First-born Fun
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, August 13, 2010
I am the oldest child in our family. My husband is the oldest in his. When we were pregnant with our first baby, I was so worried for him—the oldest child born of two oldest children.
Turns out, I had nothing to fear! According to this study, first-born children get an advantage in the brain department.
Birth order within families has long sparked sibling rivalry, but it might also impact the child’s... READ MORE
No One Beat Me Up
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, July 22, 2010
“If I had to use two words to describe my childhood,” my sister said the other day, “they would be: pink belly.”
I was unloading the dishwasher and almost dropped a handful of forks. What?!? Pink belly? What was she talking about?
Apparently, “pink belly” is a game wherein the perpetrators hold down the victim and smack him on the belly until it turns pink.
I am the oldest of six children, and Tirienne... READ MORE
Her Brother, the Dog
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Wednesday, June 09, 2010
When I had one child, I was fascinated by her. I loved watching her grow and learn, watching her personality develop. Then I had another child and I was excited to have the chance to have the same experience with him.
And it turns out that having two children is more than twice as interesting as having one. Because there’s one unique child, and there’s another unique child, and then there is the relationship... READ MORE
Small Ones Who Smack
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, May 27, 2010
Our daughter Camilla was about fourteen months old when she started hitting us. She’d smack us in the face, almost gleefully, then watch carefully to see how we’d respond.
We thought she was too young for real discipline, so we tried training her instead: when she hit, we’d hold her arms by her sides and count down from ten. She quickly learned that this was the consequence of hitting, and she didn’t... READ MORE
We'll Miss These Days
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Friday, May 21, 2010
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My youngest sibling is about to graduate from high school, and he’ll be going away to college this fall. My parents are about to be empty-nesters. Compared to a decade ago, their house seems quiet these days.
I, on the other hand, cannot go to the bathroom without a child pounding on the door.
Parenting young children is physically demanding, and life is busy for us. I always say that I bend over... READ MORE
One-on-One Time With Your Kids
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Wednesday, March 31, 2010
As some of you know, I have been a weekly guest on the Son Rise Morning Show for a couple of months now. Every Friday at 6:50 am EST, Brian Patrick and I chat about all things related to Catholic family life.
You can hear my latest interview, about making sure all of your children receive the individual attention they need, by clicking on the player above.
(On Friday mornings, you can listen live online... READ MORE
Sweet Sister Love
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Monday, January 25, 2010
Once upon a time, Camilla was my baby. I rocked her to sleep, changed her diapers, was there for feedings and nighttime wake-ups, knew the meanings of all her different cries.
Cliché, of course, but it’s true: it seems like it was merely seconds ago that my little girl was a baby girl. These days she’s a three-year-old who says things like, “Mama, remember when I was a baby and I used to crawl around?”... READ MORE
He Loves Her!
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, October 22, 2009
Many people told me that one of the wonderful things about having our second child would be the chance to watch our kids love one another.
Since Blaise’s birth we have seen Camilla’s (sometimes overzealous) love for her baby brother in abundance. She was enamored with him the first time she met his eight-pound self, and the only thing that has changed since then is his size.
As he’s grown, Blaise... READ MORE
Little Ones, Love One Another
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, September 17, 2009
I’m putting the baby to sleep in the bedroom - or trying to, anyway - when the door cracks open. Through the dimness I can see a small curly head bobbing its way through the door.
I’m about to whisper a rejoinder when the owner of the head pipes up. “Mama! I just want to give Blaisey a kiss!”
Sigh. I can’t say no to that, and it’s not like the chubby eel of a baby is sleeping anyway. He’s wriggling... READ MORE
One to One Time with Kids
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Family on Tuesday, August 25, 2009
On Sunday, Eric and I took the afternoon off, headed to a local lake and spent three hours hiking and talking. Moments like these feel extra precious these days, as my eldest (who will turn 18 next month), has one foot out the door these days.
The outing wasn’t planned to be an “Eric only” event, but Adam and Greg had music practice at church that kept them from joining us. As Eric and I spent... READ MORE
