So, what do I think?

I don't blog politics.

OK, maybe sometimes I do. Maybe just this once.

I've already written about how powerful Sarah Palin is. And I've said how much I love politics. Today's events appear to be pure political genius, perfectly executed. My friend Molly was here this morning, helping me dig out of the mess created in my house. We cranked up the TV so we could hear over our cleaning and chatting. My children were very interested in watching the events unfold. In all honesty, I was positively giddy all day long.

In the afternoon, I had a long chat with another mom of many, who balances writing and homeschooling and carefully nurturing a marriage. She was as tickled as I was. Can Sarah Palin appeal to traditional moms at home who are raising their children? Oh, yes, she can! Every home is different and every woman has a different way of expressing the fullness of her femininity. Some of us balance homemaking and childrearing with some kind of work at home, whether that is freelance writing or in-home childcare for children not our own. Some of us take on the formidable task of working alongside our husbands to farm the land and care for livestock. And some dedicated mothers discern to work outside their homes, while Dad takes on a greater share of child care. I know what works for my family and I think Sarah Palin and her husband know what works for hers. She's a prayerful woman. I am certain they've taken the matter to prayer at every turn.I'm not the slightest bit interested in Governor Palin's intimate conversations with her maker about how to live the calling she hears. She says she asked God and that sounds good to me. Goes back to that whole what works best for your family thing...

I've heard it said a million times over the last nine months. Every-feminist-body and her sister has held Hillary Clinton up as the ideal role model for our daughters. See? She proves that women can do anything. Be anything.

I don't think so.Hillary doesn't inspire me one bit.

Sarah Palin began her speech today by honoring the man who is her husband and introducing those five precious blessings.She began with those closest to her heart and then unpeeled the rest of the layers of who she is for us to begin to get to know. She's a complex, full woman, who is clearly confident in her varied roles. She's a nursing mom in her forties who wears her baby to public speaking engagements. Her family looks very much like the big families I know. It was obvious just in the short time we saw them how they are all interconnected to meet each others' needs.  My daughters recognized themselves in the teenaged daughter cradling the baby. And though I have no aspirations to ever be in politics, I could identify with this woman and her abundant life.

It was my sixteen-year-old son who pointed out just how much I could take from Sarah Palin's example. I was sitting in the kitchen watching Molly scrub the stove and bemoaning the fact that I can get so little done lately. I attributed my sluggishness to "advanced maternal age" (that despised term of obstetricians) and the busy-ness of life with a gaggle of children who span the ages.

"You know," said Christian from the other room, seemingly oblivious to the conversation in progress, "I think the question of her experience can be answered really easily. Just make a list of everything Sarah Palin has done during her short term as governor. Compare that to Barack Obama's accomplishments during his short time in the Senate. She looks great."

And then he looked pointedly at me. "Oh, and she was pregnant for nine months of that time. She's 44."

I'm such a slacker.

Babywearing photo credit: http://bp3.blogger.com/_eeBrCFDUUOc/SEnh6tjqHRI/AAAAAAAAAoY/rCVlMkh3yPY/s320/SPOminbusCrimeBillSigning.jpg

Followup post here.
 

I knew it was coming...

...and still it made me cry. Kimberlee warned me that Eliza would have a hard time with this day. And I warned Kimerblee that she would have just as hard a time. There is something especially poignant about babies left behind when their big siblings leave for school. And there is something uniquely painful about being the mother of a big family when the first one leaves for the world out there. I remember when this young lady looked like the little girl in the slide show. And I know the hole she leaves behind in the fabric of her family life. Goodness! What a melancholy time of year this has become! I stop and count the number of Augusts ahead of me with trunks packed and waiting in the foyer. And, truly, I can't help but sigh. On this day, as I sigh, I am kicked in the ribs. Yes, sweet little one, I know you're there and your story has just begun. But I know better than with any other baby, just how hard the letting go will be. Someday. Someday not so very far away.

Cool!

While I was trying to link the the Catholic Herald site this morning, I discovered that my link didn't work. And it didn't work. And it didn't work. And then, it did work--sort of. Finally, I could get the link to the front page to work. They've completely redesigned the site and it's pretty cool. The only thing that isn't cool is that now none of my links here work. Maybe I'll get around to re-linking someday. But...the upside is that now there is actually an easily navigated archives with 250 of my columns--just one click to get bunches and bunches of them. Look for that link to be live at www.elizabethfoss.com real soon!

Time Online, Revisited

I've received several variations of the following note, This one's from Lindsay:

Dear Elizabeth,

I read your column about time spent online with interest. I know that you must have spent a lot of time online before this column was written. Are you saying you've changed your computer habits? I need to do something about my computer use. I was wondering if you'd share your guidelines with me (if you have new ones).

Yep! I definitely do have new "guidelines." They were about a year in the drafting (some things come very slowly to me). My guidelines are, of course, mine. They suit me (at least right now) and are likely to be revised by me. But I'm happy to let you peek, particularly since so many people seem interested in the "rest of the story" after reading that piece and this one.

