The Down Side to the Mom Job

The Mom Job is great but even the most perfect vocation has its difficult aspects. For the mom who is at home all day with her beloved children, the biggest down side is loneliness resulting from isolation from other adults.  It may be hard to believe that a woman who cannot even use the restroom without a train of toddlers joining her in the room could ever be lonely, but indeed, it does happen. Some of us turn on our favorite television to have the sound of adult voices.  I particularly enjoyed EWTN and a smattering of cooking programs.  I … Continue reading

Sometimes the midafternoon sucks

Yeah, my title is crude. I’m at my desk unable to work because the Little Tiger, who is almost three, is throwing a temper tantrum over being forbidden to bring the outside slide into the house. I should get a prize for patience this afternoon. I ought to get a prize for parenting too! What a loud tantrum the Little Tiger throws. It began with a small rebellion. I told my child “No, the outside slide must stay out here.” The child did not like this and said so. Daddy said he could watch while he worked nearby. I repeated, … Continue reading

Style, Sex and Substance: a review

I almost didn’t read Style, Sex and Substance because the title seemed flippant. On the other hand, I won’t readily forget the title!  Hallie Lord selected chapters (submitted by women bloggers, editors and writers) which were edifyingly about women struggling to live their vocations.  I found this to be a very effective book. All 10 ladies who wrote chapters for this book touched my heart deeply. I laughed, cried, and found myself making new commitments to aspects of my vocation that I had neglected.  I found this spirituality applied to everyday lives an effective way to communicate the importance of … Continue reading

Ordinary Goodness: Baby Smell

Recently not much is getting done around here in the housework or writing realm.  The reason is that I am in love! Ah, yes, the joys of a new baby in the family.  Snuggle time for now, the house can wait, the writing can wait, the baby will not wait. I love the smell of the top of a baby’s head.  That warm soft fuzz accompanied by a soft odor that is unique to babies.  You can keep your “new car smell” because there is no smell better than that of one of my babies.  I could sit and snuggle … Continue reading

Pregnancies and Culturally Driven Comments

Pregnancy is one of those things about which EVERYBODY seems to feel they have right to make comments.  I don’t happen to agree.  I think pregnancy is a wonderful thing between the parents and everyone else needs to mind their own business. Over at A Woman’s Place Depends on Her Vocation, there is a good posting on comments made to her during her pregnancies: Appropriate Responses to Joyful Baby News. I’ve had some interesting comments over the years and I’ve a rather small family.  My young motherhood was spent in a college town and sometimes young college kids can be … Continue reading