NFP ?

[Sophia]

First Post ! Here I go!

 

Gday Mum!!

 

FOX IN THE HENHOUSE!!!!

 

....where's my gun?

 

 

[Reese]

I have found that 2% progesterone cream to be very effective in balancing out the hormonal changes that begin around 35 or 40. I am irritated much less often and as a bonus my periods are less heavy, my hair stopped falling out, and my nails look great again. I read about progesterone cream in this book. I have checked with 2 physicians and they assure me that the cream is safe and effective and that the benefits I have noticed are real.

Well that explains why I've suddenly started PMSing, a problem I've rarely had until this past year or so.  Man, am I irritable, I walk around for an entire day hating everything and being irritated by everyone in the house.  My poor son, hubby and dog.  Then I feel guilty, but don't know what to do about it because I just can't help it no matter how hard I try.  Oh the joys of womanhood.  LOL  I'll definitely be reading that book, Kathy, thanks for posting the link to it.  I'm floundering here in my vast ignorance of menopause.  

Edited to add...I gotta buy the book?!?!  Add one more to the long list of things to buy. 

[Marylou]

Ga Peach,

I must ask the question "Why are the children crying?"

My 28 years experience in the baby business tells me that something is wrong with a crying baby.  
Is the baby cold, hot, hungry, tired, sick ?  Babies just should not be crying so much that it is irritating to you.  Where are those other kids who are so good at helping out and cheering up the baby until Mum can get to him?

I was expecting our sixth son when we began homeschool and I have very fond memories of the kids sitting up at the table burping the baby or playing with the baby on the floor while I taught a lesson to one of the others.
The babies were incorporated into the homeschool lessons and their happiness was given  priority.  Our motto then was "If the baby is happy, we'll all be happy"  It worked.  It did not hurt the other children trying to study, in fact it did them a lot of good.  It taught them tolerance and selflessness.  It taught them that there WILL be someone in their lives who WILL be more important then them.
Successful homeschooling of a large famiy is all about priority.  Ask yourself,

"What is my first priority today" and then act accordingly.

Babies cry because it is the only way they can let you know that some vital need of theirs is not being met.
 You said that you were a 'grumpy ma', maybe that is why your babies are crying !!!
Being grumpy uses up a lot of energy you know.  

I do not want to seem picky here dear, but I have to say to you, "This is your job, this is the duty that our Blessed Lord is calling you to carry out today.  No one is going to come in your door and do it for you"  

 I sure learned that lesson the hard way but when I finally faced it, I prayed for the grace for the job, got stuck into the Iron and vitamin supplements and embraced each day as if it were my last.  I never looked back.

Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say Rejoice !  Rejoice... because you are doing the most important job in the world.

A house full of happy children is a very real blessing but it is in your hands alone.  Have a laugh, clown around, enjoy!

P.S. Here is a joke to tell the kids,  "What is brown and sticky?"  (their imaginations go wild)  answer - "A stick!" (We all think it is clever anyway)

[GaPeach]

Marylou,

 

It seems like my baby (who is 1) and my 2 1/2 year old and even the 4 year old like to cry at the same time and want to be held by mommy at the same time.  (they seem a bit jealous of each other)   Usually this is during school time or when I am trying to fix dinner.  I find it very difficult to tend a wiggling, crying child and focus on helping my dd with algebra or whatever.  The older children do take turns with them during school time but sometimes all they want is mommy.  My 2 year old is going through a hard stage of screaming everytime anyone does something he doesn't like.  It is disruptive, especially to my 13 year old son who has some attention/concentration problems.  So, its just hard to juggle it all.  I know I need to work on my attitude and I am but I can't imagine throwing another child into this crazy mix.  Is it fair to the children I already have if they don't get much mommy time as they "need" or am I just not cooperating with God's grace enough?  Sad thing is I can ask 5 different trad women, several different trad priest and not get the same answer from anyone.  I have had 3 trad priests tell me I can use NFP indefinently until things settle a bit but it just doesn't sit well with me.  But the temptation is there.  Sometimes I feel like I must be doing something wrong because the trad's I know who say to just let God totally take care of it seem to me to not share these struggles and maybe I am doing something wrong.  Plus there is no support IRL for this lifestyle.  Hard indeed. 

