• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Mothers are detectives, celebrating brothers, a lesson in humility, and a trumpet (7 Quick Takes)

September 8, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

~1~

At the end of each school day, you might think that our children happily share every detail about recess, math class, lunch, what their teachers told them, and how many friends they made. But mothers have to be good detectives to find out what’s going on.

As our children started a new school this week, I have been on high alert, asking many questions to try to figure out how the transition was going. I can’t be sure of anything, but after a little bit of a bumpy beginning, they both seem to be doing just fine.

Whew.

~2~

We made the most of our Brothers’ Day celebration last Friday. A friend gave us tickets to Dutch Wonderland, so we drove to Lancaster and the boys proved to me that they just keep growing taller.

Our younger son—the one who used to be afraid of swings and the Penny Pony at the grocery store—talked his brother into joining him on the Kingdom Coaster, the roller coaster there, twice.

Then we stopped at a mini-golf place in York County, Cones and Clubs, and golfed our way through the 24 holes. It was a fantastic day for both the brothers and their mother.

~3~

I realized this week that soccer games and practices are going to be the most social part of my week, as I hang out with some of my favorite mom friends on the sidelines. I was almost sorry to see soccer practice end one evening this week, though we could hardly feel our feet as we shivered in the cold. Still, what if it turns out that I become a huge fan of soccer and never again complain about soccer season?

Of course, I should confess that I was practically doing cartwheels when I learned that one of our boys had no game this weekend. So maybe I’m not that big a soccer fan.

~4~

This week I got my hair cut. It’s shorter, but still fairly long enough. When I asked Daniel how he liked it, he sort of grimaced and said, “I like you better when you have long hair.”

Ah, children. They definitely keep you humble.

~5~

When Daniel and I went grocery shopping the other day, he took part of the list and filled his own cart. It’s amazing to me how quickly our children are growing.

There are many things they can’t do, but there are many things they can do and do well.

It seems like not so long ago I would get stressed sometimes about grocery shopping with children. Now we’re a grocery shopping team.

~6~

Leo is going to learn to play the trumpet this year in school. We went to a music store to rent him a trumpet, and Daniel walked around the store trying to decide which instrument he wanted to play.

The store also had pictures of Pokemon hidden throughout the store, so we knew we were in the right place.

They were also selling guitar strings, and my husband told us he had once worked for the company that makes them—and had helped name the strings. I had no idea. It turns out that you can be married to someone for 13 years and still not know all about him.

~7~

Happy birthday to the Blessed Mother today!

You can find more quick takes at Kelly’s blog, This Ain’t the Lyceum. As we watch Hurricane Irma moving in, please join me in praying for all those still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Harvey and those who are dealing with Irma.

 

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Yes, it’s our war, too

Asking for human life and dignity protections in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’

Stained glass window depicting a dove and some of the apostles with flames over their heads

Come, Holy Spirit: A Pentecost Reflection

The Acts of the Apostles and ‘The Amazing Race’

A pope for our time

| Recent Local News |

OLPH’s fourth eucharistic procession, set for June 21, ‘speaks to the heart’

Franciscan Sister Francis Anita Rizzo, who served in Baltimore for 18 years, dies at 95

Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

Radio Interview: Dominican sister at Mount de Sales shares faith journey from astrophysics to religious life

Mount de Sales Dominican sister shares journey after pursuing science, finding faith 

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Prayers continue for release of abducted Nigerian priest who recently served in Alaska
  • Kyiv’s historic cathedral damaged in Russian air strikes
  • Vatican bank reports increased profits, charitable giving
  • UN secretary-general meets Pope Leo, top Vatican officials
  • Call out to Jesus for healing; he will hear you, pope says
  • Movie Review: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
  • Yes, it’s our war, too
  • OLPH’s fourth eucharistic procession, set for June 21, ‘speaks to the heart’
  • Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en