The Gift Dilemma
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Our kids have too many toys.
If I were writing this on Twitter, I’d wryly label it #firstworldproblems, but the good fortune of our situation does not change the spreading-all-over-the-house, making-Mama-crazy aspect of it. There are too many toys.
Recent ruthless culling has returned our playroom to a manageable state, with a few age-inappropriate things stored and many many items sent to the donation... READ MORE
Fine Points
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Family on Tuesday, August 02, 2011
When I linked to Matt Archbold’s lovely tale of “angels unawares” yesterday, a few of the reactions got me thinking about a tangential point.
Matthew posits that in the Northeast, it’s considered rude to answer the question, “How are you?” with any response other than, “Fine,” because in the Northeast, no one cares about the answer.
I think that was a bit of hyperbole, not literally true, but it... READ MORE
New Schedules and Classic Manners
Posted by Lisa Hendey in News on Thursday, September 09, 2010
This week on the Faith & Family Live Cast (click here to listen or click on the player above), Rachel Elizabeth and I discuss the relief of returning to a schedule with the start of the school year. We discuss the return to school, the start of extracurricular activities and the joy of having a pattern to our days. Do you look forward to the rhythm of the school year, or do you dread getting back... READ MORE
First Impressions Count
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Just me on Wednesday, September 08, 2010
It’s College Fair season here in Central California, which means that I’m spending a few nights this week representing my alma mater at area events where students come to obtain information from a variety of colleges.
Last night, I was reminded again of the very sad state of manners in today’s high school students. Out of approximately 800 students attending last nights event, exactly TWO students... READ MORE
Nicer New York
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Reviews on Thursday, August 26, 2010
Native Washingtonians feel a smug superiority to New York City.
It may be The Big Apple, seat of finance, fashion and the arts, but we’re the true corridor of power.
And we’re prettier, more polite and our streets don’t stink.
I’m not so sure about that middle element anymore, though.
I used to spend a week or two each summer with my Great-Aunts in New York. It was great fun, but however many the... READ MORE
"Mary Is Tired"
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The only impressions I have about Christianity in Japan are snippets from the lives of saints Francis Xavier and later Maximilian Kolbe; the novel Silence; and this article from 2001 about the music of Bach leading to conversions.
I’m fascinated therefore by this 1970s subway poster meant to encourage people to yield seats to women with children.
If you click through to the whole collection, you’ll see a general fascination with Western images (and Jesus reminding people to take their umbrellas with them!), but this one is particularly arresting, I think, since it makes Mary stand for women and motherhood in a non-Christian culture.
Anyone more knowledgeable care to comment?
Coincidentally I’d been thinking about subway courtesy campaigns even before I stumbled across this image. More on that tomorrow.
Update: just ran across this article, “Why Christianity is Foreign to Japan.” (With a polite nod to Christopher Blosser.)
Please Don't Say That
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, September 10, 2009
Yesterday Camilla and I were unloading laundry from the dryer when she suddenly said, “Stupid!”
I glanced at her, trying to play it cool, and as she began to repeat the word it became clear that she wasn’t using it as an adjective to describe either of us. She was just saying it because she liked the sound.
Still. “Stupid” is not a term we want our child using. I gently told her that she needed... READ MORE
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