Any suggestions for observing Lent?

This is my first time experiencing the Lent season within the Catholic Church (though I won’t actually join until May) and would appreciate any “tips” on how others observe this time. What are some of the things you do besides giving up something?

Thank you for the insightful blog posts. They have been wonderful to read during my own conversion journey.

You are obviously extremely intelligent and a gifted writer, so are you the nerd type or the Mensa blond?

I picture you with strawberry blond hair and freckles.

http://dominisumus.blogspot.com/2008/02/e-is-for-excellent.html

When you decided atheism wasn’t tenable and you began your process (both your private, spiritual process and the RCIA/reading lots of books on Catholicism) of conversion, how and when did you know how much of the Catholic lifestyle (sorry, but I don’t know how else to say it) you wanted to take on? For example, turning your back on contraception is an easy one, since that’s a central teaching of the Church. But what about the things that aren’t exactly direct Church teachings, such as having as many children as God sees fit? Or homeschooling? Or living on one income so you can be the primary caregiver for your children? Or deferring to your husband as head of the household? What are some of the other lifestyle changes you’ve made as a result of your conversion?

This is the point where I am now, trying to decide “how” Catholic to be. How much of my old life do I need to abandon? I have already changed my mind on most of the feminist, liberal, secular-driven ideas I used to hold dear, but I’m not sure how much I want/need my Catholicism to show outwardly.

Thanks.

When I first got married and had children, I set up my home up in true matriarchal fashion. My husband took care of making money, garbage, light bulbs and anything else I didn’t want to do. I took care of the home and raising the kids because after all I knew how to do it better (or so I thought.) This worked out okay until my oldest son was about 12. At the age when kids start pushing back, I went to my husband and asked for help. My wonderful husband would get up at 5 o’clock every morning and wash the floor for me before he went to work. How could I tell him that this was not what I meant by help. Over the years I had evolved into the iron fist (do your homework, make your bed, brush your teeth.) My husband became Mr. Fun in order to balance me out. The more he became Mr. Fun, the tighter my fist got. The tighter my fist got, the more he became Mr. Fun. You can’t love when your fists are clenched.

I could never say to my kids “just wait until your father gets home.” My kids knew when Dad came home the fun began. He didn’t know how to use disipline with the kids because I always did it first. Anytime the boys fought he would either ignore it or walk away.

Without going into detail… God opened my eyes to this problem and I discussed it with my husband. Slowly but surely we have gotten things back on track. The disipline of my oldest son is always handled by my husband. I have had to let go of alot (of course he doesn’t handle things the way I would) but in trusting my husband’s ability to be a father I have also increased my trust in God the father. My fists are no longer clenched and I am free to be a loving mother.