We’ve been a little distracted this past week with a ballet recital, a visit from my sister, a trip to the beach, an exciting sonogram, and shiny objects. I’ve missed the internet, though, particularly the great discussion that sprang up in my combox on my last post! I’ve been really interested to hear the differing opinions and the valid points brought up to support them. I’ll be diving back into the blogosphere tomorrow, but today I thought you might like... Read more

The most common parenting issue I find myself disagreeing with friends and family about is whether or not children should be exposed to anything violent. We let our daughters, 3 and 6, watch the animated Justice League movies. One of our favorite family films is Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, which is both violent and, in the words of my mother, “creepy and weird”. I took Sienna to see John Carter even though I was warned it was too violent, and I’m... Read more

Ah. We are home. Actually we arrived home yesterday at 2:30 a.m., but we were so wiped out that we spent the rest of the day doing only the essentials (which, because I’m neurotic, included fully unpacking, doing the laundry, grocery shopping and making bread. What can I say? I hate to face a week unprepared.) It was a very crazy week-long visit. There was my grandfather’s funeral, which was difficult, and then there was his house to try and... Read more

My granddad died on Friday night, so we packed in hurry and flew to Texas yesterday to be at the funeral tomorrow. We’ll be here for a week and posting will likely be light. I’d really appreciate your prayers for the repose of my grandfather’s soul, and for my dad, my mom and my aunt, who have all the funeral arrangements to make and a very old house filled with lots of stuff to get into shape.  My granddad was... Read more

From a helpful anonymous commentor in Los Gatos, CA (left on an old post I am not linking back to, since that particular post ought to remain buried in the archives where no one can read it ever again): Did you ever think that, maybe, just maybe, you’re really stupid and you’re husband is not? And that’s why your mind doesn’t run to philosophy and poetry the way his does? No offense, but you’re clearly just not very intelligent compared... Read more

I’m not a huge fan of Mark Shea, the Patheos blogger. I don’t agree with his “seamless garment” theory of social justice, and I despise the vitriol with which he lashes out at those who disagree with him. So when I read this piece by him last night, I was shocked to find that underneath the political nastiness is a man who is both compassionate and, remarkably, unwilling to judge the state of another’s soul. Whether it’s in the combox... Read more

As we’ve been working through the first year of homeschooling, I’ve started to keep mental notes about things I like and dislike about the curricula we’ve been using. I thought I’d post a few of those things here, in case anyone else is considering the materials we’re using or is incredibly bored and wants to read about homeschooling stuff. We started Sienna last year on How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We only made it... Read more

#7 I know, I’m late again. You can blame Ignitum Today and their symposium on mercy and killing, for which I spent all of yesterday afternoon writing a post. Actually, I spent all of yesterday afternoon writing snippets of a post in between dealing with unbelievably needy children. Anyway, here it is, if you want to read it. #6 As You Like It wrapped up its performances last weekend. I got to see it again, and they swapped out Rosalinds... Read more

I find myself distracted, unfocused and suffering from a headache today. I’m making no headway on my as-yet-non-post for Ignitum Today, so I’m just going with the distraction in the hopes that it will inspire some sort of creative something. Welcome to my brain, unedited. Yesterday I made homemade pop-tarts. I was very disappointed because they didn’t have icing, and as it turns out, what I like most about store-bought pop-tarts is the overly sweet shellacked-cardboard-ey goodness. The Ogre loved... Read more

*Like any post about NFP, you might encounter terrifying words like “cervix”, “mucus” and “vagina” should you choose to continue reading. Fair warning. Let’s talk about NFP, and how it sucks. Image via the wonderful Katie I know, I can hear the furious clicking as my faithful followers abandon my blog in droves. But look, y’all, I have to be honest here, because honesty is kind of a thing with me. It’s like a tic or something; deep in my... Read more