Please join me in praying a Memorare right now for a special mother and baby. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but... Read more

Every morning my husband showers and shaves, puts on a good looking suit, has a bowl of granola and takes the train into the city. Twelve hours later, he walks back in the door. His collar is open, his tie is loose, but his pomaded hair has not moved a bit. Until this weekend, that was about all I knew about what my husband did all day. Just like I can work 12 hour “mom” days without complaining, I can... Read more

Hi ladies ~ After some of the comments from yesterday’s post, I felt the need to clarify a couple of things that I wasn’t very specific on. First, Christopher likes school (and I daresay he is even excited about school sometimes!!), he just doesn’t like the process of going to school. This holds true for many other activities: he likes the playground, but doesn’t like going to the playground; he likes the swimming pool, but getting him out the door... Read more

My little boy is a homebody through and through. Yes, he loves to play with the boys in our neighborhood and is always asking for play-dates, and yes, once we arrive somewhere he usually has a pretty great time. But his tendency is, and has been for the 5 1/2 years of his life, to stay home and play, create, read, and generally just BE at home. I’ve grown to appreciate this part of Christopher’s personality: he can occupy himself... Read more

Great post on burnout at Conversion Diary. Read it, then go get some sleep. Read more

The most wonderful and most fearful fact of early childhood development is one we’re all familiar with: the fastest brain growth occurs between birth and age three, and children are capable of learning the most and the most capable of learning between birth and age five. Something like that, right? Every pop early childhood education book I’ve read has exploited that fact as its selling point and cornerstone. Do our “x, y and z” plan (and buy our CDs, DVDs,... Read more

I used to tell people that I am a great mom for 12 hours a day — I can work non stop from 7 am to 7 pm. If my day with the kids starts before that or ends after, however, it gets dicey. Well, bedtime has floated to 8 o’clock or later over the summer, and I find that I am at my worst just when, in some ways, my kids need me most. Today was a particularly rough... Read more

Five years old today! Read more