The Confident Woman; lots of links with chit-chat!
The School for Housewives, my Substack, is a little spinoff of Like Mother, Like Daughter. Over there I give little short thoughts about homemaking and all things related, and there I always say: take my ideas and apply them with, among other things, confidence.
When you are no longer the young mom, when you have children of the age of reason and toddlers no longer scare you, when you have gone through a decade and a half of marriage, you start to know some things.
Not everything, but some things.
I hope you start to realize how important it is to do what you know is right without being swayed by every influence.
You ought to have confidence in what you have learned and most importantly, the decisions you have made. It’s not that you won’t change your mind or maybe ever feel as if you have it all together. I certainly do not.
It’s just that if you decide, say, to homeschool, then you need to have confidence in your ability to try it, and not second-guess things all the time.
Another example might be realizing you need a certain amount of sleep and so you forego impossibly late nights out. They make next day inevitably much harder than it needs to be, and then dissatisfaction with what we’ve chosen sets in.
Maybe you now see the miracle of your children, including the ones you didn’t “plan” (as if anyone can plan God’s gifts! as if there aren’t so many, all around us, who “planned” and have no children to show for it!). Have confidence going forward, then. Have confidence in God’s plan — hasn’t He shown you good reason for trust? Why would you listen to those whose lives clearly demonstrate their imprudence (lack of a grasp of reality) and lack of faith?
The best ways to live life involve not being caught up in consumerism and “expertology.” Most really important things take a long time to reach fruition. Having confidence is important, or you’ll keep wandering around off the path.
I’m not talking about stubbornness or pig-headedness, but I am talking about being able to identify and avoid things people chase after because they actually don’t have confidence in the decisions they have made that they know are for the good. They abandon the struggle because inside they lack the courage necessary to see things through, even through suffering.
When you’re older, you look back and remember occasions you followed someone else whose own confidence was based on something that was not right for you, or maybe just on their personality, which might differ from yours. You didn’t stick to your guns. Hopefully it was something trivial! Regardless, that experience helps you as you get older.
If you are older, maybe apply some of that energy you discovered as a child when you realize, oh, I’m the big kid!
These last two pics are glimpses of the vast amount of old red carpet I am getting rid of!
bits & piecesMusic and learning to read music are subjects that should be in everyone’s curriculum. Here’s a nice explanation of words relating to classical compositions that those of us who are familiar take for granted, but would be good to explain to children or anyone trying to learn more.
An Extraordinary Family of Saints and the Secret of Christian Homeschooling
One (ancient) Family, Eight Saints
Most Catholic believers have undoubtedly heard of the famous Doctor of the Church, Saint Basil the Great (330–378). Some may also be familiar with his brother, Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c.335–c.394). Along with a third brilliant theologian of our Church, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (c.329–390), they form the well-known group of the “Cappadocian Fathers.”
However, far fewer Catholic believers know that Saints Basil and Gregory came from an extraordinary family—one that, across three generations, included no fewer than eight saints recognized in the Church’s calendar. For the past thirty years, I have never ceased to marvel at them, to read their writings, and to wonder how such a thing was possible.
Here is a rather long article: The Art of Dress – On Materials, by Anna Kalinowska. We need to think about the materials we use in everyday life.
Not about dress, but I am about to remedy a situation in my house which involves a huge amount of carpeting that I’ve never really been able to face replacing. It’s old; like, really old. And while I will have the wood of some of the floors and one staircase refinished, one area will have to be re-carpeted (I’ll do a deep dive when it happens!). My denial over this project has many facets, but one thing is my visceral aversion to polyester! Imagine my happiness upon discovering I could obtain pure wool carpet for this area! Well, read the article to understand why this matters so much to me, if you don’t really get it.
Embedded in that post is a link to an article about fast fashion. I think this topic is one mothers of families need to study. We are in charge of buying the clothing (I even buy my husband’s clothing, and I don’t think I’m alone in this!). It can be unbelievably frustrating to find garments that will last and are well made, and yet, not doing so consigns us to this unjust, unpleasant system of constant buying and constant purging. Nothing fits, nothing looks good, nothing feels good, it’s all ugly, and those who actually make the things are exploited.“Fast use: It’s estimated that the average item of clothing is worn just 14 times, and in 2019 The Guardian reported that one in three young women considered an item worn just once or twice to be old.
