A Personal Mosquito Nightmare Mosquitoes are the absolute worst. I despise them with every fiber of my being. For some reason, these little bloodsuckers have a special obsession with my ankles. Last night, after a quick trip outside to toss the trash, I came back looking like a pink-and-white Dalmatian, scratching my legs, arms, and… Continue reading Random Musings #9
Tag: Family Life
Twenty-Four: The Backyard Swimming Pool
Our backyard swimming pool is the heart of our summer chaos, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a modest ten-foot pool, nothing fancy, but it’s ours, and it (somehow) fits our whole big family, kids, parents, and toys. The kids go wild for it, splashing and shrieking with joy the moment they… Continue reading Twenty-Four: The Backyard Swimming Pool
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Four – Sharpening Your Intellectual Strength
A dad’s mind is a tool that needs constant sharpening. In a big family, where questions fly from “Why is the sky blue?” to “Daddy, in what situations would I need a gas mask?” (you might laugh, but that’s a real question from my eight-year-old/survivalist son), intellectual strength means staying curious and informed. By always… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Four – Sharpening Your Intellectual Strength
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Three – Leading with Spiritual Strength
As a Christian dad, you’re called to be the spiritual leader of your family. In a big family, where challenges like financial strain or societal pressures can test your faith, your spiritual strength is a beacon. Speaking from my Catholic perspective and expanding on Catholic ideals (though these apply to all Christian brethren), spiritual strength… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Three – Leading with Spiritual Strength
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
As a dad, your mental strength is the bedrock of your family’s stability. In a big family, chaos is constant, from spilled juice to sibling squabbles to unexpected bills. Mental strength isn’t about never feeling stressed; it’s about adopting a selfless mentality that shows your kids how to face life’s challenges with grit and grace.… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
Twenty-Two: The Great Hand-Me-Down Hullabaloo: Four Boys, Two Girls, and a Wardrobe Reboot
As I stood over my fourth basket of laundry yesterday (I think it was four, anyway), I had a distinct thought about the majority of the clothes I was sorting: they’re nearly all hand-me downs. Hand-me-downs are the ultimate family heirloom as far as I’m concerned. I grew up in my older brother’s clothes. I… Continue reading Twenty-Two: The Great Hand-Me-Down Hullabaloo: Four Boys, Two Girls, and a Wardrobe Reboot
Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Our house is small, much smaller than most people would probably believe. I know people with half the kids I have who live in a house that’s literally 3.5 times the size of our house (not a joke or an exaggeration either) because they “outgrew” their previous house which was only twice the size of… Continue reading Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Nineteen: Hello World! Redux
We are officially, as of 10:02 am, Monday, May 19th, a family of eight (how is that possible?!?)! I’ll keep this one very brief by saying only a few things, the most important of which is…. We are so excited to have our other bookend to hold all of the boys together! God has truly… Continue reading Nineteen: Hello World! Redux
Eighteen: Forget March Madness: May Madness Hits Parents Harder
Running the May Marathon May is a parenting marathon, and I’m already out of breath. This past Monday morning, while mentally juggling how to get to my son’s baseball game and how to get my daughter to the same game from musical practice, I caught a radio segment during my commute (usually my prayer time… Continue reading Eighteen: Forget March Madness: May Madness Hits Parents Harder
Seventeen: A Mother’s Day Tribute: To My Wife and All Moms Who Make It Work
Mother’s Day is a moment to pause and honor the women who hold our families together, especially those navigating the beautiful chaos of raising kids. This year, it’s even more personal—my wife is literally a week away from giving birth to our sixth child, and her strength inspires me in ways I can’t express. But… Continue reading Seventeen: A Mother’s Day Tribute: To My Wife and All Moms Who Make It Work