2012 10:52 PM
Who can name the geniuses who have wrought our modern world? The scientists and engineers whose imagination, sweat and determination created the artifacts of material culture we use and rely upon each day?
I’m not talking Thomas Edison, Henry Ford or the Wright brothers. Everyone already knows about light-bulbs and cars and airplanes. But how about the inventor of the zip-lock bag? The lowly but lovely Swifter? Those hardy and child resilient Corelle plates?
Maybe they aren’t as exciting... READ MORE
Wonderful Christmastime
by Rachel Balducci in Family on Sunday, January 01, 2012 6:26 PM
We got the prettiest Christmas tree this year. As part of our annual family ritual, we loaded up the kids and headed out to the country to our favorite tree farm, just like we’ve done every year since Paul and I were first married.
Our very first Christmas, Paul tagged along with friends. I was working my weekend shift as the obituary writer at the paper, so the two of us grabbed a tree in town and he went along that Sunday for the ride.
The next year, and nearly every year since then, we have gone... READ MORE
Making (Imperfect) Memories
by Colleen Duggan in Family on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 4:57 PM
For the last couple weeks, I have planned various Christmas projects so the kids and I can work together in a constructive, memory-making kind of way. I admit to grandiose visions of homemade goodness prepared in an atmosphere of familial calm, peace, and love but the reality is more reflective of preschool playhouse bar room fights (if there were such a thing).
Take yesterday, for example.
As soon as I had organized the three older children in their cooking aprons, Patrick started shouting at... READ MORE
Too Pretty To Do Homework?
by Kelly Dolin in Family on Sunday, December 11, 2011 1:35 PM
The Washington Post reports that JC Penney has been taken to task for marketing a t-shirt that reads, “I’m too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me.”
To make matters worse, the description of the shirt on the JC Penney website reads, “Who has time for homework when there’s a new Justin Bieber album out? She’ll love this tee that’s just as cute and sassy as she is.”
My daughter is cute and sassy. We’re not going out of our way to encourage the sassy part. It’s coming along quite... READ MORE
Mass Distractions
by Rachel Balducci in Family on Sunday, November 27, 2011 10:17 PM
I’m not a big fan of Mass right now.
How can she say that, I hear you gasping. What is she thinking?
What I’m thinking, after a late evening, is how much I love Jesus and am grateful for the gift of the Eucharist. I love our Catholic faith and I love being Catholic. I love the universal church and I love you all! Life is good.
But in the midst of all that wonderful love I’m also thinking about a certain four-year-old boy who is also a gift from Jesus but who makes Mass feel like the longest hour... READ MORE
From Attitude to Gratitude
by Karen Edmisten in Family on Sunday, November 20, 2011 1:12 PM
“Why do I have to wear braces?” my daughter complained. “I’m so tired of them.”
“Well, y’know, you don’t have to,” I snapped. My teen battened her emotional hatches for the coming storm of lecture.
“You should be happy that you get to wear them. You have parents who love you, care about your teeth, and your health, and work hard to provide for you. If we lived in different circumstances, with no access to a dentist, you might be asking me why you have horrible toothaches and have to get all your... READ MORE
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