51: Undressing GRWM Trend, Stay At Home Moms, Chick Fila & MORE-- Responding to Your Hot Takes!

Speaker: 00:00:06

Hey, I'm your host, Mari Wagner,

and you're listening to the ever be

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podcast where faith meets lifestyle.

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I'm so excited you're here, whether you're

a new listener or a longtime follower,

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I know there's something here for you.

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Pull up a chair and listen in for

insightful real life conversations and

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actionable steps on how to claim the.

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full life God created you for.

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If you're a woman desiring to live

a Christ centered life in today's

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modern world, then this is for you.

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Welcome to Ever Be.

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mari-wagner_1_03-11-2025_220055:

Welcome back, everybody.

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It's your host, yours truly, Mari Wagner.

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And today we are going to be

shaking things up a little bit.

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It's going to be a little bit of

an unfiltered episode because we

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are going through your hot takes

and I'm going to be responding to

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them and telling you what I think.

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And I looked through them just now

and let me tell you, y'all Sent in

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some bold statements, some that I

agree with, some that might make

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me do a little bit of a double take

and we are diving into them all.

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This is going to be a fun episode.

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We'll touch on faith, lifestyle,

you know, relationships, Some

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controversial topics, but in the end,

you know, we're going to keep it real.

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It'll be a little bit of a heart to heart

sometimes and maybe a little bit of humor.

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So grab your coffee, your drink, whatever

it is that you're doing and let's dive in.

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Okay.

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So I have them pulled up

on my Instagram right now.

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There are a lot of them.

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I'm just going to start picking random

ones and we'll see how this turns out.

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goes.

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Number one, Christian men don't

belong in restaurants like Hooters.

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I mean, is this a hot topic?

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Like who's fighting you on this?

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Because yes, I 100 percent agree.

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Christian men should not be

in restaurants like Hooters.

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I mean, I've never been, but

you can only imagine what is

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being promoted by the name.

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So yeah, that's going to be a

big fat no, they should not be.

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Ooh, would you send your kids to

public school, Catholic school,

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homeschooling, all boys, all girls school?

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This is so funny because I have been

having a lot of conversations about

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this with friends of mine who are moms

already and are, you know, going to have

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to think about it in the next few years.

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But basically, I don't feel like I would

send them to public school, at least not

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in Colorado and at least not in the state

that I feel like public schools are right

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now, um, because I don't feel like I

trust the curriculum and I feel like The

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wokeness of the public schools is just

not going to align with our family values

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and family culture and Catholic faith.

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So that seems to not really

be an option for us right now.

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Obviously, we don't even have kids yet.

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So this is all kind of

thinking about the future.

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Um, and then when it comes to

homeschooling, Trey, my husband was

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homeschooled, loved his experience.

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His siblings seem to have loved their

experience, and I'm pretty sure my sister

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in law's both plan on homeschooling.

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And I have several friends that are

like super on board with homeschooling.

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I, however.

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I don't have anything against

homeschooling and like low key would like

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totally love my kid to be homeschooled.

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I just don't want to be the homeschooler.

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I don't want to be the teacher.

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I feel like I have a job and I,

you know, want to be a mom and

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I want a mom when I'm momming.

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I don't want a teacher when I'm

momming and then also Have to kind

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of, like, take leadership roles

within my job and everything.

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So I kind of feel like I would

personally want a break from that and,

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like, not really want to step into

another kind of like a leadership role.

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Um, and have the pressure, I think,

to, like, be the teacher myself.

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Just because I think the way my

personality is like I go all into

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something and if I decide I'm going

to be the teacher I'm going to put

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so much pressure on myself to like do

the best that I can and like basically

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make my house a school in every way and

Personally, I don't know that that would

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be like good for me and my personality

and the responsibilities that I have on my

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plate But nothing against homeschooling.

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I like encourage all my

friends to that want to.

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I think it's amazing.

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And I always joke with my sister in law

is if you want to homeschool my kids,

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I'll send them to your house every day

and I can teach art class once a week.

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Like I'll host the art

class, maybe a Spanish class.

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Cause I'm fluent in Spanish.

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And then you have my kids and

teach them everything else.

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Um, so, That's kind of

how I feel about it.

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Catholic school, I would consider

Catholic school for sure.

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I just want to make sure it's like

a really solid Catholic school.

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Um, I don't know that we have

a ton of options where I live,

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so that might narrow it down.

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Um, yeah, those are kind of my thoughts.