[Sophia]

Marylou- keep those jokes coming...got any more?

 

Your posts so far are such a breath of fresh air....where did you come up with all of your optimism?  Send some more our way...I really need it.  It's been a rough week for me too- everyone around my house is so "needy."

[Daisy]

My mum was 45 when she had my baby sister.......
   

[Reese]

I'm raising my youngest son, for all intents and purposes as an only child, considering his brothers are grown men, I find that he can be a handful of neediness at any given moment.  Because he is the only one here, I'm it, I'm his entertainment, his playmate, everything.  He wants my attention constantly, which isn't bad per se, but he's now 5 years old.  Sometimes it's all I can stand.  Looking back at my older boys at this age, they entertained themselves, not that I left them to their own devices, but they had each other for company and didn't need me constantly.  Of course they also got into fights which is another annoyance, but they weren't so needy.    If only I would have more children.  The chances of that happening are looking more bleak by the month.  Just another side of the mothering coin. 

[Marylou]

GaPeach,
I could give you sympathy,:sobstory I've been there, I know what you are going through,  but I would rather give you a clue to the solution.
You are spot on about one thing - You are not co-operating with God's grace any where near enough.
Your posts tell it all!!!  
You are uneasy with NFP because your natural Catholic instinct is saying NO NO NO (just imagine what your guardian angel is going through right now - torment!!)  
Deep down you want to do God's will, you know what it is - Total Abandonment to His Divine Providence.

You are miserable because you are trying to control a situation that should belong to God alone! (I note your post is dated July 2005 - this has been going on too long already!) It is not working, you'd have to agree with that. :sad:

Trad priests, have no right to deprive you of Gods abundant grace by giving the contraceptive mentality of NFP the upper hand. Nor do other women. Their lack of confidence in the Lord and in you is doing you harm.

Imagine the graces you are missing out on!!!  MATRIMONIAL GRACES  - powerful stuff those, and set aside for us Catholic married mums alone - reserved for no one else but US ! ...but we only get them through abandonment to His will and our trust.

You know the word 'Matrimony' comes from the word 'Motherhood'. Graces just for motherhood !!

TRUST-  Abandon  yourself  and your families happiness to the Lord and you will be rescued from all this.  Let go.
If the Lord and creator of the world wants another child 'thrown in to this crazy mix' it will be His choice and He will provide you with all you need to do His will.  BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT and embrace it like Jesus did with His cross.

Many many years ago I was given a lovely poem called 'The Lord Who Waits' about the patience of the Lord, it finished like this.....
'The waiting of a patient God, who waits for me to wait for Him'
Cheer up ! Put on your favorite music and sing aloud.

God Bless

[GaPeach]

Thank you Mary Lou.  I am glad at least you agree its hard!  Sometimes, I read about mother's who act like this is a walk in the park! 

 

As for why I doubt the 3 priests, is because I don't know if they are really well trained.  They are great in their sermons but I find that not all of them have been trained traditionally.  These are "indult" priests so who knows.  I say they are trad priests just because they say the Traditional Mass.  But I have even seen in the trad movement (indult, sspx, sede) that there is not an agreement on this issue. 

 

Thank you all for your help.  This issue is actually easier for me than dh. 

[Marylou]

i receive a magazine a few times a year from a group of Christian women who really know how to mother.  It is called Above Rubies and it is exactly that., a real gem.
 This is not a Catholic magazine, but these women can teach us Catholics  a lot about love and support for each other as we battle each day as wives, mothers and homemakers.  
Most who write in are homeschoolers so there is a lot of advice and bright ideas in that area too. 100% pro life, pro family, big on discipline.  
Have a look at the website www.aboverubies.org The current issue is amazing and I rcommend getting a hold of some of the recent past issues too.  I think it is subscription by donation.  

Mary Lou.