Lent

Chicky Magoo 1 was talking to us about Lent the other day. She is very interested in why we do what we do as Catholics, and what it all means. It is giving us a good reminder of what it all means too. This year she decided to give up "Sweets, except for milkshakes." I'm not sure where the "not milkshakes" comes in, but we decided that since we really don't have milkshakes all that often that it was an okay thing for her to give up. Then a few days later she was asking what I was going to give up. I hadn't really decided, but then she told me that maybe it should be sweets "because for you Mommy, that would be HARD!" (Thanks Chicky Magoo 1) So- I told her that I would do what she was doing. So far so good. She has had a hard time remembering what all "sweets" entails, but has done a good job at not eating any. She is confused why Chicky Magoo 2 doesn't have to give up anything, even when we explain she is too young.

I do enjoy the Fish Frys at the Church during Lent. It is a nice time to get together, but at times it seems more like a celebration than a fasting. Which I have to say, the fish rule is VERY confusing to Chicky Magoo 1. We have told her that we don't eat meat on Fridays, and she is quite pleased by this. Not because she doesn't eat meat (he favorite being a rare steak!), but because she LOVES fish too!! For her it is like saying "Well- we are remembering all of the suffering Jesus did for us so we are going to have to have a brownie with ice cream to 'suffer' along with him." She enjoys all of the fish we get during Lent, but I guess it makes it a special time, which is what it is all about anyway.