• I don't pursue friendships online. Let me explain that one carefully. I definitely do email my friends. And I'm grateful for email and blogs where friends are concerned. It's opened up whole new worlds. A couple of friends, in particular, have been friends since childhood. Since we were military kids, most of that friendship time has been long distance. It's amazing how much more connected we are able to be since the internet exploded and long distance became a fairly inexpensive proposition. That said, I don't pursue friendships online. I might share photos or links or files (in the case of my friends who love color-coded homeschool and homemaking lists as much as I do). But if an email conversation goes more than a couple of posts deep, I pick up the phone or arrange for an in-real-life meeting at the park or playground.  Of all the habits I've changed, this one is bearing the most fruit.
• The corollary to the first rule is that I don't use my cell phone much at all. There are exceptions to this rule but, for the most part, I never use it when driving and I rarely use it unless minutes are free. I had gotten into a bad habit of phone calls while driving last fall. My daughter pointed out rather poignantly how much she missed our conversation time while driving to activities. And really, I'm not the best driver. It's better all the way around if I don't drive and talk on the phone.
• I don't post to message boards or email groups. The only exception is the business of local groups who use such vehicles to communicate between meetings. Online groups are very useful in that limited capacity. Otherwise, they don't work in my life for a variety of reasons. Honestly, of all the pruning, this was the most difficult. But it's also the one that stands to bear the most fruit.
• I only write and read online if my kitchen is clean. This is a variation of the original promise I made to my husband when I started blogging--a promise quickly forgotten. Life is much more peaceful since I've returned to it. I only blogged once last week. Feel free to imagine why;-)
• I whittled my Google Reader down to what I discerned was a manageable number of blogs. This was a major hack job, not a little whittle. I cut the list by about 90%. Admittedly, sometimes I feel like I'm missing the party, but on the whole, it's a very good thing. I do allow myself to follow links that I find on my ten. I also read "Friends Shared Items," if they interest me. Google has generated the friends in this case (and I can't figure out how to add or delete from that list, I'm embarrassed to admit).  I think a feed reader is a very, very useful tool for managing time and content online. When I take that tool and put my own restrictions on it, its invaluable. Remember, the kitchen must be clean. Furthermore, I only check once a day.  If I get interrupted, so be it. Life will go on. Last week, I went four days without checking in at Google Reader. Nothing earth-shattering happened. 
• I don't talk on the phone or get online if my husband is home and awake. This is not a new rule. It's actually a very, very old rule. It drives him nuts to have me on the phone or online. All my friends are well aware that this is the standard rule around here. Several of them have the same rule in their homes. Now, it probably needs to be said that I'm a morning person and he's not, so I tend to have a chunk of time in the early morning if my toddler allows it. He also travels very often; he always has. When other moms have their grown-up time when the children are sleeping, I'm often alone. I use that time to write Serendipity. It used to be online friend time, but now it's more sharply focused. This is a good thing. Ultimately, I'm dong something that benefits my family, while enjoying some time to create something beautiful that actually stays done:-).
• I take time outside every single day. This might seem utterly unrelated, but it's not. It's really good for me to get up and physically move far away from the computer. If you are attempting to cut back and to implement your own version of rules like these, I highly recommend a three (or more) day fast. Turn the computer off entirely and stay outside with your children for as much of those three days as you can. It's amazing how much your perspective can change. It's also amazing how much resolve you can bring to redefining how you use the computer for good in your life. And whenever I'm outside, I make time, literally, to smell the roses. They are blooming abundantly!

My Heart's at Home Daybook~August 24

I've really enjoyed The Simple Woman's Daybook--be sure to visit Peggy for the latest entries.

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Outside My Window ...it looks like it just might rain. Oh happy day! We so need rain.

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Towards a daily rhythm ... I'm tweaking my daily rhythms for the start of school next week. Originally the plan was to start this week, but I don't think we'll swing that. We were out of the house all last week. The kitchen sink isn't working again. and there are still more physical therapy and midwife appointments. Better to get things organized this week and start with a "clean" slate.

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I am thankful for ...the Loudoun County Schools calendar. Neighborhood schools don't start until next week. Works for me. .

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From the kitchen ...
for breakfast:
cereal in paper bowls 
Lunch:
the dollar menu at McD's
and for dinner:
depends on the plumber

Still no refrigerator repair, but the plumber is coming for the sink in just a few hours.

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To live the liturgy...
I'm going to Holy Hour and confession with St. Monica on Wednesday. I am so, so grateful that the soccer driving schedule finds me with an hour on Wednesdays to go to Holy Hour and Confession by myself.
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I am wearing ... denim capris, pink t-shirt, flip flops, bandana (pink, I think). 

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I am creating ...daily plans. Realistic daily plans.

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I am going to breathe deeply ...hopefully, the midwife will lift the exercise restriction at my visit this week.
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Bringing beauty to my home ...I so have to dig out. I spent all last week at soccer camps and playgrounds. It was so wonderful to be out and in the fresh air. And my children are tanned and happy and peaceful. But oh my! the house is so in need of tender, loving care.

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I am reading  ... nothing. I'm quite sure though, that I will be watching lots of political television the next couple of weeks. In a former life, I was a Congressional intern who loved the hallowed halls of the Capitol building. Now, I'm just political television junkie.

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I am hoping ... to catch up on a giant backlog of email. Not much has changed in this regard since last week. Or the week before.

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Around the house ... I'm turning down the lights and lighting lots of candles. Maybe it will all look a little less intimidating.

One of my favorite things ...the Our Lady of la Leche prayer for expectant mothers that is on my righthand sidebar. I love this prayer so much--I'm going to miss it when I'm no longer pregnant.

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: physical therapy with Patrick, midwife for me and baby, lots of soccer practices and another tournament. Mike's traveling, gearing up for Monday Night Football on ESPN.

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Here is a picture thought I am sharing~
 
   

   

I can hardly wait! It's nearly that perfect nature study time of year.