“Much modern clothing is not made to last. Due to super-fast production, designs are generally not well stress-tested before sale, and cheap synthetic fabrics are used in order to keep costs low. Much of it will end up in landfill after only being worn a handful of times.”
The truth is that demand is what creates supply. Three percent of a population can influence the rest and we need to stop participating on the demand side of things.
Watching the earlier episodes of the knitting podcast Fruity Knitting, in which were featured shepherds, spinners, and experienced knitters, I learned about the benefits of wool and grew to appreciate how a woolen garment will last such a long time and in the end (possibly after decades of wear), if it must be discarded, simply return to the earth. The podcast used to have a segment called Meet the Shepherdess. I loved it and my thoughts about sweaters and other woolens changed a lot as I began to understand the different kinds of wool and their uses.A reader sent two links about head coverings for women, which I find so fascinating. There is a lot of mystique around the idea for Catholics today, but my thought (here’s Part 1, here’s Part 2) is that it’s just always normal everywhere (except our time) for married women to cover their hair! Headcovering Customs of the Ancient World
Head Covering Through the Centuries
Stop comparing Rupnik to Caravaggio. He is a terrible, abusive person but his art is also terrible and abusive. It should be taken down right quick. Because of the Vatican’s sponsorship, a lot of the materials include his graphic designs. You may have some in your home if you tend to pick up brochures or prayer cards at your parish. I would advise throwing them into the fire or just throw away.
from the archivesA couple of weeks ago I posted about mending my jeans. Here’s how you mend non-decoratively (i.e. for your boys and husband!). My method might not have occurred to you, and I promise you it’s easier and neater than trying to sew a patch onto a leg without it.I have a four-part series on a book about modesty –– maybe related to “fast fashion” and also of course to summer! The previous posts are linked in this one. Maybe a good topic for book club! (I flatter myself that I do not say the usual things about modesty that tend to make people mad, but I absolutely have standards, so do check it out!)
liturgical living
The Old Testament Prophet, Elisha
Tomorrow is Trinity Sunday (go here for a deep look at the Rublev Trinity icon!)
follow us everywhere!
Here is all the info:
Visit me at The School for Housewives and recommend it to your young friends!
My “random thoughts no pictures” blog, Happy Despite Them has moved over to Substack! — receive it by email if you like, or bookmark, so you don’t miss a thing! The old one is still up if you want to look at the comments on past posts.
There you will find the weekly podcast done by Phil and me, called On the Home Front. Do let us know what you think!
My book, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life is available from Sophia Press! Also in paperback now! All the thoughts from this blog collected into three volumes, beautifully presented with illustrations from Deirdre, an index in each volume, and ribbons!
I keep this site ad-free, but you can support me these ways:
Using my affiliate link to my Amazon page — the only affiliate thing that goes on here on LMLD, which is why the blog loads quickly and you don’t have to keep closing pop-ups etc! It opens up an Amazon tab and anything you purchase using that tab for 24 hours sends a bit over my way without cost to you. Thank you for opening it and shopping if you are so minded — as some have asked me. If not, don’t worry one bit.
Buying me a skein or two of yarn! (This will appear on your credit card as “Domus Enterprises” — please remember!)
Thank you!
Stay abreast of the posts here at LMLD, when they happen: Consider subscribing to this blog by email. We would love to pop into your inbox! The subscription box is on this page on the sidebar!
My old podcast, The Home Truths Society, can be found on the Restoration of Christian Culture website (and you can find it where you listen to such things) if you haven’t heard them.
We share pretty pictures: Auntie Leila’s Instagram, Rosie’s Instagram, Deirdre’s Instagram. Bridget’s Instagram.
Auntie Leila’s Facebook (you can just follow)
The boards of the others: Rosie’s Pinterest. Sukie’s Pinterest. Deirdre’s Pinterest. Habou’s Pinterest
