parenting
Sadness Is My Favorite
“Sadness touch my memories, Mama.” My two-year-old repeats this sentence like it’s his mantra. We’ve been watching Inside Out on heavy rotation at our house. He and his seven-year-old sister find the film about feelings enchanting. They quote lines. They pick favorite characters. They beg to watch it one more time. I tend to let…
The Pope and Selfishness: Contradictions and Fictions
It was a record-scratching, “hold up, wait a minute” moment a few days ago when Pope Francis, who had just a couple of weeks back told Catholics that they don’t need to “breed like rabbits,” followed that up by stating that “the choice not to have children is selfish.” KtB editor Mary K. Valle and…
Truth-Telling in Vulgaria
Questions for Kathryn Joyce, who bursts the international Christian adoption bubble in her new book, The Child Catchers.
Love in Action, Except Not
For those who wonder how they can respond when they see Michele Bachmann’s husband and other ex-gay activists spewing hatred, the documentary This is Love in Action demonstrates what can happen when even a small band of Christians finally stands up and speaks for those who have no voice. The film chronicles the journey of Zach, a…
The Bad Old Days
A dear friend who was recently on a family vacation in Wisconsin went above and beyond the call of duty. Way beyond. When she returned, she presented me with a clutch of souvenirs from the Queen of the Holy Rosary, Mediatrix of Peace Shrine in Necedah, Wisconsin, a place she knew holds some fascination for…
Seven Pieces of Advice
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self? Or, for that matter, an actual 18-year-old? Alexa, very good old friend of mine, sent out an email recently that brought out some surprising things among those of us who received it and responded: a request for advice. Apparently, her brother’s teacher wrote to parents asking for…
Mother/Daughter Chat: Catholic School
“What was that kind of school you went to, Mom?” asked my seven-year-old daughter, Margaret, the other day. “Catholic, honey.” “And what were those things—those outfits?” “Uniforms?” “I’m glad I don’t have to wear those. And what else did you have to do?” “Go to church, learn about God, line up a lot, I don’t…
