Smart Motivation
Posted by Arwen Mosher in News on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
When Camilla was little, a friend told me she’d read (in the book NurtureShock) that research showed that telling children “you’re so smart!” is counterproductive, and ends up undermining achievement as kids learn to overestimate their own abilities while also failing to develop the real confidence necessary to take risks.
Interested, I asked my super-intelligent, lifelong high-achieving sister what... READ MORE
Cry Room Conundrum
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, August 04, 2011
For the first time in a long while, I am a frequent visitor of the dreaded Cry Room. It’s not my favorite place to hang out, but it’s our best option right now.
We’ve been in a very nice season for a long while. After what felt like eternity with our oldest four we finally had everyone trained with good behavior and had even managed to move to the very front of our church. When Henry came along, he... READ MORE
Facebook: A Marriage Killer?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Marriage on Monday, February 28, 2011
It feels like I’ve been reading and hearing it everywhere lately: Facebook is bad for marriages.
The statistic I often see is that Facebook is cited as a cause of divorce in 20% of cases.*
I told this to my husband and he raised an eyebrow at me. “Like… how? Someone got addicted to Farmville and neglected their spouse?”
If only it were that simple! Facebook, as it presents chances to reconnect with... READ MORE
Easy Puree-ing
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Food on Thursday, September 30, 2010
I love pureed soups, and I love squash. Every autumn when the recipes show up online, I long for squash soup. But I have never made it.
In theory, I could. I have a perfectly good blender and you can make the soup then puree it in batches in your blender. With my tendency to spill things, though, I shudder to think of what my kitchen would look like after I tried my hand at pureed soup. So far I haven’t... READ MORE
Stimulate with Literature
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Friday, September 24, 2010
Here’s a great article: “How to Raise Boys Who Read.”
It’s full of common sense, and the crux seems about right to me: “The secret to raising boys who read, I submit, is pretty simple—keep electronic media, especially video games and recreational Internet, under control (that is to say, almost completely absent). Then fill your shelves with good books.”
Read the whole thing here. Especially if you have boys of your own.
Coffee With Friends
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, September 17, 2010
Yesterday morning, I met up with two friends for Mass. After Mass the three of us (and two sweet baby girls) headed over to a coffee shop to grab some caffeine and fellowship.
We sat together for about an hour and in that time the course of our conversation went from school to homework to employment and husband’s traveling. We talked at length about how we keep our houses clean and whether we worked... READ MORE
Baby Out or Baby In?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Monday, August 23, 2010
My sister is pregnant. Fully pregnant, since she was due this past Saturday.
Her first baby was a month early and her second eight days late. With this third baby, she was hoping to go early again, but no dice. She seems resigned to her baby’s late-ish arrival, but I know she’s greeting each morning wishing it will be the day.
I have no experience with this, since my babies were born at 10 days and... READ MORE
Unimportant Division
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Thursday, April 29, 2010
“In nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him.”
So says Haldir the elf about the feud between elves and dwarves.
Every time I read The Lord of the Rings, I notice this quotation. How could I fail to do so? I grew up in a home with a Catholic father and a Protestant mother, so disunity among Christians has always been... READ MORE
Bulbs You Can Bite
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Food on Tuesday, March 02, 2010
A friend of mine asked if I have a good beans and rice recipe. I do, and I happen to know it off the top of my head, so she grabbed a pen and I started reciting it. “Chop an onion, heat some oil in a pan, and saute the onion in it.”
As I told her the rest of the recipe it occurred to me that at least half of my entree recipes start this way. Almost daily, I find myself beginning dinner prep by sauteing... READ MORE
Tea vs. Coffee
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Food on Thursday, January 21, 2010
I enjoy Paul Reiser’s hilarious (for adults only) book Couplehood, but there is one particular section that I strongly disagree with.
It comes out of nowhere. He’s talking about getting together with friends for coffee, about how it’s nice and simple because the event contains the name of the beverage you’ll be consuming, so there’s no confusion about what to do when you get there. I’m smiling, nodding,... READ MORE