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I don't know that that's like

super like a hot button topic.

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Maybe I just answered a question.

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I do think people do have very

strong opinions on homeschooling

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versus public schooling.

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And that's what makes

it a hot button topic.

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Um, I grew up in a public school, so,

and I turned out pretty normal, but

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I know times are different and it all

really depends, I think, on the way

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your family, like what your family

foundation is like at home, as well as

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The kid itself and like how strong they

are in their values and their beliefs

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and how basically like confident they

are in the face of Criticism and or

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peer pressure, you know what I mean?

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So kind of depends on the kid too,

but for us I don't think I would

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put my kids in public school.

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Showers without bathtubs are stupid

and youth and useless Um, you know,

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I can't say I agree with this one.

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I can't say that I like feel

super passionately about this one.

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I actually really like, I actually

really like showers without bathtubs.

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I actually, I think I like

them more without bathtubs.

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I like bathtubs separately, but like

that's kind of a more bougie thing.

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Like you don't really find

bathtubs separately unless

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it's like a really nice house.

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Um, so yeah, I think I prefer the

shower without the bathtub, honestly.

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Yeah.

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Evangelism can be more harmful

than helpful sometimes.

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Ooh, this is an interesting one.

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My gut reaction is like, no, but I think

if you're thinking about it in like a

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super radical in your face way, then yes.

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So I think that there are so many

different ways to evangelize and there's

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like a whole spectrum of like being

gentle and um, like not weird about it

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and not in your face about it and not

extreme about it all the way to like

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standing on a street corner screaming

like Jesus will save you and you're

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going to hell and all this kind of stuff,

um, which obviously do not agree with.

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But, um, I think there are so many

different ways to evangelize and even ways

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that are super subtle and mostly just like

leading by example and leading by example

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in itself can be a form of evangelization.

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And I never think that that

is more harmful than good.

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I think that's always going

to be better than not sharing

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your faith at all in any way.

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Um, And I think if you ever have any

opportunity to share you, you do have

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to discern, like, to what level and how

you're sharing and depending on where

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the person's at, and if they're ready to

receive whatever it is you are sharing,

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but I do think if you have an opportunity.

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Like, I don't know why the

answer would be no versus yes.

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I'm also just, I also, I'm a

missionary at heart and I love

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evangelization, so I don't know

that I would give any other answer.

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Okay, next hot take, singleness isn't

lonely if you're spending it focusing

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on the person God is calling you to be.

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I'm, Guessing is what that ends in.

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It kind of gets cut off, but hot takes.

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Singleness isn't lonely if you're

spending it focusing on the

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person God is calling you to be.

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Um, I don't know if I agree with this.

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Like singleness is lonely and can

be lonely, even if you are being,

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if even if you are like living into

the person God is calling you to be.

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And if you're focusing on your

relationship with God, um, now can

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a man or woman Fulfill that like God

sized hole that you have in your heart

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and like that longing you have to

be known and loved and seen No, and

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definitely not completely like can

they fill a little bit of that desire?

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Yes, but not completely like God can

. But even if you are really faithful

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and growing in your relationship with

God, and you're desiring your vocation

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of marriage in this case, and it's

taking a while to find the right person,

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there absolutely is going to be a

loneliness because you're longing for

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another, and you're longing for this

ultimate good of being united with.

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Someone in marriage and it's like when

the Lord made Adam and then he made

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Eve and Adam's responses at last One

of my bones flesh of my flesh like he

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felt that longing and that lacking and

until he met Eve He was like wow, like

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this is what I've been searching for.

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This is finally What I needed and

like this person was made for me.

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So I think it's very natural and And

almost like a holiness of just like,

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yeah, like, of course you would feel

kind of like an innate loneliness if

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you haven't found that person yet.

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And you are like really

seeking your vocation.

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So that's kind of my thoughts on that.

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Okay.

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Ooh, this is, this is

definitely a hot take.

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Also, if you're watching the podcast on

video, my dog Bodhi just stuck his nose

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in and you can see him trying to get pets.

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Oh, you're such a good dog.

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You're such a good dog.

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Um, okay.

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This one's a pretty hot take.

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We don't need more priests.

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We need more deacons to

do all the admin things.

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I mean, I guess I'm like not like

super familiar with all the ins

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and outs of a parish, but I don't

think I can agree with this.

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I don't think I can agree with

we don't need more priests.

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Do we need more deacons?

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Maybe.

