"Catholic Motherhood Today;" Article on What It Means, How It Is lived Today

[mdgspencer]

“I see motherhood as one way to fulfill our call to love and serve others. For me, the main way I’m going to do that is through my husband and kids,” author Jennifer Fulwiler begins in this wide-ranging interview with her. “When I converted to Catholicism, it completely changed how I saw motherhood.”
see americamagazine.org/content/all-things/catholic-motherhood-today-qa-jennifer-fulwiler

 

[edwest2]

Thank you for posting this. It appears to be another example of motherhood being a natural thing. Unfortunately, inter-generational ties have not been restored for so many. And living in a supportive community with good and positive adult role models is missing for too many. But, first things first.

Ed

 

[1Lord1Faith]

What are some challenges you’ve faced as a mom in today’s world?

By far, the biggest challenge has been isolation. Mothers were meant to raise kids in community. It’s unnatural to be alone with your kids in a house all day. Most women in human history have lived in villages that came with built-in support systems; even in recent decades, moms could send their kids outside for hours at a time to roam the neighborhoods. These days, we’re expected to have eyes on our kids at all times, and there aren’t even any other adults nearby for grown-up conversation. Staying home with kids in a suburban area is a very psychologically challenging experience.

I second this^. I would add that I think situations like Jennifer is referring to have a greater negative effect on the children than the adult.

I let my kids go out and play as much as they want and more. I encourage them to go out and be independent. I encourage them to talk to people. I don’t want them exposed to the ‘stranger danger’ culture. I don’t want them to be afraid of people. I encourage them to go explore the neighborhood on their own. To go trick or treating on their own, to go sell school fund raising on their own around the neighborhood.