Apparently people I know in real life don't send birth announcements in the mail anymore. Back when I was informed of birth via mail (or even email), I would send congratulations and a gift. If the baby was nearby, I would actually hand deliver the gift and tickle the baby under the chin.
Now people are announcing the births on Facebook. I'm not on Facebook. Sure I hear about the birth sooner or later (usually later), but I don't feel like buying a card or gift. I figure if I am hearing about a new baby second hand, I'm not really that close of a friend. Relying on Facebook just creates distance. Direct communication creates closeness.
Yes, I am becoming more old fashioned by the day.
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I Was Glad
to hear our pastor speak about sexuality, the Church's teachings, the catechism, and scripture in Sunday's homily. I'm glad he had the backbone to stand up for the truth.
The church doesn't make up things just for the fun of it. Teachings are based on scripture and reflection.
No human life is an accident. It's God's will that each and every one of us was conceived. It's not funny, Father G. said, when parents say a child was an accident or an oops. The child doesn't think it's funny to be referred to as an accident.
Our sexuality was created so we may create life in a loving commitment (marriage). That's what the priest said.
I got to thinking that there is something in Catholic marriage vows about lovingly and accepting any children. So why do people think they can carefully plan their family just so?
I see my pastor's role as one who shepherds us through that narrow gate. Other people complain about him for nitpicky reasons. He can't please everyone in a parish of thousands of people. He can be and is a spiritual leader.
I hope he speaks The Truth more often than not because truth is important than winning a popularity contest.
The church doesn't make up things just for the fun of it. Teachings are based on scripture and reflection.
No human life is an accident. It's God's will that each and every one of us was conceived. It's not funny, Father G. said, when parents say a child was an accident or an oops. The child doesn't think it's funny to be referred to as an accident.
Our sexuality was created so we may create life in a loving commitment (marriage). That's what the priest said.
I got to thinking that there is something in Catholic marriage vows about lovingly and accepting any children. So why do people think they can carefully plan their family just so?
I see my pastor's role as one who shepherds us through that narrow gate. Other people complain about him for nitpicky reasons. He can't please everyone in a parish of thousands of people. He can be and is a spiritual leader.
I hope he speaks The Truth more often than not because truth is important than winning a popularity contest.
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Feminist Flipped, I Think.
When I was a young college student I became good friends with a very angry, bitter, anxious feminist. I thought she was cool and I sent my check in to Planned UnParenthood. I didn't want to go the church. I sure as hell didn't want to get married then or have a baby. Our friendship ended not due to the feminist part, but because of the angry, bitter, anxious part. Also, she said I was snob. That was a long time ago. We both had dreams of being powerful and accomplished as soon as we got our act together.
I ran into while shopping. We were both shocked. Guess what? She's been married for about 20 years. What was more shocking was the CHILD she had with her. Yep, she's a stay-at-home mother. Doesn't need to work. If I had not seen the child, I would not have believed it. My mind cannot reconcile her former diatribes against having children and how she proudly introduced her child to me. I cannot picture this former friend as being pregnant (and maybe she never got pregnant). I cannot picture her rocking a newborn to sleep, or playing with a toddler on the floor, or, or, or . . . I can picture her in a parent-teacher conference though. She had a boy child too. Boy child's last name is hyphenated due to friend keeping her maiden named when she married.
We haven't accomplished much. She hasn't worked in years, and I've hardly had a stellar career. Or maybe she accomplished a lot by landing a husband with a big paycheck, a big house, and a child. And look, here I ago comparing again. The moms are saying they accomplish a lot because they are doing the MOST important job of all and what could be more important than leading souls to Heaven? I could say I have managed to keep myself fed, clothed, and housed despite great economic difficulties. It's easy to have sex, but try writing the perfect resume and acing the interview. I can see how the mommy wars and the woman wars begin. They begin because some of us feel like we have to justify our lifestyle or choices. They begin because of sentences just like the one I wrote. Some of us actually have choices and some of us do NOT. Some of us get to choose some things but were effected by factors out of our control. We weren't all dealt the same hand. I could very slide into self-pity.
Society and church places great importance on MOTHERHOOD (like yesterday) except when it doesn't (can you say abortion and the pill?).
And while it was great to reconnect with an old friend, it feels topsy-turvy too. I miss the great parts of our friendship. I miss the nice parts. I miss the things we had in common, the good conversations, and the fun we had. But there was crap too of course.
In related mothering news or non-mothering news, I rec'd today a letter from the White House in response to my protest note to our President about the HHS mandate.
Oh, poop!
Poop is what all women have in common.
