“Tired 30’s” yep. I keep wondering when I will catch up with my life, but I think it just goes this fast now. I’m having to adjust to bridging that gap between very little and school age - more commitments and actual schoolwork and just different than the long, arduous days of only tiny people. I’ve been trying not to say I’m busy, but life is very very full. And I am very tired 😂
Dang it , all the links sound like great reads but since I am in my tired 30s, I don’t have a quiet moment. I will come back to them, but I wanted to mention that L’Engle’s writing on life is so beautiful and more people need to read her memoirs. I love how she tries to balance her God given talent with her vocation as a wife and mother. It’s inspiring for mothers like me, who are struggling to find the time to work at their creative outlets.
Also, Haley, I don’t know if any of your kids have read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen or the My Side of the Mountain series by Jean Craighead George, but both are excellent.
I, too, am in my “tired 30s”, as I’ll be 37 later this fall. I’m a single, celibate Catholic layman, but I come from a big family and I have a lot of friends and I’m involved with some things at my parish and a few other things. I can totally relate to having to set boundaries and learning to say “no”. I’ve had to learn to set boundaries and prioritize and say “no” to some volunteer opportunities and stuff, otherwise I end up not taking care of myself and getting burned out and then I can’t be fully present for my friends and family and the people in my parish, which is a big part of my vocation. It’s hard setting those boundaries but it’s totally necessary. You only have so much time, energy, and money.
I really enjoyed the piece about the state of literature in America. Having been on the teaching side, the pressures I faced from parents and admin (produce useful results, make sure the kids get good grades, etc) worked against literary appreciation so often. I remember clearly one incident after hosting a form of Socratic discussion for my students about a text, and seeing them blossom and discuss with very little direction from me, the admin who was observing noted that this was the second time he’d observed such a discussion, and I needed to vary my testing/instruction/testing methods. Even though the kids were engaged, enjoying themselves, and learning to appreciate the books, it didn’t matter. On a different note, I adore Patricia McLaughlin. Highly recommend her picture book, “When I Was Young in the Mountains” for your littlest ones!
oh my... tired thirties... too real
Right?! Madeleine describes falling asleep on her typewriter.
I feel the need for more margin in my life as well!
“Tired 30’s” yep. I keep wondering when I will catch up with my life, but I think it just goes this fast now. I’m having to adjust to bridging that gap between very little and school age - more commitments and actual schoolwork and just different than the long, arduous days of only tiny people. I’ve been trying not to say I’m busy, but life is very very full. And I am very tired 😂
Dang it , all the links sound like great reads but since I am in my tired 30s, I don’t have a quiet moment. I will come back to them, but I wanted to mention that L’Engle’s writing on life is so beautiful and more people need to read her memoirs. I love how she tries to balance her God given talent with her vocation as a wife and mother. It’s inspiring for mothers like me, who are struggling to find the time to work at their creative outlets.
I agree! I love her memoirs. Here's a piece I wrote about how they inspired me: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/life/parenting/the-year-of-madeleine
I keep hearing about Brideshead--I need to break down and read it.
It is SO good. SO GOOD. But it doesn't come together until the end so don't get bogged down.
I second this. It is my favorite novel of all time. Waugh’s novel Helena is also very good!
Good to know, thank you!
Also, Haley, I don’t know if any of your kids have read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen or the My Side of the Mountain series by Jean Craighead George, but both are excellent.
Love those!
I, too, am in my “tired 30s”, as I’ll be 37 later this fall. I’m a single, celibate Catholic layman, but I come from a big family and I have a lot of friends and I’m involved with some things at my parish and a few other things. I can totally relate to having to set boundaries and learning to say “no”. I’ve had to learn to set boundaries and prioritize and say “no” to some volunteer opportunities and stuff, otherwise I end up not taking care of myself and getting burned out and then I can’t be fully present for my friends and family and the people in my parish, which is a big part of my vocation. It’s hard setting those boundaries but it’s totally necessary. You only have so much time, energy, and money.
I really enjoyed the piece about the state of literature in America. Having been on the teaching side, the pressures I faced from parents and admin (produce useful results, make sure the kids get good grades, etc) worked against literary appreciation so often. I remember clearly one incident after hosting a form of Socratic discussion for my students about a text, and seeing them blossom and discuss with very little direction from me, the admin who was observing noted that this was the second time he’d observed such a discussion, and I needed to vary my testing/instruction/testing methods. Even though the kids were engaged, enjoying themselves, and learning to appreciate the books, it didn’t matter. On a different note, I adore Patricia McLaughlin. Highly recommend her picture book, “When I Was Young in the Mountains” for your littlest ones!
Reread Sarah Plain and Tall earlier this year 🤍
It’s so beautiful.