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Like, could we just say we need both?

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But the reality is we need more

priests, a hundred percent.

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And I rather more priests than

more deacons because deacons can't

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do everything priests can do.

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And although there is a lot of

work for priests, especially if

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there's a deficiency of them.

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Priests can do everything deacons do.

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And I know at least for myself, like my

home parish back in Washington, basically

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three different parishes are having to

consolidate into one because there's

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not even enough priests in the area

for each one to have one or even for

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one priest to go to all three of them.

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So people from like three different towns

are now going to have to commute to like

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a few towns over to go to Mass because

there is such a lack of priests and I

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mean, I, I see it where we live too,

and I've seen it in many different areas

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where there is such a lack of priests.

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And so sacraments are much more limited.

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A lot of parishes don't have

like adoration, perpetual

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adoration, or a lot of confession

options or, or daily Mass times.

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And so, like, if we truly believe

the sacraments are the source and

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summit of our life, if the Eucharist

is a source and summit, like.

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I would pray that it would be as

accessible as possible to the lay

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people and to do that we need priests.

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Now, could we use more deacons?

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Yeah, probably.

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I mean, we could use more holy

men in the parish in general.

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And deacons can be, you know, anybody,

any man, any husband, any father

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that is being called to it can step

into a deacon role and discern that.

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So, could we have more deacons?

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Yes.

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Should we have more deacons over priests?

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Cannot agree with that one.

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Okay.

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Sunday best clothing should come back.

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It's better to look nice at Mass.

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And that one kind of goes hand in

hand with another one that said, okay,

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to wear jeans at Mass over dresses.

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So I agree.

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Sunday best should be the

standard for going to Sunday Mass.

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Um, I do think you can

like maybe dress jeans up.

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However, in the past few years, I have

stopped wearing jeans to Sunday Mass

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because I just feel like I can make a

better effort to dress up and Sunday best

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truly means like giving it your best.

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Now I'm not talking about like a floor

length gala gown, but I am talking about

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a dress or a skirt, or if I'm wearing

pants like nice pants and a nice blouse,

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nice shoes, you know, hair, makeup,

jewelry, like really make an effort

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to look beautiful and presentable to

Mass because we dress up for the things

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that we find important and worthy of

us looking nice and Jesus or time with

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Jesus with, with the Lord every Sunday

should be at the top of that list.

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So I definitely am in the camp

that you should dress up to go to

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Mass I'm not going to say like,

Oh, it's bad if you wear jeans, but

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I think if You are wearing jeans.

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I would challenge you to dress up a little

bit nicer because you can wear jeans every

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day and you can totally dress dreams.

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Just I can't talk dress street.

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Oh my gosh.

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You can totally dress jeans up.

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I do all the time, but I think

you can take it a step further.

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And dress up with like a dress or

nice pants or a skirt for Mass.

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And that would be more worthy,

more respectful, more of a

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gift to the Lord, um, to make

that a little bit of an effort.

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Okay.

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Chick fil a is overrated.

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Raising canes is way better.

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Nah, girl.

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Nope.

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I've had both.

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And I mean, I'm not saying

raising canes is like bad.

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It's like definitely like fine.

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And I've maybe even enjoyed

it in the past, but.

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Cannot trump Chick fil a.

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Like, Chick fil a is way better.

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Way better.

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Way better.

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We don't even have to have

a conversation about it.

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Okay, this one says sneakers with prom

or homecoming dresses or any formal

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dresses or wedding dresses is a bad trend.

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I would personally have

to agree with that.

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I do not like the sneakers with the

formal dress trend and I don't like it

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with the wedding dress either personally.

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Um, cause I just think, again, it just

like totally downplays the situation and

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I just, nah, no, I'm not here for it.

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Eating Kiwi with no skin on is

the superior way to eat a Kiwi.

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Am I reading this right?

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Like, Yes.

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How is this even a hot take?

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Who's eating a kiwi with the skin on?

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Is that just me?

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Is that weird?

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Or like, are we biting into kiwis now?

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Because I, I didn't know that was a thing.

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And I, I just don't know

how that could be a thing.

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Like, it's fuzzy, like, furry, like.

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Like the skin is like, no, no, um, no,

please don't eat your Kiwi like that.

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Absolutely eating a Kiwi with no skin

on is the superior way to eat a Kiwi.

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I just am wondering how

anybody's eating a Kiwi now.

