Irish (and Italian) twins. So much happened this week, and I thought so many times of posting, but I was just so busy living! Monday: Okay, how sad is it that I can’t remember that far back? Tuesday: We read Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato, and ate green cupcakes for St. Patrick’s Day. I told my kids the very funny story of when Jim Ryan saved a leprechaun from drowning in a puddle. Inspired by KateE’s library storytimes, I... Read more

Happy days are here again! Making it through the winter as a mom with little children at home is a massive accomplishment, one of the biggest accomplishments in a year, if you ask me. This week has been the first where the weather is clearly and once-and-for-all turning to spring here in the mid-atlantic/northeast. What delight. A good and bad thing about being a mom at home is how keenly we must live according to the changing seasons. What a... Read more

Happy Feast of St. Joseph! Following are a beautiful reflection given by Pope Benedict, as well as a recipe for soft pretzels, a traditional Lenten recipe and a food sometimes associated with St. Joseph’s feast day. Food for the soul and for the body – enjoy!(both the reflection and the recipe were found here) The silence of Saint Joseph is given a special emphasis. His silence is steeped in contemplation of the mystery of God in an attitude of total... Read more

Twice in the last week people asked me if Incredibaby was sleeping through the night. I laughed casually and said, “Oh, no,” as if it was silly to think that I could possibly have a full night of sleep. Then I laughed out loud at myself. After our first child was born, I wallowed in self-pity as to the extent of my sleep deprivation. I would call one of the other builders, who would commiserate with me about the gravity... Read more

I found this brief reflection, written by a priest in the Washington, D.C. area, to be very insightful, and wanted to pass it on to all of you: In 1462, Pope Pius II condemned the slave trade being carried on in what came to be called the “Old World.” Pope Leo X denounced slavery again in 1537, and Paul III specifically forbade the enslavement of the Indians in the “New World.” In later centuries, other Popes issued condemnations: Urban VIII... Read more

Every year, today’s Old Testament reading hits so close to home. Naaman, seeking to be cured of leprosy, is told by the prophet Elisha to wash 7 times in the Jordan river. Naaman is disappointed that Elisha didn’t perform some miracle right there and went away. His servants said, “if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it?” I went to Princeton wanting to be a mover and shaker. In classes, we tackled... Read more

      is that you can wear your brand new bathing suit to school when it is 40 degrees outside! Read more

My family and I have been living in central Germany for six months now. As such, my thoughts have tended toward cultural comparisons quite frequently in recent days. Maybe our first half of a year here still characterizes us as neophytes, but I just can’t help but share some tidbits of micro-sociology that my husband and I toss around over dinner. Recently we were out to eat in a downtown tapas bar — a rare date without children. We had... Read more

Did You Know? Studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders and consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words and know which fork to use. Time Magazine I had the pleasure of hearing Lori Welander, a talented local mother, speak this week at my monthly MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers)... Read more

I just noticed this on Elizabeth Foss’s sidebar, and I am finding it particularly helpful today: Decalogue for Daily Living 1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once. 2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone;... Read more