Bless Me, Father, For I Have Kids

by Susie Lloyd

The uninterrupted life is not worth living Got questions about Catholic family life? You ve come to the right place! As a lifelong Catholic, devoted wife, diligent homeschooler, and mother of seven, Susie Lloyd knows lots of people who just might have the answers for you. Susie herself is too busy to give busy giving home haircuts and finding missing socks; busy teaching her teen girls to drive, cook, and diagram sentences; busy praying for divine protection while she races off to church (late) in her full-size van. But every so often, Susie finds a few moments to share the wit and wisdom she s gleaned Teaching her kids about the Facts of Life Somewhere there must be a book which can aid me in my duty. In it there would be many pages devoted to birds, bees, and flowers. None involving kegs and station wagons. Quelling her teen girls' phobias Top of the list is fear of being seen in a skirt when every other teen at the party, except the statue of Mary, will be in jeans. It gets worse if your dad thinks it would be lovely not only to wear the skirt but a veil as well. Handing on Catholic customs When I was small, my mother taught me to say a Hail Mary whenever I heard an ambulance. It s really a beautiful habit and habit is the word -- I don t know how many people I ve prayed for whose car alarm was going off. Getting older Some people tell me I could be my teens older sister. These people are usually 103 years old and wear their glasses hanging from a chain. But I ll take it. Strangers who question the size of her family What s funny is, the people who call you nuts really expect you to act sane, and not like Nuts? Children, would one of you be a good girl and get the gun out of Mommy s diaper bag? Enduring her children's music lessons Piano recitals are a time-honored way of gaining a plenary indulgence, provided we hold no attachment to murdering the piano teacher. Joing a homeschool co-op None of us wanted to quit homeschooling; we just wanted somebody else to do it for us. As she did in her beloved first book, Please Don t Drink the Holy Water, in these pages Susie Lloyd will charm and edify you with her offbeat -- but always pitch-perfect -- take on the joys and challenges of raising a Catholic family in today s world.

Genres: Humor, Faith, Catholic, Parenting, Book Club, Education, Religion

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2009

Reviews

[K Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more humor in this book. As a mother of six I could relate to much of the author’s experiences but something about the way it was presented fell a little flat for me. Still a cute look into the experience of one Catholic home schooling family.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one funny book! Thank goodness. It's so disappointing when something which is touted as humor, isn't. Divided into four parts, the first "Familiarity Breeds" got a chuckle right off the bat, not only the title(!), but especially the second chapter, where I learned a little Latin right off the bat, "Extra Vomitum, Nulla Parens" which must mean something to do with being thrown up on...a rite of passage which generally occurs by the time one has a two-year old. It puts a slice of giddy humor on an occurrence I too have suffered through, not KNOWING I was in the midst of a rite!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light-hearted Catholic encouragement for the frazzled homeschooling mothers out there. :)

[Bernadette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy reading the book. It wasn’t overly humorous to me. It didn’t follow any sort of organization. It was like I was reading random thoughts seemingly tied together. Disappointed.

[Katarzyna Balutowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, easy read. Entertaining.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humor is tricky. If we all thought the same things were funny, gross out comedy would not be a movie genre. Even so, the essays in this book seemed pretty hit and miss. The first few were very strong and made me laugh as they pulled me into the book. But others, like the Hollywood Saints bit, felt like the author had run out of ideas.

I was looking forward to some Catholic humor and while there was some, it seemed that nearly half the book dealt more with homeschooling than anything else. And maybe I just don't have enough kids to appreciate the large family jokes.

Basically, it wasn't as funny as the title or the back blurb made it sound, but it was still good light reading.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book by Susie Lloyd is equal to and even rises in hilarity above her first one, "Please Don't Drink the Holy Water!". In "Bless Me, Father, For I Have Kids," Susie relates the ongoing drama and change in her family, along with the eldest going to college and the long-awaited arrival of a son. Susie Lloyd truly has a sense of humor that will not be easily forgotten. Can't wait for her third book!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book last year for my birthday or maybe it was even Christmas 2010. I had started reading it but then it got lost behind 'must be read' books that had to be reviewed by deadlines. I'm so glad that my basket was almost empty and I refound this... it was quite funny; esp the many chapters related to homeschooling. I think the author has been peaking in my window :)

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Susie Lloyd, you'll like this one too. I didn't give it the full five-stars because, well, it didn't seem to me like she had much *new* to say. Yes, it's good, funny, encouraging, supportive of homeschooling and husbands who try their best but still miss the mark on occasion. There was some about reaching middle age, but most of it could be part of her other book.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the tag line "the uninterrupted life is not worth living." As someone who gets irritated by interruptions, I found that Susie Lloyd's hilarious stories lent a much-needed perspective to the constant interruptions of family life. Whatever the size or age of your family, you'll relate to the experiences in this book, have a great laugh and see things in a new light.

[Ginette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! My husband, Jay, and I read this book together on a road trip and we laughed and discussed our own children stories. Thank you Susie for writing the truths about parenting, homeschooling and life that we can all relate with :)

Ginette T
Homeschooling mom (3 girls)

[Michelle]

I nearly peed myself while reading this in bed. Best parts are about her husband who resembles mine in many ways!

[Joann10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to pick-up, read a chapter, smile, put the book down, and continue on with the day to day care of many children---because we all need to smile in the midst of chaos....

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book club selection.

[Nancy Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! We are not homeschoolers and my husband isn't even Catholic, but he and I get a kick each time we read a chapter out loud. A great read for any family with kids!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Susie's funny take on living a very Catholic life in the modern world. This book made me laugh! Thanks Susie!

[TheRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first!!!