Do you struggle to fit reading into your daily life? Especially with small children in the house! Join Janel and Dana as they explore ways to fit reading pockets into your day, and swap out some activities for more reading time. This episode is the first in the series: "Reading with Kids in the House".

Highlights include:

We need true leisure now more than ever

How rest is different than entertainment

Training our gaze to be able to give full attention - even amid extreme tiredness

Being fully present to another is a holy moment

Our sisterhood with other women can help us restore ourselves

Attending a Well-Read Mom group is not an escape from reality but helps us to engage again

Engaging in authentic leisure benefits the wider culture

A place to unfold and receive

Pray for the friendships that we need

Margaret Cronin is a member of Well-Read Mom and the Dean of Academics at Magnolia School in Houston, TX.

Highlights include:

Joshua Hren is the founder and publisher of Wiseblood Books, perhaps the most distinguished and ambitious small literary press of our day. He has published two collections of short stories, "This Our Exile" and "In the Wine Press," as well as "Middle-earth and the Return of the Common Good: J.R.R. Tolkien and Political Philosophy." His first novel, "Infinite Regress," is forthcoming from Angelico Press; his introduction to Catholic letters, "How to Read (and Write) like a Catholic," is available from TAN Books.

https://tanbooks.com/products/books/liberal-arts/literature/how-to-read-and-write-like-a-catholic/

https://news.stthom.edu/ust--announces--a-new-master-of-fine-arts-program-in-creative-writing/

Highlights:

11:00 How do you know if you are making progress in the spiritual life?

Am I good enough? Am I secure in the love of God?

13:46 What if I don't have time to pray?

15:20 Can changing a diaper be a prayer?

18:18 Be both Martha and Mary

20:10 Living with intense suffering.

23:18 Getting a reset; remembering who we are

25:29 How can I possibly do all I have to do?

29:49 The key to living in the present

31:37 Simplifying is a move toward God.

35:19 What to do about division in families

39:39 Why is it easier for women to be alone with God?

43:21 Vocations for women and why women religious are needed in the church today

47:31 How does a woman know if she has a call to a religious vocation?

51:59 A powerful prayer before Christmas

Father John Burns is a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He studied business marketing at the University of Notre Dame, but later realized a deeper call to preach the infinite love of God with his whole life. Ordained a priest in 2010, he has served in parish ministry and taught moral theology in the seminary. Father John also works extensively with religious communities of women and has provided with retreats and conferences for Sisters in Africa, Europe, and the United States. He is the author of the book Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat. Father John recently completed his doctoral studies on the theology of healing through forgiveness.

It's so important to capture the insights that we gain from literature! Listen in to this podcast about how to use the Between the Lines Reading Journal. Find out more and purchase one here: https://wellreadmom.com/between-the-lines-journal/

The podcast includes:

Highlights of this podcast include: 

Gregory Wolfe is a writer, teacher, editor, and publisher. In 1989 he founded Image—one of America’s leading literary journals, which he edited for thirty years. He was also the founding director of the Seattle Pacific University MFA in Creative Writing program.

Wolfe brings to the position more than three decades of experience as an editor, publisher, writer, teacher, and thought leader in the realms of art, literature, and religion.

Wolfe is the founder of Image—one of America’s leading literary journals, which he edited for thirty years. He was also the founding director of the Seattle Pacific University MFA in Creative Writing program. Wolfe’s writing has appeared in numerous publications, including the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, First Things, Commonweal, and America. In 2005 he was a judge for the National Book Awards. His books include Beauty Will Save the World, Intruding Upon the Timeless, and The Operation of Grace. He is married to the novelist, Suzanne M. Wolfe. They are the parents of four grown children and live in Richmond Beach, Washington.

Ellen Stamps tells her story of working with Corrie ten Boom, author of Well-Read Mom book pick The Hiding Place, in an interview with Well-Read Mom founder, Marcie Stokman. Learn more about Corrie and her sister and how they were able to survive and forgive. What an amazing and inspiring story of faith! 

The number one reason that women give for not reading is "not enough time." Join Marcie Stokman, founder of Well-Read Mom, as she talks with Tonya Milligan, author of No Perfect Parent, Just a Perfect Purpose: Keys to Unlocking Every Child's Greatness. They'll discuss purposeful parenting strategies that will help you make and take the time to read!

Tonya Milligan (Author)

https://bookshop.org/books/no-perfect-parent-just-a-perfect-purpose-keys-to-unlocking-every-child-s-greatness/9781948638302?aid=2155&listref=books-recommended-on-our-well-read-mom-podcast

Marcie's book tour went virtual this summer due to COVID. So, we're excited to share this great interview with you on How Reading Builds Culture: Give Yourself Permission to Read. The full video of the interview is available on our website.

Our friend, the dynamic Leah Jacobson, founder of The Guiding Star Project,  talks with Well-Read Mom founder and president Marcie Stokman about her new book The Well-Read Mom: Read More. Read Well.

Leah and Marcie discussed:

You can purchase a copy of Marcie's book, which goes into depth about all of these topics (and it includes all of the Well-Read Mom booklists as well) at our store.

Happy reading!

We thought some of our women might want some ideas for meaningful books to hand to their kids during this unexpected time at home. This is the first year Well-Read Mom has included a Family Supplement with membership. Our hope is to encourage great books for kids that follow along with our theme of the year. This way, the conversations we are having in our groups can also be shared with our families.

In this podcast Marcie Stokman, Alison Solove and Charity Hill discuss:

To learn more about Well-Read Mom's Family Supplement - Go to: www.WellReadMom.com

You can find the books mentioned in this podcast here:

https://bookshop.org/shop/wellreadmom