“What do you do all day?” As a working mother, I rarely get this question. It’s most often posed to stay-at-home-moms, and it really makes no sense to me. Do the people who ask this question really have no idea of the massive amount of work it takes to manage a home, especially if you have multiple small children? There’s cleaning, laundry, meal planning, cooking, homework/homeschooling, home repair, yard work, paying bills… the list seems endless, and even if one... Read more
Elizabeth Duffy published a piece about finding the middle ground between the noxious Prosperity Gospel and forever playing the martyr in order to be miserable for God: Barring serious illness or extenuating circumstances, times of extreme difficulty with normal life should be temporary. If they are not temporary, it could be time to wonder if we’re setting traps for ourselves or creating a life of soft controversy because joy seems untrustworthy, or undeserved, or we have past associations with fun... Read more
Having a miscarriage is awful in and of itself, but an extra layer of difficulty can be added if you’re working outside the home. Pregnancy can be tricky to deal with in the workplace, especially if you’re in an unsupportive environment, and navigating a miscarriage can be a thousand times worse (especially if you didn’t want anyone, including your boss, to know that you’re pregnant). Sadly, I had to deal with this situation last week, when I miscarried my eighth child,... Read more
Note: The following post was not authored by me. It was submitted by a personal friend who asked to remain anonymous. I always thought that working at a Catholic Church and having children would be the dream. However, after having my first, a daughter, I’ve found that the dream isn’t what I thought it would be. I work as a Director of Religious Education at a large metropolitan parish with over 6,000 registered families. Needless to say, my job entails a... Read more
I live 42 miles from my office. Due to traffic, especially in the winter months when all the snowbirds are back in town, it takes me up to 90 minutes to drive to or from work. Yes, it’s crazy, and I don’t recommend it. However, my husband and I fell in love with a specific suburb, and felt it was a great place to raise a family. We also had a lot of family that lived nearby, and since only... Read more
In some of his general audiences this past April, Pope Francis addressed gender roles. On April 15, the Pope intimated that men and women have been created with difference, and this difference transcends our physical bodies and permeates the roles each gender plays. Drawing from St. Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, the Pope said that together a man and a woman image God, and they necessarily need difference to do so. Unfortunately, the idea that men and... Read more
There is nothing that prompted this post except memory. For some reason this phrase bubbled to the forefront of my mind and I remembered the pain it can sometimes bring: I don’t know how you do it. Usually the context of this phrase is when a mother who normally stays home with her children has had to leave town without them for a few days. She is struck by how much she misses her children and how happy she is... Read more
Meal planning. It’s often bemoaned as the bane of a busy mom’s existence. I struggled with it for a long time (and still do, sometimes). I thought about purchasing subscriptions to outfits like eMeals.com or Saving Dinner, but I can be a picky eater (something my kids have inherited from me, I’m afraid) and I didn’t think the meal plans would be able to account for the varied tastes of our entire family. I used to use an iPhone app... Read more
Sorry for the delay; I had a busy day at work and am just now getting the chance to see who won! The giveaway has ended! Thank you to everyone who entered. Your comments were great and I look forward to building a supportive and positive community for Catholic working mothers. And now, the winner! a Rafflecopter giveaway Congratulations, Lauren S.! I’ve already e-mailed you with details about how to collect your prize, so please check your e-mail. (And if... Read more
Today is the feast day of St. Gianna Beretta Molla (patroness of Catholic working mothers) and the official launch of this site! Hooray! I’m so happy this day is finally here! The most common refrain I hear when I meet another Catholic working mother, whether online or in person, is, “I’m so glad to know I’m not alone!” If you are a Catholic working mother, you are not alone! I want this site to be a source of encouragement and inspiration for Catholic working... Read more
The Catholic Working Mother
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