The Christmas Story
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, December 15, 2011
This is really sweet.
The Bunny's Angel
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, April 28, 2011
When I decided to major in theology in college, one of the reasons I did it was so that when my future children asked the hard questions, I’d be able to answer some of them.
I pictured solemn dinner table discussions about topics like Purgatory and the Beatific Vision. My kids would know exactly what “Oh happy fault!” means, and the difference between plenary and partial indulgences. I could teach... READ MORE
Book Listening
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, January 27, 2011
Next month my husband is taking his first-ever solo road trip with our daughter.
Camilla gets carsick, so travelling with her is complicated. She can’t read or watch videos or do anything but sit in her car seat and stare out the window. She’s pretty good at singing/talking to herself, but she still needs amusing about 30% of the time, a task that usually falls to the parent in the passenger seat.... READ MORE
Obey When?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, September 09, 2010
Earlier this week I read a fascinating piece about children and discipline, at the blog Like Mother, Like Daughter.
The piece’s attention-grabbing title is “Six-to-eleven year olds need less patience from you,” but at heart it’s about how to raise children to practice true charity, defined by the author (“Mom” blogger Leila) as “simply treating people with that very love you would like to receive.”... READ MORE
One Advances, One Retreats
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Blaise will be 19 months old on Thursday, but when he was just 18 months, I was worried a mental breakdown might keep me from making it to this point.
Has anyone else gone through this? Dealing with an 18-month-old who makes you think you’ll lose your mind?
I don’t remember this with my daughter, but when Blaise hit 18 months it was like someone flipped a switch. A BAD switch. His already not-stellar... READ MORE
Three, Two… Seven?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, August 12, 2010
My daily life—and, I suspect, the lives of many other families with toddlers—involves a lot of counting. Three songs before bedtime; twelve grapes for a snack; five seconds to calm down from throwing a fit.
Blaise is too young to “get” numbers, but Camilla likes them. The framework of numbers for treats and discipline works well for her because she can understand it.
She also enjoys counting for... READ MORE
Sweet and Sour Siblings
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, June 01, 2010
I’m all about making lemonade, but the thing is: lemons aren’t enough. You’ve got to have sugar too.
Both my kids have been on a major Mama kick lately. My daughter turns “I-want-MA-ma!” into a whine that sounds like one four-syllable word. My son babbles it almost without ceasing, “Mamamamamamama…” They both want me to hold them, feed them, cuddle them, and read to them, every waking hour of the... READ MORE
Kiss Me To Sleep, Mama
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, May 27, 2010
Propelling my daughter through her bedtime routine, I often feel like I’m trying to drag her through wet cement.
Some evenings I think I’d prefer the wet cement prospect.
It’s partly my own fault for letting her get away with dawdling. We’re working on that. Sometimes, though, three-year-olds are just slow. During her nightly snack, I sit with her while she eats… and eats… and eats… and I remember... READ MORE
Babies Don't Ride Bikes
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Saturday, April 24, 2010
At the park the other day, we saw a little girl from our parish who is the same age as Camilla. As the kids played together and we moms chatted, I noticed that Camilla’s friend had apparently ridden a bike to the playground. It was parked right there between her older brother’s bike and her younger sister’s stroller.
Her mom said, “Oh yes, she loves to ride her bike.” I feel embarrassed to admit it,... READ MORE
Joyful Parenting and First Communions
Posted by Lisa Hendey in News on Thursday, April 22, 2010
This week on the podcast (click here to listen or click on the player above), we look at the challenges of joyfully parenting little ones when life can be filled with so many physical and emotional challenges. How do you train your children under five in the basics of life? How do you keep yourself from going crazy or burning out when there are so many demands upon your time, strength and mind?
... READ MORE
