Handbook for Catholic Moms Question: How Do You Live Catholic Culture at Your House?

The final chapter of The Handbook for Catholic Moms is full of great ideas for promoting a Catholic culture in one's home.

This is actually a very timely discussion among my friends.  I'm on an e-group for Catholic moms, and one new Catholic asked how we as moms live out a Catholic culture in our homes.  There were quite a few good answers of doing Mass readings, praying with children, and others ideas to promote a family culture that is Catholic and joyful.

For some reason, the first thing that I remember when I heard the question about making a Catholic culture in the family is praying the Hail Mary when an ambulance passes--I know many families do this.  Some people might consider that "Catholic lite" or only culturally Catholic instead of truly Catholic, but really, helping kids to pray for others and think of people they don't know is helpful.  Once we were in a big city and the kids were non-stop praying Hail Marys, until my husband and I told our children that most of the sirens were police directing traffic, and it was okay to say one Hail Mary for all the intentions and wait until we were back in our small community to resume the practice.

More seriously, the one practice I think is most successful in our family is "the little blessing," something we have done in our family for years.

Many years ago, my husband attended a retreat at a Virginia monastery where the monk leading the retreat suggested parents bless one another and their children with  the sign of the cross each day or night, with the words, "The Lord bless you and keep you."  The monk pointed out that there are times in life when spouses may be angry with each other, or teen children may pull away from physical signs of affection, but the sign of the cross helps bond families with the sign of the Savior.

I can think of many nights when I have been frustrated with one of my children (or my husband!), and they with me, but we still give the little blessing.  The very act of tracing the sign of the cross on the forehead seems to soften the frustration and remind us we do love each other, for both the giver and the receiver.

And now our children bless us, as well.  Often one of the children will bless us three times, saying, "Three for the Trinity."  It has become a sacred time for our family, and it only takes a moment.

I vividly remember the first time my husband told me about "the little blessing," when we were dating, never realizing that all these years later we would still have the "little blessing" for one another and our children, every single night.  Our family spiritual life has changed and grown (and sometimes shrunk) over the years, and devotions have come and gone--I can think of many that have been helpful as times goes by--but "the little blessing" has been a constant.

What are the ways your family lives a Catholic culture?

Handbook for Catholic Moms Question: Who's Your Favorite Mom Saint and Why?

One great feature of The Handbook for Catholic Moms is a section of favorite saints for moms, where moms and others give suggestions of a Catholic "communion of saints for moms."  I would have to say two of my favorites are St. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, and St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

Who are some of your favorite "saints for moms"?  Why?

Handbook for Catholic Moms Question: How Do You Express Your Creativity?

The Handbook for Catholic Moms has a section about creativity and helping nurture our mind by having creative pursuits that we turn to for both self-improvement and for relaxation.

I find that writing can be very creative for me, but not particularly relaxing (except when I am finished!).   I also enjoy handcrafts such as knitting, and also trying out new recipes.  I found working out and trying several different recipes from the book and website Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, because the recipes are more foolproof than most.  Even with the help of this excellent technique, I still find reliably good bread an elusive goal.  Any suggestions out there for how I can get a loaf of bread to turn out well every single time?

What do you do to nurture your creative side?

Summer Fiction Suggestions?

We interrupt the great discussion of moms and those who love them to seek suggestions for fiction.

June will be "summer fiction month" at the Catholic Post Book Group, and I've got a long list of reviews started of both adult and kids fiction, but I'm looking for more suggestions.  I have a lot of great Catholic authors and Catholic-themed novels, but I'd love some input of some undiscovered authors or books that I can feature here.  I've got both new fiction and classics.

What are some of your favorites?

Just a note: when I say Catholic, I mean that in both senses--Catholic and catholic (as in universal).  Some fiction may not seem Catholic, but can address Catholic themes, or catholic themes.  Know what I mean?  I'll try to expand on that more next month.

Tomorrow, back to more questions about motherhood!

Handbook for Catholic Moms Question: Family Banker Advice?

The Mind section of The Handbook for Catholic Moms has a chapter on financial stewardship, since many moms are the "family bankers" of their families.  I especially like Catholic financial guru Phil Lenehan's sidebar advice for moms to be good financial stewards for their families.

I thought it would be neat to explore here some good financial advice you practice or received as advice that you like, even if you aren't able to put it into practice.  What's a good way to save or spend money wisely?

Your advice can be serious or light.  

The one I'd like to share is quite light and fun.  We have a Discover Card in our family, and part of the rewards of this is a "Cashback Bonus."  You can the "Cashback"  for cash, a reduction in your credit card bill, or in the form of gift cards with a higher value, say a $45 card for $40 of your "Cashback" money.  Since we don't carry a balance on our credit cards, we don't use the bonus for the credit card bills themselves.  So as a treat, I use our Cashback Bonus to get gift cards for my favorite coffee shop so when I buy coffee "out" when I'm on the run all day or when we are traveling, and it is "free."  I know that it actually isn't free, but there's something nice about having a gift card for something that is a treat.

What's some good and/or fun financial advice from your family? 

Handbook for Catholic Moms Question: How Do You Show Your Kids Your Real Self?

Lisa Hendey describes the importance of not just being "mom," but also of , and she invites us to reflect on the ways that we can share that "real self" with our children so they know our loves.

I think one way I have shared my real self is my passion for reading.  I love the fact that I have taught each of my children to read, and then introduced them to a world of great books.

We were traveling on Mother's Day this year, and one of my daughters told me that she still wants to give me a day--a transfered Mother's Day of sorts-- when I have no responsibilities except for reading whatever I want.  I can only come downstairs to go out on a run or for meals prepared by others.   I love that she knows my love of reading and wants to help me indulge in that.

What "real self" do you share with your children?

Handbook for Catholic Moms Question: What Does It Mean to be a "Soul Sister"?

In the "Heart" section of The Handbook for Catholic Moms, there's a chapter on friendship--developing and maintaining healthy, nurturing friendships.  Author Lisa Hendey calls these true friends "soul sisters."

In my life, I feel blessed to have four biological sisters, as well as a few very good "soul sisters." It's true for both my sisters and my "soul sisters" that with busy family life, I can't always be in contact with them as I would like.  Still, I hope all my "sisters" know that I cherish them deeply and pray for them every day.  For the most part, I'm inconsistent about remembering birthdays and other anniversaries, and I've often thought that I wish I had a more consistent way to be in touch with them.  When my parents were alive, my husband's example of always calling his parents on the weekend (and usually other times throughout the week) helped me to make that a weekend habit, and I'm so grateful for that.    I think I need to consider something along those lines for my sisters who are close and my sisters who live far.

What does it mean to you to have or to be a "soul sister?"  How do you nourish authentic friendships?