I ran into while shopping. We were both shocked. Guess what? She's been married for about 20 years. What was more shocking was the CHILD she had with her. Yep, she's a stay-at-home mother. Doesn't need to work. If I had not seen the child, I would not have believed it. My mind cannot reconcile her former diatribes against having children and how she proudly introduced her child to me. I cannot picture this former friend as being pregnant (and maybe she never got pregnant). I cannot picture her rocking a newborn to sleep, or playing with a toddler on the floor, or, or, or . . . I can picture her in a parent-teacher conference though. She had a boy child too. Boy child's last name is hyphenated due to friend keeping her maiden named when she married.
We haven't accomplished much. She hasn't worked in years, and I've hardly had a stellar career. Or maybe she accomplished a lot by landing a husband with a big paycheck, a big house, and a child. And look, here I ago comparing again. The moms are saying they accomplish a lot because they are doing the MOST important job of all and what could be more important than leading souls to Heaven? I could say I have managed to keep myself fed, clothed, and housed despite great economic difficulties. It's easy to have sex, but try writing the perfect resume and acing the interview. I can see how the mommy wars and the woman wars begin. They begin because some of us feel like we have to justify our lifestyle or choices. They begin because of sentences just like the one I wrote. Some of us actually have choices and some of us do NOT. Some of us get to choose some things but were effected by factors out of our control. We weren't all dealt the same hand. I could very slide into self-pity.
Society and church places great importance on MOTHERHOOD (like yesterday) except when it doesn't (can you say abortion and the pill?).
And while it was great to reconnect with an old friend, it feels topsy-turvy too. I miss the great parts of our friendship. I miss the nice parts. I miss the things we had in common, the good conversations, and the fun we had. But there was crap too of course.
In related mothering news or non-mothering news, I rec'd today a letter from the White House in response to my protest note to our President about the HHS mandate.
Oh, poop!
Poop is what all women have in common.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
After Confirmation Mass and Names in the Future
Because of all the people at the Confirmation Mass I had to sit in the hurly-burly section of the church.
The Bishop said nothing about slapping the face of the Confirmation kids. He did give each of them a Holy Card of Blessed John Paul II as a souvenir.
After the two-hour afternoon Confirmation Mass, my dad and I went to a steakhouse to celebrate even though neither one of us was newly confirmed. And no, we didn't even know any of the newly confirmed.
The most popular confirmation name was Cecilia (chosen by five girls) followed by Theresa (two girls) and Genevieve (two girls). None of the other names were repeated. One girl chose Zoe. Is there a St. Zoe? Why, yes there is.
I suppose we'll have to wait many a year before there's a Saint Taylor or Saint Madison, but you never know. I really don't like those names and don't understand why parents name their girls after dead presidents. In future maybe there will be little girls named Bush and Obama. Bush Marie and Obama Grace could someday be playing princess. Then a new girl will come to school and she'll be Garfield Alana but is called Garfie for short. Garfield will become all the rage for baby girls and you can spell it Garfie, Garfi, or Garfy. Some young parents will then think they are cool and unique and spell it Jarfield because they don't understand phonics. When Jarfield Anne is in third grade, a boy will tease her and call her Jarhead. The boy's name will probably something like Hammer Scott, Wrench Michael, or Guard Elvis.
Just call me Eisenhower Brittany.
The Bishop said nothing about slapping the face of the Confirmation kids. He did give each of them a Holy Card of Blessed John Paul II as a souvenir.
After the two-hour afternoon Confirmation Mass, my dad and I went to a steakhouse to celebrate even though neither one of us was newly confirmed. And no, we didn't even know any of the newly confirmed.
The most popular confirmation name was Cecilia (chosen by five girls) followed by Theresa (two girls) and Genevieve (two girls). None of the other names were repeated. One girl chose Zoe. Is there a St. Zoe? Why, yes there is.
I suppose we'll have to wait many a year before there's a Saint Taylor or Saint Madison, but you never know. I really don't like those names and don't understand why parents name their girls after dead presidents. In future maybe there will be little girls named Bush and Obama. Bush Marie and Obama Grace could someday be playing princess. Then a new girl will come to school and she'll be Garfield Alana but is called Garfie for short. Garfield will become all the rage for baby girls and you can spell it Garfie, Garfi, or Garfy. Some young parents will then think they are cool and unique and spell it Jarfield because they don't understand phonics. When Jarfield Anne is in third grade, a boy will tease her and call her Jarhead. The boy's name will probably something like Hammer Scott, Wrench Michael, or Guard Elvis.
Just call me Eisenhower Brittany.
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