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I personally cut it in half and then

take a little spoon and like scoop

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it out of the Kiwi on either side.

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So I'm not getting the skin.

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No, I just,

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okay.

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Wearing socks to bed

when it's cold is normal.

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Is what this says.

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And I actually agree with this one.

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And I know a lot of people are going to be

like, Oh my gosh, Mari, you're so weird.

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Nobody should get into bed with socks on.

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But I like to get into bed with

socks on because I feel cozy.

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But I don't usually sleep with them on

because ever since I was little I have

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this really interesting handy little

trick I do with my toes to take my

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socks off and like put them in a little

bundle and Unless I showed you, you

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literally wouldn't understand what I'm

saying, and you probably think I'm weird.

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And if my best friends are

listening, they're literally going

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to be dying laughing right now

because they've seen me do it.

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And they're like, how does she do it?

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They basically think I

have like finger toes.

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Cause my toes are like really movable.

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Anyways, now this is getting weird.

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All that to say, girl, I agree with you.

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You're not a weirdo if you

get into bed with socks on.

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Like, do what you need to do, man.

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Like, if you're cold, like,

yeah, you don't want to be cold.

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So don't judge us.

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Don't judge us.

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French fries are not actually good.

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Girl, I just, I cannot agree with that.

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And I just, I'm not even gonna entertain

that because that's absolute false isms.

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False.

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Ooh, this is good.

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Getting married just to have sex because

you're sick of chastity isn't healthy.

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Yeah.

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That's not healthy at all.

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: 00:17:13

You should not be getting married just

because you're tired of having sex or

306

: 00:17:15

just because like yeah, you've been dating

for a while and you're waiting and you

307

: 00:17:19

just like don't want to wait anymore.

308

: 00:17:20

Like that is absolutely

a recipe for disaster.

309

: 00:17:22

That is not the reason you should

have or that you should be married.

310

: 00:17:26

And if that's what you're thinking

when you're getting married.

311

: 00:17:29

Then we need to grow in

maturity before we get married.

312

: 00:17:33

Um, yeah,

313

: 00:17:35

growing in the virtue of chastity

while you're dating helps you grow

314

: 00:17:40

in self control and having stronger,

like, Willpower as well as obviously

315

: 00:17:49

growing in purity and chastity for when

you're married, when you're married

316

: 00:17:54

in the Catholic church, at least

we don't believe in contraception.

317

: 00:17:59

What does that mean?

318

: 00:18:00

It doesn't mean that the church

says have babies all the time

319

: 00:18:03

without thinking about it or without

making a responsible decision.

320

: 00:18:08

It just means that we don't use things

like birth control or IUD or condoms

321

: 00:18:12

because we don't believe that entering

into the sacrament of marriage with

322

: 00:18:19

a anti life mindset is like fully

gifting yourself to the other person.

323

: 00:18:28

So the act of sex should be fruitful,

faithful, and Oh, there's one more word.

324

: 00:18:33

What is it?

325

: 00:18:35

It's escaping me.

326

: 00:18:35

But basically like, Oh, free,

I think it should be free.

327

: 00:18:38

I think that's the other word.

328

: 00:18:40

Basically, you like want to be giving

yourself completely to the other person.

329

: 00:18:44

And if you're using contraception, you

are literally blocking one of the most

330

: 00:18:48

integral, and beautiful parts of your

sexuality, which is your fertility.

331

: 00:18:53

And so you're therefore not giving

yourself completely to the other person.

332

: 00:18:56

And there is a barrier

between you two becoming one.

333

: 00:19:01

And the church teaches natural family

planning as a way to help married

334

: 00:19:07

couples discern when to grow their

family and when to pause on having more

335

: 00:19:12

children in order to allow their family

to focus on the children they do have.

336

: 00:19:17

or to, um, steady their finances

or to work on the mental health or

337

: 00:19:21

physical health of one of the spouses.

338

: 00:19:23

If they can't direct their energy to

another, adding another child to the

339

: 00:19:27

family, all sorts of reasons that are

grave reasons that would make it okay

340

: 00:19:31

for you to abstain from trying for a baby.

341

: 00:19:34

And so what happens when you're practicing

natural family planning to avoid a

342

: 00:19:40

pregnancy for a season you have to be

chate because there are weeks during

343

: 00:19:47

the woman's cycle where you're the most

fertile and Hormonally, that's when the

344

: 00:19:51

woman has the most sex drive and wants to

have sex with her husband And so that is

345

: 00:19:56

like The biggest sacrifice as a couple to

be like, okay, we can't have sex during

346

: 00:20:02

this time because you're the most fertile.

