March 2005
March 31, 2005
Where the Wild Things Are
A few years ago, in his Breakpoint column Chuck Colson blasted Maurice Sendak's 1964 classic Where the Wild Things Are as emblematic of the "unfettered rebellion" which eventually gave rise to the counterculture. Pretty heavy, huh? (Sometimes it's just a little too easy to see why people have...11:04 AM in Books, Church Issues, Family, Homeschooling, Mothering, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 30, 2005
The slipperiest slope of all
Slippery slopes? Here's my experience: Back in the early 70's -- as a radical feminist and plaintiff in a Virginia abortion class action suit -- I enjoyed five minutes of fame. The media loved the story: new mother brightens her horizons by going back to college, worries that...5:35 PM in Babies, Church Issues, Culture, Current Affairs, Disabilities, Down syndrome, Feminism, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (9)
March 29, 2005
A secret sibling
I just came across a very tender story by a man who found out as an adult that he had a sister with Down syndrome who'd been institutionalized by her parents and never mentioned to her siblings. He's begun a relationship with her, which he shares here. And...4:37 PM in Babies, Culture, Down syndrome, Inspiration, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (0)
Like mother, like daughter
Between yesterday and today, I somehow feel like I've given birth. My daughter Jasmine Moondance (circa 1975 and named for San Francisco's fragrant flowers and Van Morrison's sexy song -- hey, what did I know then?) is blogging! Between the Rinse and Spin Cycle -- yeah, you mommies can...9:01 AM in Babies, Big families, Family, Mothering, Toddlers, Writing | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 28, 2005
Terri's in God's hands now, as are we all
Mel asked what I think about Terri Schiavo. I really have not wanted to write about this because it is too sad. When I see the film of Terri's mother cradling her head and Terri's eyes lighting up and the corners of her mouth lifting, it reminds me...1:00 PM in Church Issues, Culture, Current Affairs, Down syndrome, Family, Pro-Life Issues, Religion | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 27, 2005
A baby with Down syndrome? Congratulations!
When Kelly Hollowell learned last October that her new baby would be born with Down syndrome, like many people she reacted with fear. Which was weird only because as a pro-life spokesperson, she might have been a better role model for understanding the value of all human life. ...12:08 AM in Babies, Down syndrome, Inspiration, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (3)
March 26, 2005
Blog deprivation, computer suicide, and anti-homeschool policies
This is worse than being sleep-deprived, I do believe. I came back from a week in California to -- well, with seven kids still at home, you can imagine. I mean, they did a good job taking care of each other, but there were pantries and refrigerators to be...7:10 PM in Current Affairs, Homeschooling | Permalink | Comments (4)
March 22, 2005
Back to being Mommy
Home again, home again -- from the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers' Conference in California's Santa Cruz mountains. Mt. Hermon is where I got my start in 1994. I owe my writing success to what I've learned there. Now I go back to teach and to critique and encourage...9:57 PM in Writing | Permalink | Comments (0)
The anti-child view
I'm republishing this entry because the hyperlink got messed up somehow the first time: Came across this tonight and didn't find it amusing. To me this is prejudice against children, based on and reinforcing negative stereotypes -- the moral equivalent of racism. I dunno. I have this thing...9:39 PM in Babies, Big families, Culture, Family, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 19, 2005
Countering a Culture of Plenty
Ever wonder about building your kids' character in a culture of plenty? Ever wonder if the deck is stacked against you when the times aren't tough enough? I know I do. Maybe it's because I grew up poor myself and I know firsthand the powerful lessons poverty...9:00 AM in Big families, Culture, Family, Homeschooling, Mothering, Movies | Permalink | Comments (3)
March 18, 2005
Waging peace
"Tripp, you need to come home right away," I blurted as soon as my husband answered his cell phone. "There's a guy cutting off the branches of our trees!" Ten years ago we'd just moved from suburbia proper to the country. It seemed like every day I was...9:00 AM in | Permalink | Comments (3)
March 17, 2005
Montessori at Home #5
For parents of some young toddlers, hours seem measured by tumbles and falls, spilled milk and scattered Cheerios. Yes, there are some naturally cautious new walkers out there who stop to analyze each step before they take it. But then there is the dynamo - once on his...9:00 AM in Big families, Homeschooling, Montessori, Mothering, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 16, 2005
Sleeping through the night
Once past the oohs and ahhs at your new baby's beauty, friends and family zero in on the Big Question: "Is she sleeping through the night yet?" In the unlikely event that she is, you can nod your well-rested head and smile. More likely, you'll be left wondering. "Will...9:00 AM in Babies, Big families, Family, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 12, 2005
Tangling with tweens
My blogging friend Mel -- who has a special place in many mommies' hearts because she is searingly honest and humorous about motherhood -- wrote the other day about a conflict with one of her 12-year-old twin boys and how it was resolved. I had a little something to...1:13 PM in Big families, Family, Mothering, Teens and Tweens | Permalink | Comments (2)
March 8, 2005
Choosy Beggars
Long ago, when I was a D.C. latchkey kid, my mother would leave a couple dollars and a list for me to go to the store after school. I'd walk down New Hampshire Avenue to "our" grocery store, load a basket, cross my fingers I'd have enough money not...7:59 AM in Culture, Inspiration, Religion | Permalink | Comments (5)
March 5, 2005
Saturday Morning Round Up
Just announcing my new domain name: www.mommylife.net. That's a little easier to pass on. I still need help figuring out how to do links. But slowly and surely I'm crawling along to having a fully tricked-out blog like Proverbial Wife. (btw, I have made an executive decision that I will...10:20 AM in Big families, Down syndrome, Family, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (3)
March 3, 2005
Guerrilla Parenting #3
In 1989, Rick and Jan Hess wrote A Full Quiver: Family Planning and the Lordship of Christ (check out the reviews - but if you want to buy a copy, I have them for for $10 plus shipping - email me). In a chapter called "Guess Who's Not Coming to...8:28 AM in Big families, Church Issues, Culture, Family, Homeschooling, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (3)
Guerrilla Parenting #2
Just as not everyone is called to the mission field, or called to homeschool, or called to adopt, I would never argue that every couple should submit their family size to God. It takes a lot of faith. On the other hand, just because you've submitted your family size to...7:34 AM in Big families, Family, Homeschooling, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (6)
March 2, 2005
Guerrilla Parenting
When it comes to the culture wars, my husband Tripp and I feel well positioned. Surveying the terrain, mapping our strategy, and especially measuring our capability, we feel braced for battle – maybe more than most. After all, we have twelve kids. I’ll be the first to admit our view...4:45 PM in Big families, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 1, 2005
Art for the masses
Busy day. With snow days last Thursday and Friday off, and now Monday and Tuesday, all I can say is it's a good thing I don't have any writing I have to do. The snow's been great for sledding and snowballs. I'm careful to turn my head away...5:22 PM in Culture, Family, Homeschooling, Montessori, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (3)
