There is an occasionally spoken assumption among Catholics that if a family is small and claims to be Catholic, they’re most likely contracepting and really aren’t that Catholic. Catholic families are supposed to be big. Catholic moms are supposed to … Continue reading
A few years ago, I had a student in my class who insisted on sitting in the back row, his hoodie pulled up and his arms folded. He never spoke. After a few weeks, I asked to meet with his … Continue reading
I have two children. That’s just a bit over the national average here in America. But it’s about five less than the local average. Parents tend to have large families around here. Twelve passenger vans are not a rarity, and … Continue reading
Breakfast has been eaten. The dishes have been washed and set out to dry. Your kids are both quietly playing in the living room. And there is a load of laundry sitting on the couch just waiting to be folded. … Continue reading
I thought I was OK with mental illness and the need for therapy. I’ve been open about my own struggles with an eating disorder and postpartum anxiety. I’ve encouraged other women to seek counseling, and I openly acknowledged the fact … Continue reading
On a warm summer night last year, our lives were changed for the foreseeable future. We tucked our son into bed just as we had done countless times before. But this night was different than most. I usually love bedtime. … Continue reading
Raising a daughter is all about balancing conflicting statements. We want them to be strong, but not domineering. We encourage them to be assertive, but not bossy. Be independent, but willing to rely on others. We teach them to be … Continue reading
My husband and I have big plans for our house. He dreams of a new water softening system, a deck that spans the length of our house, and a motorized garage door. I want a double-wide sink, an electric stove … Continue reading
I was flying down the highway as quickly as I could safely do it, desperate to get you home. You were crying hysterically in the backseat, dry-heaving into a bucket in your lap. Every time I heard you wretch, my … Continue reading
Sometimes I feel like a bit of a loser. It might be after getting off the phone with an old friend who balances being a mom and working her dream job. It might happen after spending an evening lounging on … Continue reading
Love in the Little Things 