Stuff I like: "Culture of Life" days
It's quite lovely having a work-at-home husband. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner together, but also morning and afternoon coffee breaks! Also, while many husbands begin their work day at 9, and thus need to leave at 8:30 or something, my husband and I can enjoy our morning together and have him "leave for work" at 8:55. A sweet deal.
One hard thing about our situation, though, is what he does for a living. Patrick is very courageous, and takes it all in stride, but writing about some of the things that Lifesite covers can be hard on a person. It can also be hard on a wife. Some days, I just don't want to ask over lunch what he's reporting on today.
It's almost like our days are polar opposites, even though we're in the same home. I get to spend all day with a beautiful baby, and delight in him during patty-cake, laundry, diaper changes, tickle times, meal prep and everything in between. Patrick, however, spends all day ruminating about abortion, euthanasia and the culture of death in general.
It's heavy. And yet, it's what our family has been called to do.
Because I just get sick of thinking about all of this, and I know he does too, I have instituted "culture of life" days on Sunday. Since it's the Sabbath, it makes sense for the hubby to take a step back from work (and I do no laundry. NONE! Unless it's cloth diapers, which I actually like cleaning, and they're pretty essential). So we aren't allowed to talk about anything related to his work, and we must do something fun as a family together.
My logic is this: to be pro-life can't be to simply oppose the various attacks on human life. Rather, it is to affirm life. The most sensible place to do this is within the family. Since we're privileged to have a beautiful family, as well as an extended family so close by, it's easy to cultivate this. And what a blessing it has been to us!
Here Patrick feeds a chickadee out of his hand
during a recent Culture of Life day; a walk in Shubie Park.
One hard thing about our situation, though, is what he does for a living. Patrick is very courageous, and takes it all in stride, but writing about some of the things that Lifesite covers can be hard on a person. It can also be hard on a wife. Some days, I just don't want to ask over lunch what he's reporting on today.
It's almost like our days are polar opposites, even though we're in the same home. I get to spend all day with a beautiful baby, and delight in him during patty-cake, laundry, diaper changes, tickle times, meal prep and everything in between. Patrick, however, spends all day ruminating about abortion, euthanasia and the culture of death in general.
It's heavy. And yet, it's what our family has been called to do.
Because I just get sick of thinking about all of this, and I know he does too, I have instituted "culture of life" days on Sunday. Since it's the Sabbath, it makes sense for the hubby to take a step back from work (and I do no laundry. NONE! Unless it's cloth diapers, which I actually like cleaning, and they're pretty essential). So we aren't allowed to talk about anything related to his work, and we must do something fun as a family together.
My logic is this: to be pro-life can't be to simply oppose the various attacks on human life. Rather, it is to affirm life. The most sensible place to do this is within the family. Since we're privileged to have a beautiful family, as well as an extended family so close by, it's easy to cultivate this. And what a blessing it has been to us!
Here Patrick feeds a chickadee out of his handduring a recent Culture of Life day; a walk in Shubie Park.
I know normal people would just call this family time... or worse yet... "quality time". Some day I'll tell you how much I hate that phrase. For now, I'll just say, I think it's a self-promoting expression parents use to assuage their guilt when they spend very little energy on their children, and conversely, lots of money on trivial outings.
We call it "Culture of Life" time, and it's important to us. It'd definitely Stuff I like.
We call it "Culture of Life" time, and it's important to us. It'd definitely Stuff I like.
This, I like. Nicely done. Our parish's theme for the year is "Sunday: A day for God and family" - hence the parish potluck today. I think Francis and I need to get organized (mostly regarding his lesson planning) so Sunday can be used as productively and beautifully as you've suggested.
ReplyDeleteP.S. When I submitted my previous comment, my word verification was "gedown". Which, to me, looks like a contraction of "get down"! Which makes me feel like dancing. Doesn't it make YOU feel like dancing? Get down with your bad self, Jenna! Ge' down!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post Jenna! Thank you for making me stop and remember to take time and appreciate all that God has given us and enjoy the life he has given our little family. Lately, Ben's days off have been filled with 'business' and it's time to slowww down a little and enjoy each other.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in terms of what Patrick does for a living. It can't be easy thinking about all of the heavy topics all day long, so he must especially need 'culture of life' Sundays! :)