I'm over at Catholic Mom today, with another installment of what I'm loosely calling "Tales from the Empty Nest"

Have I told you how much I love CatholicMom.com, and its intrepid and wise founder-turned-author Lisa Hendey? Sure, you've probably heard me sing those praises before. But, no joke, check it out if you are a Catholic Mom and you're looking for information, inspiration, and a dose of fun for your Catholic Mommy Years. Back in the dark ages of CatholicMom, oh I'd say about two website iterations ago, I started writing for Lisa, and it continues to be a favorite stop for me, even tho' I'm not in the trenches anymore with small children. So, I'm writing about what I do now as a Mom....

Here's a snippet from "The Letter to the College Freshmen":

Dear Peter, 

I hope your life at college is going well. Your last email and your Facebook statuses all sound pretty positive. Your departure as the youngest child off to college means that there are a few new things going on around here. So I thought I’d let you know about them before you arrive home between semesters. 

After 24 years of parenting, I’ve gotten rid of the infamous lost sock bag. That’s right. Let the purging begin. I matched what could be matched, and the rest will be recycled into grease rags for Dad’s auto repair kit, dust cloths, and doggie chew toys. There are only two people here now, one guy, one gal. Finding mated sock pairs is pretty easy. But I almost caved on the whole project when I got to the bottom of the bag and found blue socks from when you were little. No lie! Blue uniform socks from grade school! *sniff* Unmatched in size, of course! But I could not throw them away. Not quite yet. I am keeping them in an undisclosed location since there is no more random sock bag.

Oh there's more. Find it here.

The Gohn "kiddos"

(That's Peter's high school graduation.)

Here's an earlier installment on the launching and sending off of sons. (Um, and another one about the oldest finishing college and leaving home.)

On Launching Ships and Sons... (yup, we sent our "baby" to college)

I'm over at CatholicMom.com today, waxing nostalgic. Well, actually the column is more about my hopes for my youngest son being on his own in college than my transition to the part-time semesters-only "empty nest."

Here's a taste of it:

“Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs (James 3:4 RSV-CE).” 

I have kissed my son and waved goodbye. The day finally came for him, the youngest of the brood, to pull up anchor and sail off for college. As I’ve come to assess the condition of my mother’s heart, I find a contented peace, like a sunset after a long working day. My years of sailing a thousand smaller voyages with this young man now bring me here, standing on the shore of blessing. 

The giant ship -- that is, an adult child’s college career or work life -- and the sails that are made to harness the winds of successful living, are, in the end, steered by the smallest rudder… for the conscience is hidden deep. It invisibly navigates every journey, guiding the course. 

Such are the paradoxes of the Catholic faith. We can easily recall how the smallest Host of bread contains the greatest mystery and the holiest power. To consume it – to let it transform us – is to yield the tiller to Another’s gentle hand and influence. It never fails to reveal True North to the sailor.  

Read the whole thing. And check out the great line up over at CatholicMom! There's always something good cookin' over there!

Image credit 

Among Women Podcast #102: Finding God on Campus

Among Women 102 welcomes college students, Kate Gohn and Kate Ryan, women of the Class of 2012. Together we explore themes of friendship, finding Christian community, going to Mass, and trying to grow in faith in an urban campus setting. They also offer a few tips to incoming college freshmen on being committed to one's faith.

Also profiled is Blessed Pierina Morosini, a young Italian martyr for the faith who is a patron for rape victims.

This note: AW will be on hiatus until July 13.

Links for the College-Bound Frosh (& their Parents!)

As a Mom whose "been there" -- launching college freshmen into the great beyond, I've compiled a quick list for parents and college students of links that maybe helpful.  


Articles for College-bound Freshmen:

• Matthew Warner's advice for the College-bound Catholic student.
• Busted Halo's Freshman Survival Guide for 2010 is very comprehensive.
• Aggie Catholics has more advice for students, and a few well chosen words for parents here.
• A roll-call to pray for College-bound students over at Faith and Family... add a name here. 
• Advice from a Catholic student for incoming freshmen.
• Tips on managing money for college freshman are here.

UPDATE: First Things is hosting their first ever "Students of Faith" survey that hopes to offer "students and parents adequate insight into how schools stack up in relation to matters of faith, religious practice, religious and political bias in the classroom, support for religious groups, and the relations of faith to the actual currents in contemporary student life." Check it out here, and pass it on to the college students you know!   

HT: Elizabeth Scalia, The Anchoress.

Previous Among Women podcasts that may be helpful for parents and students:

• AW 19: An interview with Jennifer Senour who works with Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) on the ups and downs of her college years and what's made all the difference.
• AW 35:  An interview with Marika Donders on her life coming full circle - from first being evangelized through campus ministry, to becoming a full-time campus minister herself at Keene State in NH.
• AW 68:  An interview with Beth Knobbe, a campus minister at Northwestern University in IL. Beth shares from her book "Finding My Voice" about the key questions and tasks of young adulthood.

For parents only, some of my thoughts from previous writings:  

• "A Boy, A Man, A Mom": Reflection (2006) of launching the now-college grad below. 
• "One Last Kiss": Reflection (2008) on saying good-bye to my girl.  
• "Launching A Son: A Mom Reflects": Recent reflection (2010) on the new college grad.

For parents only, thoughts from writers at Faith and Family:

• UPDATE: "Mission: Mom": Moving reflection from Lynn Wehner 
• UPDATE: "Stay Connected to Your College Kid" - a three-part series from Elizabeth Foss, highlighting some tips from Elizabeth and Bringing Up Geeks* (*Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids) author Mary Beth Hicks: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

What we are is God's gift to us.

What we become is our gift to God.  

~Eleanor Powell

The Gohn Sibs 

One half-way through college, one college graduate, one filling out applications. 

(Not pictured:  proud parents with questionable bank balances.)