347

: 00:20:04

And if we were to, then you'll probably

get pregnant and it's not responsible

348

: 00:20:07

for us to get pregnant and bring

a child into our family right now.

349

: 00:20:11

And so you actually need to grow

in this virtue of chastity outside

350

: 00:20:15

of marriage so that you can be.

351

: 00:20:18

You can also have this

virtue inside of marriage.

352

: 00:20:21

It's kind of brilliant.

353

: 00:20:22

You guys, I know it's really hard,

354

: 00:20:23

but it's really beautiful.

355

: 00:20:24

Okay, this next hot take self care

culture is toxic and I totally

356

: 00:20:29

get where this is coming from.

357

: 00:20:30

And in a lot of ways I agree that

modern self care can be very inward

358

: 00:20:35

focused, very selfish focused and very

self indulgent and kind of just like

359

: 00:20:39

making the excuse for anything as like

it's self care, it's self care, even

360

: 00:20:42

if it's not actually good for you.

361

: 00:20:44

Because it often pushes this like, do

whatever makes you feel good mentality,

362

: 00:20:48

which is also a little bit like relativist

and like, whatever is good for you might

363

: 00:20:51

be different than what's good for you.

364

: 00:20:52

And there's not an objective good, which

I don't think is a healthy view at all.

365

: 00:20:57

But I think what I see a lot in our

like culture self care is like, do

366

: 00:21:00

whatever makes you feel good, even if

it means neglecting responsibilities or.

367

: 00:21:04

Avoiding sacrifice or acknowledging

the needs of others and

368

: 00:21:08

putting others before yourself.

369

: 00:21:09

And as Catholics, we know that this

doesn't align with what Jesus taught us.

370

: 00:21:13

Jesus doesn't say put yourself above

others at all costs and value your own

371

: 00:21:18

well being above others at all costs.

372

: 00:21:21

In fact, he said, whoever is the least

of these will be exalted and, deny

373

: 00:21:25

yourself, pick up your cross, follow me.

374

: 00:21:28

And so at the heart of what

I feel the self care culture

375

: 00:21:32

in our world is teaching.

376

: 00:21:33

No, it does not align

with our Catholic faith.

377

: 00:21:36

However, I don't think self

care in itself is toxic.

378

: 00:21:40

I think the way that the world

views it and communicates self

379

: 00:21:43

care culture is just distorted.

380

: 00:21:45

There's a difference between

self care and self indulgence.

381

: 00:21:48

And self care when done right isn't about

escaping life or justifying laziness

382

: 00:21:53

in a Christian lens, it's actually about

stewarding your body and caring for

383

: 00:21:58

your soul the way God has asked you to.

384

: 00:22:01

And when we do that, we can then

live out our vocations well, and

385

: 00:22:04

we can then live out what God's

calling us to do in our life.

386

: 00:22:07

Because you can look at the opposite and

also see that it's not good to completely

387

: 00:22:12

run yourself dry because you're putting

everybody else's needs before yours, and

388

: 00:22:16

you're completely neglecting yourself.

389

: 00:22:18

That's also not what Christ calls us

to do, and that's also not healthy.

390

: 00:22:22

And so it's kind of about finding just

like the moderation and the true level

391

: 00:22:27

of like, Taking care of your body and

stewarding your body the way the Lord has

392

: 00:22:32

asked you to, so that then you can serve

others and put their needs before yours.

393

: 00:22:37

So what do I feel like self

care really looks like?

394

: 00:22:39

I mean, I feel like it looks like

actually taking care of your body,

395

: 00:22:42

eating healthy, moving your body, taking

care of your soul, making time for

396

: 00:22:47

prayer every day, committing to the

sacraments, at least going to Mass every

397

: 00:22:51

Sunday, going to regular confession,

398

: 00:22:54

and even Entering into like holy

leisure, like entering into life giving

399

: 00:22:59

activities on your downtime that give

you life and joy and allow you to be

400

: 00:23:04

more of who God created you to be.

401

: 00:23:06

But self care rooted in neglecting your

responsibilities or doing it at the

402

: 00:23:11

cost of others while being around you.

403

: 00:23:14

I cannot get on board with that.

404

: 00:23:16

Okay, next one.

405

: 00:23:16

Cruises are not a good vacation.

