We are so happy to share the news of the birth of little Lionel “Leo” Joseph, son of our Nick and Natasha! (It's pronounced “Lee-onel”)
Their three big boys are all overjoyed to meet him, and we could not be happier with our 19th grandchild!
Isn't he darling??
Yes, we had two grandchildren born just about a month apart. Little Jack was born at the end of September! I'm telling you, life comes at you fast! But we are so delighted — can't wait for those cousin reunions!
As an only child, I almost can't take it all in. I have no idea if I can keep up with birthdays and so on… but I will try. I know it's hard to believe, if you only have a toddler or a baby, or even a bunch of young'uns running around, that it can all escalate this way, but — believe!
On to our links, where we can chat more, because I don't think I can top this news!
bits & pieces
- Following my last post with its appreciation of John Senior, “the most influential educator you never heard of,”as I like to call him, a reader who studied with him (who wishes not to be named) sent me a link. Here is what he said:
“Dear Mrs. Lawler, After he retired, Mr. Senior recorded volumes of cassette tapes with Mr. Quinn. The content was very much like their classroom conversations. The tapes covered many of the topics from the IHP [Integrated Humanities Program] courses they taught originally with Mr. Nelick and later (after KU Administrators killed the IHP [for its success!]) by themselves. It has to be said that the tapes were awfully hard to listen to because the recording technique was intentionally unsophisticated. They occasionally took time to explain their approach to recording while recording. Two weeks ago a broadcaster friend of mine in Cincinnati “put me wise” to an AI based enhancement process that I immediately tested on one of the professors' cassette tapes. The results were marvelous. I recommend listening to Good Books for Children first. “
If your book club is having trouble reading a book, maybe they could listen to these recordings and then you could discuss? So much wisdom!
- Here is a well expressed analysis of the woman's dilemma, The Mother's Gauntlet, written by a young mother and scholar, Lane Scott.
Here's what I thought: It honestly makes me say to myself, “Oh, I too have undergone all these varying conflicting emotions, desires, and difficulties in my exodus from the feminist world, foisted on me by the accidents of time and place. I should write about how important it is to know what to do at home and why” — and then I remembered, I did and continue to do so! Right here on Like Mother, Like Daughter, and in my books (see the bit at the bottom of this post — do you skip it? Or do you follow the links?).
We can't remain in a perpetual state of simply identifying the issue. At some point, we have to pull up our big-girl pants and do something about it. What we find in the process of committing is that we aren't just solving a personal problem — we are restoring a culture! This is what I want to say to women: try to overcome the individualistic issue and recognize the very great mission calling out to our sex! Let's be “like an army arrayed for battle!”
- On that note, I have to share something a friend sent me: Her daughter's friend gave her sister The Summa Domestica as a wedding gift (“I’m telling you, the are the best wedding gift!!!!”). She, the friend, received this text:
The gal who sent this to me followed up with: “For reference, the newlyweds just graduated from MIT. They like doing things THE RIGHT WAY!” I would love live updates, wouldn't you??
- I am not baking these days for obvious reasons (my kitchen being only gradually put back together again), but my friend Kathryn made these pecan pie bars for our St. Clare's Guild (AKA “knit night”) and the recipe is a keeper. I personally ate three of these bars…
- A good interview on the topic of homeschooling — history, a court case, thoughts about its difficulty — with Dixie Lane, long-time friend of LMLD and scholar of the topic, from the Home School Legal Defense Fund podcasts. I enjoyed her calm reassurance (and nice speaking voice) about the centrality of the natural ability of parents to teach their children, broadly, even if they are aware of lacunae in their own formation. We can do this, because we love our children!
from the archives
- I read a long, technical article from The Centre for Independent Studies in Australia about the importance of math (“maths”) fluency and the need for children to have speed in their calculations. What do you need to know? I wrote about it here (much more accessibly if I do say so myself). As homeschoolers, we don't need to sign on to complicated programs and assessments. We can observe our children and give them the help they need, fairly simply.
living liturgically
Today is a glorious feast day, Feast of the Apostles Saints Simon and Jude. Coming up this week is of course Halloween and then the start of November, when we remember the saints who precede us, known and unknown, and the Holy Souls who need our prayers.
follow us everywhere! share us with your friends!
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!
My “random thoughts no pictures” blog, Happy Despite Them — receive it by email if you like, or bookmark, so you don’t miss a thing!
My 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) — be sure to check out the other offerings there!
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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
Jana says
Those Senior/Quinn tapes were, as your reader says, both annoying and revelatory, especially the one on Shakespeare. If you only listen to one, listen to that. Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet, if I recall correctly, 20 years on, opened some worlds.
As for the conversation format, there is something to listening to people who know how to talk. When we asked our children how they think they learn best, one said she learned the very most from listening to our conversations. I am always annoyed by the 10-15 year old ‘lurkers’ but I remember doing the same with my own Mom who had interesting friends and great conversations. I learned so much! And what could be easier than “conversation schooling,” in which you and your husband and your like minded friends talk about what you are interested in anyway and the children pick up what they can.
Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful new new grandson.
Leila says
If you listened before, you might be surprised at how good the audio is here (if that’s what you mean by annoying!).
