Who really belongs in church?

Readers and listeners, I will be on Morning Air bright ‘n’ early tomorrow morning to discuss something I was thinking about during Easter Mass: who really belongs in church, at Mass? The obvious answer is everybody, but as many caregivers will tell you, that can be hard with little kids, or family members with disabilities. Are there people at Mass who can be disruptive because of their age or mental/physical condition? Yep. Is it your job to put up with it? Yep! So I will be talking with Sarah Tafoya, mom-to-mom, about why it is important to not only stop glaring at children, but recall that they have just as much right to be there as you do. And so do their parents, by the way. You can find out how to listen here and tune in around 8:25 am eastern.

Triddum, and reflecting on the radio about becoming a mother

Last week I had the pleasure of being on Morning Air to discuss that article about women regretting motherhood, but this time, rather than talk with John, Sarah and I discussed. Just two moms mommin’ around. And seriously, having children is very hard work, and if women are feeling overwhelmed, it is with due cause, and we should pay more attention to this whole matter from a perspective or empathy rather than condemnation. There, that’s the summary of our conversation. You can listen and get more good nuggets of wisdom here.

And of course in the biggest news of all, the Triduum begins today. May you have a blessed and holy few days to come, culminating in the most glorious day of the year!

That article about women regretting motherhood

Listeners/readers, I will be on Morning Air this Thursday to talk about that article at The Cut, “I regret having children.” It’s behind a paywall, but you can look it up. In it, they interview three women who evidently, despite loving their children, regret having them, and long for their former lives. Ho hum.

A lot of Catholic women got their hackles raised about this one. I say - well, of course there are parents who feel this way. Parenting is the single hardest thing you will do in life. It is relentless, it is exhausting, it is expensive, it is disorienting, and it is far from instant gratification. Nothing in life prepares you for the demands of motherhood. And of course, we live in an extremely anti-family society, as evidenced by things like the extreme, even prohibitive, cost of childcare. So no wonder there are women out there, overwhelmed, stuck in the worldview of a secular life, thinking they should be able to “have it all,” unable to even tell what real happiness is, “regretting” their choice.

I’ll be offering a few ways for all of us, those that regret starting a family and those that do not (safe to say, I am in the latter camp, but I can empathize nonetheless) can change perspective and allow ourselves and others a little more grace. You can catch the conversation around 8:20 am eastern this Thursday, March 26. See here all the different options you have for how to listen.

And of course I’ll put it out there that we should all pray that our society and world become more family-friendly - that is what we mean by a “culture of life” - but I admit I do not see that happening any time soon. Nonetheless: we pray.