406

: 00:23:19

Now, I have never been on a cruise,

but it also does not sound attractive

407

: 00:23:24

to me at all, mostly because I am

susceptible to motion sickness.

408

: 00:23:30

And so I personally don't want

to get on a boat and risk being

409

: 00:23:36

nauseous and sick the whole time

and not being able to get off it.

410

: 00:23:40

So I just prefer resort.

411

: 00:23:42

Hotels like all inclusive vacations

is basically like a cruise on

412

: 00:23:46

land and I tend to prefer land.

413

: 00:23:49

I don't always love flying and I

don't really love being stranded

414

: 00:23:52

in the middle of the ocean.

415

: 00:23:54

Not that you're stranded, but that's, I

would imagine kind of what it feels like.

416

: 00:23:58

So I'm going to have to

agree with this person.

417

: 00:24:00

I don't think cruises are good

vacations, but also I know a ton

418

: 00:24:04

of people like them and this is.

419

: 00:24:06

really just a personal

opinion that I have.

420

: 00:24:09

Oh, this is a good one.

421

: 00:24:10

Um, it says Catholic mothers Should

strive to stay home with kids.

422

: 00:24:16

This is a hot button topic in the Catholic

world, and I feel like I'm Kind of in

423

: 00:24:25

the middle or honestly, I just feel like

we can't say this one fits all Statement

424

: 00:24:32

this like blanket statement and have it

apply to every single Catholic family Do

425

: 00:24:37

I think it is really beautiful and good?

426

: 00:24:40

And see the fruits of a mother

that is completely devoted

427

: 00:24:42

to her children and home.

428

: 00:24:44

Yes.

429

: 00:24:45

Do I think that if you have the

ability to do it financially,

430

: 00:24:48

that you should lean towards that?

431

: 00:24:51

Yes.

432

: 00:24:52

Do I think that if a mother works,

it's bad or harmful to her family?

433

: 00:24:58

Not necessarily.

434

: 00:25:00

And do I think if a mother

can stay home, but decides to

435

: 00:25:05

work to some capacity is bad?

436

: 00:25:09

Not necessarily.

437

: 00:25:10

I basically think that it's really

easy for people to say blanket term,

438

: 00:25:15

like all moms should stay at home.

439

: 00:25:18

You know, Catholic wives and

mothers shouldn't be working.

440

: 00:25:20

That's neglecting your

children and your home.

441

: 00:25:23

First of all, let's just acknowledge the

really practical fact that the economy

442

: 00:25:27

is kind of crazy and it's really hard

for people to live off of one income.

443

: 00:25:32

And.

444

: 00:25:33

While yes, you can lower your standard of

living to try and live off of one income

445

: 00:25:39

so that your wife can be home with kids.

446

: 00:25:41

Even that can be challenging

depending on where you're living.

447

: 00:25:45

And I absolutely have no judgment

towards families that have both husband

448

: 00:25:50

and wives working, especially for

the financial good of their family.

449

: 00:25:53

I think there's a lot of things

to consider, though, when

450

: 00:25:55

you're considering, do I work?

451

: 00:25:56

Do I stay home?

452

: 00:25:57

If the amount of money that you're

bringing in as a wife is basically like

453

: 00:26:02

covering childcare and that's it, then

it's probably and you want to stay home.

454

: 00:26:06

Like, it's probably better for

you to stay home because it's

455

: 00:26:08

not really worth the investment.

456

: 00:26:10

And especially those early

years of a child is so important

457

: 00:26:13

for his mom to be present.

458

: 00:26:14

So I absolutely think that moms

should make an effort and that it

459

: 00:26:19

should be something that is seriously

discerned, um, with your husband,

460

: 00:26:23

with the Lord of like, is God

calling me to be a stay at home mom?

461

: 00:26:25

Can we actually make it work practically?

462

: 00:26:28

If so, and if I have any hesitations,

like let's pray through that.

463

: 00:26:33

Like what are those hesitations?

464

: 00:26:34

Are you, um, Afraid that you're

going to like lose part of yourself.

465

: 00:26:38

Are you afraid that you are

going to become irrelevant?

466

: 00:26:41

Are you afraid that you're like

not going to have time to do things

467

: 00:26:45

that you love or your passions or

that your worth lies in your work?

468

: 00:26:49

Those are all amazing things

to really pray about and ask

469

: 00:26:51

the Lord to speak into those.

470

: 00:26:53

If those are your hesitations to.

