Tea-Time With Finer Femininity ~ Socialization

I get questions from you now and again and I think the answers could be beneficial to others so I have posted them here.

Question:

I’m curious about your take on extracurricular activities and big families. Last year we had two evening time activities two nights a week and it was not ideal. I’m feeling called to pull back and make sure we are all home in the evening. What is your take on extracurricular activities With large families? Both of our families are not Catholic, not large, and do lots of “extras” with our nieces and nephews. Sorry for the long comment. I wasn’t sure how to contact you through the website any other way.

Answer:

Socialization with like-minded people is very important. But so is home life. We try, and it has been through trial and error, to keep our social activities and a lot of the  running around… for the weekend. And even then, if it is Friday, Saturday AND Sunday, we pull back if things ramp up too much.

I have older children now that make up their own minds about a lot of these things and since they are good and wholesome things they are involved in, (like choir, altar servers, visiting with the other couples, etc.) I don’t interfere…UNLESS they are not getting their chores done here at home or I see that they just don’t seem to be able to settle down at home here…ever. Then I will say something.

The kids need to get used to family time and not always feel the need to be doing something outside the home. Home needs to be the place of fulfillment. And that doesn’t always just come naturally…we have to work at it and protect it.

I notice with our couples (we have seven married and 41 grandchildren), that they will pick and choose the one event of the Weekend and go to it (oftentimes there are more than one thing going on each weekend). If they bring all their kids to every function, the kids become out-of-sorts and get used to (and like) the constant distraction and fun. Recreation and fun is important…but so is home time.

It is a balancing act for parents. We don’t necessarily need to make hard and fast rules about it, although rules laid out for the family is a good thing. If one is feeling pulled in all directions, or seeing that the home life is suffering, then choices (and maybe some well-defined guidelines) need to be made.

Question:

Please I would love to learn how to crochet these beautiful veils. Please are there links of the pattern I could follow? Please do share with me.

Answer:

My daughter, Rosie, makes the lovely doilies and crocheted veils. She started crocheting young and began making her own designs early. When I think about it, I am still miffed at her for giving her first-designed beautiful (and large) doily away to a young friend who probably tossed it in a heap. Haha! That first one was supposed to be Mom’s! ;-D

Anyway, I digress. There is not a set pattern, she wings it, so I don’t have a pattern. Sorry about that. (Sure made what could have been a short answer…long)!

Question:

Where are you going?

Answer:

😀  I asked that one for you! We are going to a wedding in North Dakota along with a family vacation. Then the Traditional Family Weekend will be shortly afterwards…so posting may be sparse. You may be relieved, right? 😉

BUT…since this is what I love to do, I may try and squeeze in a post or two.

The kids are heavily involved in the Talent Show and our family puts together the Family Weekend with the help of some great organizers! I will include pictures later.

You may want to get something like this started in your own community! Let’s face it, in these times, we have to go over and above to get our kids hanging out with like-minded families! Here is our itinerary: (And you are always welcome to come!)

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