The Problem Solving Edition: 7 Quick Takes XXV

August 16, 2023 Kendra Tierney

This week, I solve your problems. (I know, people hate that. But it doesn't bother me when *I* do it.)

--- 1 ---

Problem: You think cutting onions is unpleasant. Solution: I hate cutting onions, too. They make me cry. And not in an awesome BBC period miniseries kind of way, in a Gollum-esque "It burns, it burns us" kind of way. But I cook with them, a lot. I'm still not sure if he hasn't been just kidding about this for the last four years, but Bobby (7) claims that they are his favorite food. So one day, as I was weeping and grimacing through cutting up an onion, Jack (11) saw me, ran to the garage, and came back with his swim goggles. I gave them a try. I look like a total goofball, but I can now cut onions with impunity.

Which came in handy on Tuesday, which was Bobby's name day. He got to pick what we had for dinner (for more on how we celebrate birthdays, name days, and baptism days, see here) and he picked . . . French Onion Soup. I used this recipe (and Jack's swim goggles) and it turned out great!

I cut up the bread into chunks and toast them in the oven under the broiler. It's easier for the kids to eat than a big piece of bread in there.

Occasionally, The Onion can also make me cry with laughter.

--- 2 ---

Problem: You miss the musings of Jen from Epbot on geekery, girliness, and goofing off. Solution: Jen is back (!) with a great post on how to avoid the types of frustrations that led her to take an extended break: 6 Things I Learned On My Internet Sabbatical.

Unfortunately, Allie from Hyperbole and a Half still (mostly) isn't blogging. But when she already wrote the funniest blog post ever, why should she?

--- 3 ---

Problem: Season 7 of Doctor Who Isn't on Netflix.

Solution: You can totally watch it FOR FREE, with no commercials at Tvids.net. I do not know why. But you can. It doesn't work on mobile devices (or at least it didn't on my iPad), but it worked like a charm on the desktop. So now I've FINALLY seen season 7. And I found it . . . kind of confusing. I mostly liked how they wrapped up the Amy and Rory plotline, and Clara is a cutiepie. But there was a lot going on. I was multi-tasking while watching, which I didn't do while watching previous seasons (but I didn't have the kind of to-do list then that I have now, see below), so that might explain it. But I felt like I never quite knew who everyone was or where they came from or why. But, I'm long past being able to do anything but just blindly love Doctor Who. So it was awesome. Thanks Reddit.

--- 4 ---

Problem: You are an introvert.

Solution: That's not a problem. I thought I had already sorted that one out here. But in case you need more, try Matt Wals h. He wrote a post in response to an email that he received which read, in part:

“…The biggest problem with homeschooling is its failure to effectively socialize children. Public school teaches kids to be outgoing and extroverted. I’ve found that many homeschooled kids seem to be quiet and uncomfortable in social situations. The classroom environment could help these kids come out of their shell…”

Um, yikes. Matt does a great job responding, as is his habit. It's great to be reminded sometimes that introverts and extroverts are good at different things. We should all be striving to be our best selves, of course. And sometimes for introverts that means being more outgoing than we are naturally inclined to be. But still, the idea that extrovert=the norm and introvert=something to be overcome is pretty bothersome. And it's nothing new, check out this anti-introvert propaganda film from 1951:

The Outsider (1951)

Its goal seems to be to encourage extroverted kids to be more inclusive and introverted kids to make an effort to be friendly, which is good, of course. But I want to punch the narrator in the face. What is that guy's deal?

In conclusion, it is okay to be an introvert.

--- 5 ---

Problem: You are a woman.

Solution: Ummm, that's not a problem either.

But from all the back and forth on the interwebs about whether us wiminfolk ought to go to college or work outside the home or stay home with the kids, it would be easy to start thinking that being a woman with a talent or an intellect is inherently problematic.

But you know what? I don't think it is.

I think the crisis is not in a lack of opportunities for women, or not enough social programs, or too much competition and not enough collaboration. I think the crisis is rather in a lack of discernment of our true vocations and a lack of confidence in our own choices. It's a crisis of constant comparing of ourselves to others and to a fictional what might have been.

As usual, Pope Francis said it pretty well:

"Ask Jesus what He wants from you and be brave." Yep, that should do it. More prayerful acceptance of where God wants us to be . . . be it in college or not or in the workforce or in the home, and less hand-wringing. Let's try that. In case you missed them, here are some of the relevant links.

Ivy League graduate Anne-Marie Maginnis defends her decision to stay home with her children: O, Alma Mater
Baylor Professor Elizabeth Corey says career and motherhood will always tragically conflict: No Happy Harmony
One Catholic man at Fix the Family thinks Catholic doctrine is largely unsupportive of women being educated or employed outside the home: 6 reasons to NOT Send Your Daughter to College
Haley from Carrots for Michaelmas allows her husband to defend us from the preposterousness: Six Reasons to NOT Send Your Son to College

--- 6 ---

Problem: You're supposed to be having this baby in 10 weeks and your To Do list is SHOCKINGLY long. Solution: Wow, we really have a lot in common.

Frankly, I'm less confident in my ability to help with this one. I'm getting the feeling that there are things on my list that are just not going to get done before this baby comes. But I shall give it a valiant effort. Perhaps some of these will help: 25 Productivity Secrets From History's Greatest Think ers. (Ummmm . . . no thank you Ben Franklin, I don't think I will.)

--- 7 ---

Any problems I missed?

One of the things on that To Do list is to get some extra posts written up in advance. This will be my first baby since being a blogger and, honestly, I'm not sure how it's going to go.

My main creative outlet pre-blog was sewing. Before a new baby came I would always finish up all my half-done projects, then a week or two before my due date I would tidy up my sewing area and not expect to get anything accomplished beyond basic household duties for a good six months.

I'm hoping I'll be able to type while holding a baby, but I'm really not sure. I'm a notably lousy typist. (The husband finds it a. infuriating, b. hilarious, c. adorable, d. all of the above. Go ahead, guess.)

Anyway, the list of topics suggested by readers and/or fellow bloggers includes:

How we deal with tattling and bickering amongst siblings
How we square away one-year-olds
How we organize a homeschool day (with four different grades, plus pre-schoolers)
How we avoid the pitfalls of the Advent/Christmas season
My thoughts on maternity clothes
Why I don't make two dinners

Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see covered before I reserve the right to, but probably won't, disappear from the blogosphere for a while.

p.s.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

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