471

: 00:26:56

Not stay at home.

472

: 00:26:58

Um, but if you can stay at home,

I think that is amazing and will

473

: 00:27:05

go such a long way for a family.

474

: 00:27:07

So personally I'm like pro moms

staying at home and like I celebrate

475

: 00:27:14

all my friends that, you know, quit

their jobs and are stay at home moms.

476

: 00:27:18

I think it's amazing.

477

: 00:27:19

Um, I owning a business and doing

what I do don't know that I like ever

478

: 00:27:26

see myself completely not working.

479

: 00:27:29

But I do see myself being able to devote

a ton of time to my Children because

480

: 00:27:35

of the flexibility of my work schedule.

481

: 00:27:37

So that's something that I

encourage moms to do if they need

482

: 00:27:40

to work or if they enjoy working.

483

: 00:27:42

I don't think that's bad at all.

484

: 00:27:43

But I think that if you can find a

position that's flexible so you can

485

: 00:27:47

devote the majority of your time and

energy to your Children, then that's

486

: 00:27:51

Even better, because in the end, we

have to keep in mind that we have to

487

: 00:27:55

have the correct order of priorities in

our life that the Lord has asked us to.

488

: 00:28:00

So the Lord first, then our spouse,

then our children and then work.

489

: 00:28:06

And so if work is inhibiting you from

living out in that order of priorities

490

: 00:28:11

Then that's when work is probably

coming in the way of your family and

491

: 00:28:16

what the Lord has Ordered you to do

in your vocation and that's when it

492

: 00:28:21

becomes a problem and that's definitely

not healthy or Good for your family.

493

: 00:28:26

But I do Really think that there should

be more grace in the Catholic space,

494

: 00:28:31

especially in the very traditional

conservative Catholic space There should

495

: 00:28:35

be more grace for working mothers because

you never know what a family needs

496

: 00:28:40

and for the most part I think we can

all trust that mothers and fathers are

497

: 00:28:45

doing the best for their families and

their homes and they're not Trying to

498

: 00:28:50

make the decision that's going to get

in the way of them and their Children,

499

: 00:28:55

um, and sometimes people need to work.

500

: 00:28:57

And sometimes it's even good for their

mental health to take some time to work.

501

: 00:29:01

Or maybe they have amazing gifts

that they're using to glorify the

502

: 00:29:04

Lord and glorify their kingdom.

503

: 00:29:05

And it's not coming at the

cost of raising their Children.

504

: 00:29:09

Um, if it's coming at the cost of

raising your Children, Obviously a

505

: 00:29:12

red flag, but I do think there needs

to be more grace held in the catholic

506

: 00:29:17

space for moms that do need to work.

507

: 00:29:18

Oh my gosh, this next one,

undressing and get ready with

508

: 00:29:22

me video trends make me livid.

509

: 00:29:25

I I mean, I have to agree.

510

: 00:29:27

I, I mean, I don't know that they make me

livid, but I am always kind of shocked.

511

: 00:29:33

And when I started seeing this more

and more, I was like, are we just

512

: 00:29:36

like, not going to address this?

513

: 00:29:37

Like, is nobody, are we just

going to like, pretend that like,

514

: 00:29:39

this isn't happening right now?

515

: 00:29:41

Like, people went from just like, showing

their outfits to literally like, Being

516

: 00:29:45

in their bra and underwear on Instagram

just and making it okay, because it's

517

: 00:29:49

just like, you're just watching them

get dressed and like, it's just this

518

: 00:29:52

like super casual, like, kind of like

being in the room, kind of a content

519

: 00:29:58

vibe, but I feel like it's, it's, I

mean, obviously immodest and just like

520

: 00:30:04

so inappropriate and so unnecessary and

I honestly think it's just done to get

521

: 00:30:10

more views, which is just, Not good.

522

: 00:30:13

And I 1000 percent agree.

523

: 00:30:15

Yeah.

524

: 00:30:17

Not a fan.

525

: 00:30:17

Okay.

526

: 00:30:18

We probably have time for a few more.

527

: 00:30:20

One next one here is spicy romance books

are porn and we shouldn't be reading them.

528

: 00:30:26

I don't know why nobody talks about it.

529

: 00:30:29

Ooh, that's good.

530

: 00:30:31

And maybe It's just me and the circles

I had run with, but I feel like I

531

: 00:30:35

have heard people talk about it.

