Lent

I am not Catholic, but was exposed to the tradition of Lent when I went to a private Catholic college and I enjoy giving something up every year. This year-sweets. My biggest weakness by far and I am in the midst of kicking my own butt to lose weight and get healthier. So, 40 days, no sweets except my morning coffee, no baked goods, no candy, no chocolate...AHHHH, I might go insane. Especially since there are still GirlScout cookies in the house. But, it's a good time to use that sweet craving moment to reflect on something deeper and truly filling.

Holy $%&&T! Every year I $%@##ing try to my %&*@ trash mouth (as my kids call it)!

This year I am really &*(#$%ing determined to make it through the first day!

And this morning, my daughter said, Yeah, right, Mom.

Sigh, but so far so good!

God Bless and Good Luck!

:)

W., I love this post. Growing up Catholic, I remember wondering why I had to give stuff up, eat mac 'n cheese with fish sticks on Fridays, and go to church on days other than Sunday! That was back in the day (sigh... a long, long time ago!) when I just did what I was told and didn't ask why.

As I got older and understood the significance of Lent, I did what you are doing- what can I make better? I think that's what it's all about.

By the way, Costco sell huge bottles of Motrin... and with spring around the corner, nothin' sounds better than a good margarita...

Good luck to you as we head into the next 40 days. May your head not explode! :)

Our Church (Catholic) has really shifted the focus of Lent from a time of deprivation to a period of reflection and positive action in recent years. Instead of "giving something up" we are encouraged to incorporate things like good deeds, behavior changes, and inner reflection during this time. I have found this to be refreshing! I think we, as a family, have all gotten alot more out of this approach than in the past, when we refrained from random things like soda or ice cream. Choosing something specific and working on it for a set period of time seems to make much more sense for us and has resulted in long-lasting changes. Giving up stuff like soda or ice cream has always been a temporary kind of thing with no long-lasting effects. So, good luck with the yelling (no yelling!) - I hope you will be able to maintain it long after Lent is over. For me, I am going to actively try to be more patient this Lent, with the hope that it will have a positive effect on my family.

I am giving up my bathroom scale. I am going to focus on eating good and treating my body as God intended instead of obsessing over the number I see every morning.

I am with you, girl! I decided that I would not yell at my children in anger or frustration during lent , and hopefully this will cause a change in my behavior permanently. I have also decided that I will not go to bed with a dirty kitchen. Sometimes after a long day, I just leave it for the morning, but then I start the day off in a grump because I have to clean up right off the bat. So, for 40 days I will have a quiet voice and a clean kitchen. Crossing my fingers that both new behaviors stick around long after lent!

LOL! Wow! I'm giving products with flour - bread, crackers, all that (a weakness of mine and probably the toughest thing for me to give up as far as a fast goes). Your post makes me feel much, much better about my plight for the next 40 days. I wish you blessings and courage, oh, and may your lasers develop into telepathic yelling. Now, there is an idea! On a serious note: God will provide you with the things within yourself to utilize this time for growth, reflection and building new pathways of respect and communication. Happy Ash Wednesday.

I really like what Theresa said...I gave up swearing for New Years and lasted about 2 days....I have two boys...nuff said.

At mass 2 weeks ago there was a great homily about not worrying and trusting in god. I have a massive capacity for worrying, even more than the average mom...which probably contributes to my swearing...;-) So I am going to try to be aware of that stressful, obsessive worrying and I am going to really try to let it go. I am also going to try to prioritize walking with my dog for exercise...healthy for both of us and likely to help with the worrying.

I am glad you asked this question.

Right with you! I decided the same thing...no yelling. Hoping to make it thru one day! Also giving up the little "fibs" that makes day to day life easier. You know, the "I cannot host a playdate today because son has dr appt at 1pm" when it's really at 2:30...will instead just say it's not a good day for it.
Finally, to get off the computer during the day (oops...need a "do-over" already on that one!)
The good part with Mamapedia is that we can be accountable to each other! Should start a new "accountability" thread!

Hi,

Great post! Makes me rethink what I am giving up! I will now choose to follow something similar, although it is going to be hard!!! I think my kids might think something is wrong with me, LOL! My youngest told us last night what she has decided to give up and she said it does not have to be just food. So we asked her what it is and her response, "I am giving up Pop Tarts, and doing homework!" We froze and then she laughed!

Good luck!

I gave up Diet Coke last Monday, so I am saying that I gave that up for lent!, and I am not going to have my occasional glass of wine DURING the week, which means game on on the weekends :-), ALSO, going with giving up the Diet Cokes, I am going to be not so lazy, and do the elliptical 2 times a day, yesterday I did it for 6 mins in the morning, and 6 mins in the afternoon, I really wanted to do it after my daughter went to bed, but i didn't feel like putting my sneakers on (hence giving the lazy part :-)))

A few years ago, our priest suggested instead of giving something up, we do something positive. I thought it was a good idea. I still usually give up something not majorly important like pop or fast food, but I do try to pick something that would make more of a positive impact on my family or someone else as well. This year, we have started doing no TV one day a week (baby steps :)) and are going to go to church every week (has been difficult since the birth of my 3rd 6 months ago). I think the no yelling sounds great and a great challenge for a more positive envirnoment for your family. Lord knows I need to work on that too. Good luck!