Little Picture, Big Heart
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Friday, October 29, 2010
For years my father has had a framed watercolor of a heart on his dresser. My younger sister was making it for him, but smudged it. Disappointed, she threw it away, but he rescued it and framed it.
I always like seeing the heart, which feels to me like a metaphor for the way Dad loves his children despite and through our weaknesses.
My father is a wise man, and he too draws a metaphor from the heart picture. He published the piece on his blog, and I found it both moving and true. You can read it here: “The Broken Heart”.
Under the Big Top
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, March 18, 2010
We are back from a very exciting, harrowing, grand adventure to The Circus. What a time!
Here’s the thought I had, during the nearly three hours we sat watching the cutting-edge flips and daring deeds: what has become of me?
Growing up, my family went to the circus fairly often. My parents brought us whenever it came to town; this was one of those “special things” we did as a family. I loved it and... READ MORE
When Mom is Sick ...
Posted by Robyn Lee in Family on Monday, January 11, 2010
If you follow Danielle Bean on facebook and twitter (like I do), you would know that she was feeling under the weather last week. I called Danielle the other night to ask how she was feeling. As we chatted I recalled the times growing up when my mom was sick.
Everything seemed to fall apart when mom was sick. Even as a kid I recognized that things weren’t quite right without mom. “What do you mean... READ MORE
Juvenile Kineto Osmosis
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I think I’ve mentioned before that I come from a nerdy family. We like language. We do not say “decimate” when we mean “annihilate” and we do not say that things make us “nauseous.” If one of us uses the word “myself” when he should use “I” or “me,” he’s sure to get the evil eye from at least one other family member.
Some of you are probably shuddering at that idea, but our family’s obsession is fun... READ MORE
Keep the Faith
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, December 03, 2009
As parents, we work desperately hard to pass our faith onto our children. We do lots of big things and a million little things, all the while praying that our efforts will take root—that our children will have a love of the faith that sustains them.
Here is an interesting article by Fr. John Hardon that discusses a few important steps to take in these efforts.
To me, this line is the money shot:
What are we saying? We are saying that the first and most fundamental way in which parents can keep their children Catholic is for the parents themselves to be authentic, and I mean authentic, Catholics themselves.
Little Bulbs of Joy
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Food on Thursday, August 13, 2009
My poor mother.
You see, my father hates the smell of garlic and is very sensitive to it. If my mom eats a garlic-containing food, he’ll still be able to smell it on her skin a day or two later. Since she loves him, she avoids eating garlic, and cooking with it as well.
This meant when I was growing up, I rarely ate garlic. I didn’t know what I was missing, since we’d never had it in the house.... READ MORE
Love and Care
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, May 01, 2009
The video posted by Sr. Patricia below did indeed make me cry. What a beautiful reminder of the great circle of life.
Sr. Patricia, it has been so wonderful having you here at Faith and Family this week! One of the things I love so much about getting your daily e-letter is hearing about your trips to visit your mother.
The stage I’m at right now, with my parents relatively young and quite healthy,... READ MORE
Parents Behaving Badly
Posted by Danielle Bean in News on Saturday, January 10, 2009
Does the sight of this mouse incite a violent reaction?
I thought about Arwen’s post about noisy toys and how noise can drive parents crazy when I read this article about the problem of escalating violence at Chuck E. Cheese restaurants.
“It’s madness, absolute madness,” Susquehanna Twp. Police Chief Robert A. Martin said.
Martin said he believes much of the violence stems from ongoing disputes among... READ MORE
The Embryo Dilemma
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Friday, December 05, 2008
The New York Times ran an important story on frozen embryos yesterday.
Important because it’s the first time in recent memory I can recall a secular mainstream news organization acknowledging that there is an ethical dilemma about what to do with frozen embryos. Even if it isn’t said, people who oppose embryonic stem cell research are generally treated as benighted opponents of science and reason.... READ MORE
Tis the Season (almost)
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I know it may seem like I’m jumping the gun, but today I present a question that is sure to be on the hearts and minds of many mothers right now.
Teacher gifts.
Growing up, my parents were both educators and some Christmases it seemed the house was overflowing with coffee mugs filled with Hershey’s kisses. I know it’s the thought that counts, but I suspected that when it comes to coffee mugs and teachers,... READ MORE