532

: 00:30:36

I do definitely think it should

be more widely talked about, like

533

: 00:30:40

maybe even at like SEEK or something

like in like much bigger masses.

534

: 00:30:43

Um, but yeah, I agree that like super

spicy romance novels, at least what

535

: 00:30:50

I've heard, I, I'm not a big reader.

536

: 00:30:52

I don't do a lot of reading, but

what I've heard is that it can

537

: 00:30:55

get pretty graphic, pretty sexual.

538

: 00:30:58

And I don't know how

that's different from.

539

: 00:31:02

Like watching porn, obviously the

method is different, but it can cause

540

: 00:31:08

you to lust and to objectify a person

and to have, um, lustful thoughts and

541

: 00:31:14

entertain impure thoughts, which is a sin.

542

: 00:31:17

And so, yeah, I mean, I would

have to agree with that one.

543

: 00:31:21

And if you're reading that and you

didn't know, hopefully now, you

544

: 00:31:24

know, and maybe you should stop.

545

: 00:31:28

And go to confession.

546

: 00:31:29

Okay, last one here says, Living

where there is diversity of

547

: 00:31:32

religion and diversity in thinking

is better than living around

548

: 00:31:36

everybody that is the same as you.

549

: 00:31:38

Ooh, I think that like, personally,

I lean more towards like, If you can

550

: 00:31:45

live around people that have the same

morals and values and faith, do it

551

: 00:31:50

because, and I always, I'm obviously

being a wife and desiring motherhood.

552

: 00:31:56

Like, I'm very family oriented when

I think about these kind of things.

553

: 00:31:59

And I think that for the sake of raising

children, I, when we God willing children,

554

: 00:32:05

um, I would like to raise them with around

a community that has similar values,

555

: 00:32:11

same faith practices, families that are

striving for the same things as we are and

556

: 00:32:16

have the same morals as we are, because

there is already enough counter culture in

557

: 00:32:22

the world that's counter cultural to our

faith, if that makes sense, um, and I want

558

: 00:32:28

my children to like have that foundation

in their family and in our inner family

559

: 00:32:33

circle of the people we spend the most

time with for them to grow up learning

560

: 00:32:37

these morals, learning about our faith

and being confident in what we have raised

561

: 00:32:42

them in so that then when they encounter

the world, they know what the truth is.

562

: 00:32:47

And can stay strong in that.

563

: 00:32:51

Do I think it's good to be exposed?

564

: 00:32:52

Yes, I think it's good to be

exposed to different religions

565

: 00:32:55

and different ways of thinking.

566

: 00:32:58

But I think when it comes to like settling

down in an area and like raising a

567

: 00:33:01

family, I would totally opt for raising

a family in a like minded community over

568

: 00:33:07

intentionally going to a place where

there are a lot of different thoughts

569

: 00:33:10

and religions and values and morals.

570

: 00:33:14

And I, it's not to say that, like,

we shouldn't be missionaries and we

571

: 00:33:19

shouldn't be like reaching all people.

572

: 00:33:21

We absolutely should.

573

: 00:33:22

And we should engage people like that.

574

: 00:33:23

But again, when it comes to raising

your family, I think having a

575

: 00:33:26

super solid unit around you.

576

: 00:33:29

That is raising their

children in the same way.

577

: 00:33:32

And not even just for children, but for

yourself and for your marriage, like

578

: 00:33:35

being around other marriages that are

striving for Christ that you can walk

579

: 00:33:40

with are so encouraging and inspiring,

and they make all the difference.

580

: 00:33:45

Okay, you guys, that's all we have

time for . I hope that was fun and

581

: 00:33:49

enjoyable to listen to and that you

got a kick out of those and that it

582

: 00:33:52

maybe got your wheels turning on things

that you either hadn't heard about

583

: 00:33:56

before or maybe had heard about and

maybe have a different perspective on.

584

: 00:33:59

Thanks for listening.

585

: 00:34:00

Thanks for sticking around.

586

: 00:34:01

If you have loved ever be and

have been blessed by any of the

587

: 00:34:05

episodes you've listened to in the

past, please rate it five stars.

588

: 00:34:09

I think you can only rate it on, Oh no,

you can rate it on Spotify and Apple,

589

: 00:34:14

but you can only drop a review on Apple.

590

: 00:34:16

So if you love it and if it's blessed

you go ahead and drop a review and

591

: 00:34:19

share it with your friends so that

we can spread the word and God's

592

: 00:34:22

goodness to so many more people.