I regret to inform you that the “is it a sin for moms to work?” issue has re-emerged from the ugly cave of groan-worthy online arguments. I’ve gone enough rounds on the ol’ internet to know that the militant people who make these claims are not going to be swayed by any reasoned argument and I’m not responding to change their minds. I am writing this for people who are trying to live as … [Read more...]
My Body, My Children’s First Home
As my fourth baby has learned to crawl over the past few weeks, I watch her launch out across the living room to grab toys and explore. After scurrying several feet away, she will turn her head back to where I sit cross-legged on the floor and return to me, climbing into my lap to rest her head on my chest or pat my cheek with her chubby palm before going on her next tiny adventure across the … [Read more...]
What Bakonzo Naming Conventions Taught Me about the Gift of Siblings
Give a warm Carrots welcome to one of my favorite people in the universe, my dear friend of 18 years and fellow writer, Katherine Grimm Bowers! I twisted her arm into writing a post for you for National Sibling Day.-Haley We were gathered around the bonfire, and our hosts had detected a trend. They couldn't believe it. We were, one and all, Brits and Americans alike, firstborn or maybe … [Read more...]
A Recap of Our 2018!
In some ways 2018 felt a million years long and in some ways it's just flown by--packed full of stuff. I wanted to share some of the big events with you (partly just to document for myself!). January: -I'm several weeks in to my worst pregnancy so far due to more severe hyperemesis gravidarum (I always think next time will be better..reader...next time is not better). -Netflix and La … [Read more...]
Parents, It’s Better When You Give Up
My 9yo son asked me yesterday if it was easier having a baby in the house with big kid helpers or if it’s easier to just have one baby in the house and no other kids to care for. (We just had our fourth little one in August.) I had to think about it for a minute. Having big kid helpers is so different than having only toddlers! It’s downright dreamy. But life is certainly pretty busy over here, … [Read more...]
Baby Name Reveal for Baby Carrots!
I am a baby name nerd. You need to know this to understand this story. I make extensive lists (despite my aversion to listmaking) of baby names I love for future use. I have a giant document on my laptop of first names, middle names, various combinations that I update every time I fall in love with a new name. Since my pregnancies are rough, choosing a name is one of the rare joys I experience … [Read more...]
This Is My Body, Broken for You
I was staring up at the crucifix during Mass. I was too sick to kneel, so I was just sitting in the pew while everyone knelt around me. I was desperately trying not to throw up, the pregnancy nausea coming in waves, impossible to ignore. It was my first Mass in a month. I had been too sick with hyperemesis gravidarum to leave the house for weeks. The previous week I had tried to get out of bed … [Read more...]
Notes from the ER
I can't remember a time EVER when I failed to post for 5 weeks. I'm the WORST BLOGGER lately. But travel plus book deadline plus starting back full steam ahead with homeschooling has kept me more than busy. If you've sent me a message or an email checking in, I appreciate it so much! We are all fine--thriving, in fact. But we did have some excitement when we were traveling in late August: our … [Read more...]
Links for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
image source Today, October 15th, is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. It's a difficult day for so many families because miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss are not uncommon. For most of my life I pushed the possibility of these painful events far to the edges of my mind. Probably out of fear because losing a chid is every parent's worst nightmare. But after walking with so many … [Read more...]
The Conversation We Have to Have with Our Kids
This post is sponsored by Covenant Eyes. My oldest child is seven years old. In a perfect world, I would not have to worry about protecting him from pornography. But, this is not a perfect world and I absolutely have to worry about it. But at age SEVEN? Surely, I don’t have to worry til my kids are teenagers, right? Recently, my friend Jenny shared a great series on her blog about porn … [Read more...]
