Shoutout to all the Catholic Women, Living the Lives they Were Meant to Live

I just love irony, how about you?  I love it so much, that once upon a time, we gathered a bunch of young adults in the French Quarter of New Orleans to film a Chasity video.  Talk about irony!

Speaking of irony, I like to call this my “ironic homeschool mom outfit” — ironic because one of the cliches for an NFP-practicing, homeschooling-mom of 6 kids is that we all wear denim jumpers. 

Honestly, after wearing this around town for one day, I gotta say that I actually love it. Super comfy. Maybe they are on to something — whomever they are.

I decided to take the stereotype even further by pairing it with a striped shirt,  because there is also a stereotype that Catholic women and moms trying to live out their faith are actually imprisoned by the evil Patriarchy — they just don’t realize it!  Gasp!  

Perhaps I took the irony too far with the striped shirt?  Have I moved from “ironic homeschooling mom” to “woman in cell block 25”.  Hmm…I may never know.

Seriously, though, I think it’s good to laugh at the narrow-minded attitudes of people who haven’t ever walked in our shoes.  Better to laugh than get angry. 

After all, I don’t have to prove anything to anybody who doesn’t fit the description of Triune God. I’m perfectly confident in the choices I’ve made to try to live out my faith, and I really don’t give a flying flip what random people think of those choices.

As long as God approves and I know I’m trying my best (mind you, not always succeeding, but trying) to love my family and the people around me, I’m totally good with my choices.

It’s incredibly freeing!

Honestly, all the stereotypes of homeschooling moms, Catholic moms, and NFP practicing moms are so off-base 99% of the time, that it truly is comical to see out-of-touch people giving their two cents worth on the choices that women like me have made with our lives.

Frankly, I don’t hold any ill-will against them, because so much of what’s on social media, movies and even literature mocks the Catholic faith.  It would be difficult to think to the contrary — if you weren’t willing to take the time to investigate for yourself.  

But I have to be honest, when you look at the loudest mouths when it comes to attacking Catholic women and the Patriarchy, it becomes pretty clear that they are really the repressed ones — they have been imprisoned by their own prejudices and life choices — and they frankly can’t stand seeing the joy of people who have chosen a different way.

I don’t mean to be harsh, but maybe it’s a reason to feel pity and to pray for somebody, rather than resent them.

To be fair, there are some duds (and sadly, even some downright evil men) amongst the “Patriarchy” (just being real) but I have to say I’ve encountered very few of them.

Most of the real-life priests I’ve encountered in the Church are amazing, self-less individuals who have never once made me feel repressed.

In fact, most of my breakthroughs to honest to goodness joy came after confessing to a priest, talking to a priest or seeking out their counsel when I have felt a bit lost.

To all those people who want to attack the Church, my best word of advice would be to take a closer look at it and let go of all your pre-conceived notions of it.  

In my own experience, the more I have embraced my faith, the freer I have become.  Just about every woman I know who has truly embraced her faith, feels the exact same way.  

If this goes against everything you ever thought about the Catholic Church, then maybe it’s time to take a closer look at what the Catholic Church says about womanhood, marriage, babies, sex and a bunch of other stuff — pretty sure you’ll be blown away by the freedom that being Catholic can bring to your life.  

So, shoutout to all the women living the lives you were meant to live! You’re pretty darn amazing!

“Be who you were meant to be and you will set the world ablaze!”.

Catherine of Siena