The past two weeks. It has almost been too much to bear, all the heartache. All the hatred and the hurting and brokenness everywhere we turn. It is too much. I am tempted to shut it out: turn off the news, avoid the rapid-fire of social media politicking. Sink into my own comfortable life, where…
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The Deep, Dark Underbelly of Parenting (and how my attitude is still my own problem)
I was driving home last night from Julianna’s last horseback riding lesson of the year, and pondering what to write for a blog post today, when I realized Julianna and Michael were in the back seat, fighting over… …wait for it… …a dirty paper plate. This was not the first fight of the afternoon, either.…
Read MoreSuffering Isn’t Sexy, But It’s Been Good For Me
I was twenty-five when I got married, and I thought I was coming into it really late. By modern standards, of course, twenty-five is early, if anything, but I didn’t know that. In point of fact, I didn’t know much of anything when I got married. About, well, anything. I thought I was a pretty…
Read MoreUnrecognized Blessings
It was fifteen minutes until Mass started, and we couldn’t find Julianna’s shoes. Or more accurately, one of her shoes. Now, to understand the full significance of this, you have to realize, first, that Alex was serving and he was supposed to be at church fifteen minutes ahead of time—and second, that Julianna only owns…
Read MoreWho, Me?
I have lots of opinions. I’m sure this comes as no surprise to anyone reading this blog. But living with a public relations officer has taught me to think before I speak. (Usually.) Especially when people come up to me at ordinations and conventions and say, “I read your blog.” Mine is a Bumbo chair…
Read MoreSearching For A New Balance On The Cusp of A New School Year
The summer of 2015, in our family, breaks down like this: Phase 1 (up to July 4): Baseball and summer school. Phase 2 (July 4-Aug. 17): Major travel and recovery. The past several years I’ve structured the summer around weekly field trips, but this year we didn’t do a single one. Even now I’m not…
Read MoreParents, Kids, and the Other R-word: “Respect”
You know that thing about kids? That thing where they act like angelic beings, floating above a river of serenity and sweetness, any time they’re in public, and then as soon as the rest of the world turns its back, they grow horns and a forked tail? Yeah, that. Six people watched my children while…
Read MoreRoad Rage And Other Rage
Three times in recent weeks, I have drawn the ire of other drivers. It’s enough to make me soul-search whether the problem really is me. The first time, I’d turned the engine off at a long light and the car behind me wasn’t happy with the extra second it took me to get moving forward…
Read MoreRecital Day: A V-log (sort of)
(Text, more or less): It has been about ten years since I gave a recital. When I gave recitals in college and grad school, I: Practiced three to four hours a day Had my own dedicated practice room, with no internet connection Practiced first thing in the morning before class. Practiced after class until ensemble…
Read MoreWhat’s YOUR Problem?
Life is unpredictable, but over the past several years I’ve learned there’s one thing I can count on with absolute certainty: somewhere between one week and two days before university graduation, I will lose my voice. It happens virtually every semester, just before I join the platform party at honors convocation as the official singer…
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Kathleen M. Basi 