Last Wednesday, Andrew and I took a gigantic step in our lives as parents: we left John with a bona fide babysitter. Not a grandparent, or an aunt, or even a close friend. A babysitter, and what was more, one … Continue reading
When I first became pregnant with John, many mothers warned me of the dangers of putting my responsibilities as a mother before myself or my husband. They told me how all-consuming the job of a mother can be, one that … Continue reading
Yesterday, I looked at my little boy, and I saw a man. A little man, one just over two feet, but a man nonetheless. It was like a glimpse of the future, a preview of days to come. John was … Continue reading
Every year, come Black Friday, I retire my country radio stations and playlists in favor of Christmas music 24/7. For two and a half months, all I listen to is Christmas music. All I watch are Christmas movies. For two … Continue reading
Holy Days of Obligation. It’s a phrase that many modern Catholics find repugnant. I know plenty of devout Catholics who attend Mass every Sunday, but rarely observe those Holy Days of Obligation (with the exception of Christmas). Many consider the … Continue reading
As many mothers know, caring for an infant can often translate to binge-watching Netflix for hours while your baby eats or sleeps in your arms. I have watched more TV in the past nine and a half months than ever … Continue reading
This past Friday, while we began the transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas in my parents’ house, Andrew and I found ourselves talking about Christmas traditions. While we were dating, and even while we were engaged, we agreed that we would … Continue reading
I spent nine months preparing for John’s arrival. I did my research, compared parenting philosophies, poured over the studies, and finally made my decisions. Sometimes I asked for Andrew’s opinion before committing to a particular practice, but most of the … Continue reading
Last month, I went to my first Office of Youth Ministry meeting at our archdiocesan center. I would have started attending meetings earlier, but I didn’t start getting the invitations until about six months ago. There’s been quite a bit of … Continue reading
Last weekend during Mass, as I listened to the first reading, I was struck by the actions of a faith-filled family in the second book of Maccabees. It was a story that I had heard countless times before, but as … Continue reading
Love in the Little Things 