Jana says
Yes, that is what I meant! They also do tend to wander a bit but that’s the way with conversations. Way leads on to way.
Monet says
Thank you, thankyou, THANK YOU for the information on the Senior/Quinn tapes. John Senior has been my “hero” since I first read his books while homeschooling my children, 30 years ago. If I could meet one person on earth, it would be Dr Senior. I’ll just have to wait for heaven. To hear his voice and Dr. Quinn’s is beyond anything I could have hoped for.
Caitlin says
Congratulations to the mama and papa— and grandma and grandpa too! Natasha is such a classy, natural beauty— she looks fabulous even in the hospital bed with her newborn!
Mrs. Badger says
Oh, what a wonderfully squishy little newborn! Joy to all of you!
Excited to listen to those John Senior tapes.
Carol Kennedy says
Congratulations! You are blessed indeed, not only in your growing band of grandchildren, but in that so many of your kids have married. This seems to be a difficult hurdle for young adults these days. We have so many friends and family in the mid 20’s to mid 30’s struggling to find a spouse. We have a long list for whom we pray, including for our own children (a little young now, but never too soon to pray!).
Excited to listen to the John Senior tapes!
Also, thanks for your wisdom on math. I have one kid who went full time on math at about age 12, studied all the way through calculus and is now heading toward engineering. And another who couldn’t wait to stop studying math in early high school and stopped at geometry. I keep hoping the second will return and relearn the parts that she struggled with and missed. 6 weeks is all!
Dixie says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the podcast, Leila! Your calm reassurance about homeschooling (and so many other things!) has been so valuable to me over the years!
The text exchange about the Summa Domestica cracked me up. Watch out, Matthew!
Leila says
Aw, thank you!
Matthew is not going to know what hit him, judging by my emails over the years LOL
Dixie says
Pretty soon there are going to be systems for managing dirty dishes and stacks of fat quarters on the shelves in the second pantry!
Mrs. Bee says
Congratulations, Leila! This seems to be a lot of boys, are they the majority of your team of 19?
I think Matthew and Catherine may not realize how lucky they are to begin their married life this way! Oh the blessedness of setting off on the right foot 🙂
Sarah says
What a wonderful yawn! Congratulations, grandmother! And 19 – God is so good. As another child raised alone with mama, I can’t even fathom the household of five children we have now, much less the wonderful future generations. I’m hoping though!
I started on the John Senior tapes and am enjoying them. Occasionally, I wish they’d define their terms, but it’s just part and parcel of a rich conversation between friends, overheard by an outsider. I’m certain I’ll learn from them anyway.
The Summa Domestica books have caught like wildfire around our church, and the conversations have been just wondeful. The dads are seasoned enough to know what a good thing they are. And the moms breath a sigh of relief with the good sense and practical aspirations. Thank you! Speaking engagement! I’ll email to ask:)
Victoria says
Awww, congratulations, he is precious!
Nicole says
Oh no! I can’t access the John senior tapes anymore! I listened to the first and was so very excited to continue and now the YouTube channel says they were taken down? Is anyone else having trouble? I am so sad!
Carol says
Yes, I too only got to listen to one, and then went back, and there is a message that they have been taken down. If anyone can give a new link, I would love to be able to listen to more!
Thank you! and God bless!
Leila says
Working with the owner of the audios to get them back!
Diana says
Many congratulations on the adorable new grandbaby! So wonderful – you are reaping a beautiful reward for all the years of mothering.
As a fellow only-child, I hope to be in your shoes grandbaby-wise in another twenty years!!
Sara says
Beautiful baby and family! Many congratulations to everyone! xx
Agnes N says
I started listening to the wonderful recordings yesterday and now today I see that the channel has been discontinued! I’m so heartbroken! Does anyone know of a way to obtain the recordings another way??
Gina Brown says
So many delights in this post – and the most scrumptious little yawn! Congratulations! What a sweetheart!! Thank you, again, for the reminder on math. We are breaking out the games this afternoon.
Watch out, Matthew – The Summa Domestica works! It’s is a series that I can open over and over. Reading it always gives me a sense of purpose, and reminds me to add wonder to our homeschool days. From your suggestions on making dinners ahead of time, we made and froze four cooking pots of our gumbo this weekend using organic vegetables, most grown by our local farmer. Making the gumbo this way gave us more than 40 portions. It took us about three hours for the whole process. It will take 10 minutes to thaw the gumbo on the stove for dinner, and it also banks some “fast food” for the family when we are busy with living life.
Thank you, thank you for the idea!
P.S. I echo Agnes N’s cry: the youtube link is now discontinued on the John Senior tapes. Oh no!
Michaela says
I was able to listen to the first two lectures before the channel was discontinued!! Oh I’m so disappointed as they were excellent! Any idea if there’s another place to access them?
Congrats on your sweet grandson! What a gift.
Adah says
I had the same problem! Very disappointed that I couldn’t listen to the recordings. Are they posted anywhere else?
Adah says
Sorry. Meant to respond to Agnes N about the John Senior recordings.
Emily says
My tired brain read the part about the wedding gift as the Summa Theologica. You can understand why I was perplexed as to what Aquinas would have to say about a grocery budget! And what an unusual wedding gift that would make…
Leila says
Why not both LOL