3 Ways Homeschoolers Socialize Differently than School Kids

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:49 pm By Jennifer Fitz

I’ve been in the depths of back-to-school preparation on multiple fronts, and I’m continually astonished that people still bring up the old “socialization” thing with respect to homeschooling. So let’s be blunt: Homeschoolers do not socialize the way school kids do. It’s a spectrum, of course. There are many school families that don’t get sucked into the assembly-line socialization rut, and thus teach their kids to cultivate a mature social life long before graduation. There are likewise homeschooling parents who cling... Read more

Nerd Boy Treasures: Badcaps.net

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:50 pm By Jennifer Fitz

Got on the computer and discovered someone else had been surfing the internet. Browser was opened to an entire forum devoted to the topic of bad capacitors. I had no idea. Also, our would-be-trashed computer monitor might yet have new life in it. The report from the soldering crew is that the new capacitor fixed the thing, but there’s still a blown fuse. They had to hot wire the machine in order to confirm the capacitor replacement had done what needed doing. Have... Read more

Discipleship. You hear the word. What does it mean?

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:51 pm By Jennifer Fitz

Up at New Evangelizers, I answer the question, “What exactly is this discipleship thing we keep hearing about?” It’s a tricky question because it’s both far simpler than we make it out to be, and far more demanding than a simple answer would suggest. Our Catholic reflexes are hopelessly bureaucratic anymore, so I begin by explaining a few things discipleship is not: It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that everything Christians do needs to happen under the auspices... Read more

At CWG: Why You Should Experiment Outside Your Usual Genre

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:51 pm By Jennifer Fitz

Over at the Catholic Writers Guild, I tell the story of my little foray into fiction (here) last week, and argue that everyone ought to be so brave. Not because you’ll necessarily be any good at the stuff you don’t do, but because it will be good for you. Also, PSA: If you are a member of the CWG, we accept guest posts. Perfect place for that orphaned essay, poem or bit of flash-fiction you couldn’t possibly submit anywhere else.... Read more

No School – Earthquake Day

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:52 pm By Jennifer Fitz

The boy logged in to find out what time his first orientation class was this morning, only to see, “Class cancelled, earthquake.” We figured that’s what children pray for in places that don’t snow. *** FYI if you’re in an earthquake-relieving state of mind, you can skip the bucket of ice water and go straight to donating. Kolbe Academy reports they’d be grateful for some generous souls willing to fund the feeding of the volunteers coming to clean up their offices. Please... Read more

Ironic Jesus: My Case for Why Our Lord Was Not Being a Jerk in Canaan

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:53 pm By Jennifer Fitz

I wrote a bit of Ignatian-style Gospel fan-fic earlier this week, taking a stab at the encounter of Jesus with the Canaanite woman. This is a controversial passage, and my take on it resounded with some. Call it the Ironic Jesus perspective: I propose that our Lord was not being a jerk; rather, he was using the teachable moment to show his disciples that their mission was to the whole world. Others tend to take a more Stern Jesus or a... Read more

Useful Stuff: All the Mass Readings for 2015 in One Book – Updated

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 2:24 pm By Jennifer Fitz

Yesterday the 2015 Abide in My Word showed up in the mail. Nice thick glossy-cover paperback that looks like this: Wow. What a neat book. It’s nothing complicated, just the daily Mass readings for every single day of 2015. (Note: It starts on January 1, not with Advent.) Big print, and big, bold-faced date headings for each day. Very cool, and not very expensive. I was particularly excited about it because a friend of mine is trying to improve her English by going... Read more

Gospel Fan Fiction: When You Give What is Holy to Dogs

Last updated on: August 20, 2017 at 6:07 pm By Jennifer Fitz

The Gospels are written with only the sparest of details. When we use our imaginations to assign tone, gesture, and intention to the actions of Our Lord, we risk learning more about ourselves than about Him. In that perilous tradition, here I go. My words in plain text, this past Sunday’s Gospel reading in bold. *** Even living in a small town, there reaches a point when you cease to care what people think. It wasn’t the embarrassing public episodes... Read more

The Nerd Boy Silver Lining

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:56 pm By Jennifer Fitz

On the one hand, a certain child of mine spends way too much time on the computer. (Where does he get it from?) On the other hand: Boy: Mom, we really have to get that webcam for school. Class is going to start. You have to get this. Mom: Yes, that’s fine. Research webcams and have a proposal* ready for your father tonight. Boy: What’s the budget? Mom: Make us a set of best choices at each price point, with... Read more

Biblical Catholics are So Childish – today in the Gospel @CatholicMom.com

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 1:56 pm By Jennifer Fitz

Today’s pre-prayed Gospel at CatholicMom.com is the “Let the children come to me” passage in Matthew. Couldn’t have been more timely, I’m perpetually devolving into rehashed childishness. You know this Gospel so well you’re probably ready to throw promotional trinkets at the wicked DRE who tricked you into volunteering for VBS this year: Is there something new to be found in this reading? No. There is something very old. Just don’t even start with me about how this passage is... Read more