Making friends was such a piece of cake in college. If you were down the hall from someone, you could be best friends after a week of leaving for class at the same time. Everyone was unmarried and babyless; and thus free to stay out after midnight. “It’s 1 AM – who wants a double cheeseburger?”
I graduated from that life, got married, and moved to a new town two weeks later. And since then, I’ve missed having a good network of friends. Friends who have a similar walk in life – young, Catholic, wife, mom. Too much to ask? Over a bowl of cereal the other day, I looked at Andrew and said, “I need friends. So I think I’m going to place an ad for some.”
In a nervous effort to further my own social life, I emailed my pastor to get approval for declaring to the parish that Katie Sciba needs to see more people. I told him that I’d like to turn my own need into a minor ministry of sorts, starting what I’ve coined as a “Chaplet & Chat” group to meet every so often. He LOVED the idea and said that I’ll have full backing from him.
GOOD DEAL. This effort serves a twofold purpose – I’ve wanted to get involved in something outside of my home and I’ve wanted to meet more people so bada BING! Our first get-together will be September 29th – just when it starts thinking about cooling off here. We’ll meet at a park somewhere and after saying a Chaplet of Divine Mercy, we’ll pick-a-little-talk-a-little while the kids rollick on the monkey bars. This past week has been the first that Andrew is back at work all day and I have seriously missed having another person around. Another person who doesn’t suck his fist or smile at me while he “makes a surprise.” Liam is great, but the strong, silent type. He doesn’t contribute much to conversations.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not completely deprived of friendships or socialization. I see plenty of people during my week and maintain some good one-on-one connections. Meeting new people though, has always been a thrill for me, and since it looks like we’ll be staying in Shreveport for a bit, it’s time to invest.
I couldn’t agree more with the first paragraph! Too bad I am neither a wife, nor a mother, or I would LOVE to reply to your ad for more friends…heehee. But then again, we already are 😉
Great post Katie! I totally agree with you…making friends in college is so much easier than afterwords. After college I moved to a tiny town in Nebraska where pretty much everyone my age had moved away or settled down and already had three kids! Way to get the ball rolling with a group for young women in your parish…that was an awesome idea. I hope it works out well for you!
Katie,
I am glad you “introduced” yourself on my blog today! I love yours as well. You sort of remind me of myself and I think we’d definitely be friends if I lived in Shreveport!
Interestingly enough, I have some ongoing connections to the city. I was actually born there, my sister in law is from there, and now my little sister is in med school there. Go figure? 🙂
If we go visit Shannon sometime I will get in touch with you and we can do a playdate!
God bless,
Erin
I love your ingenuitiy! I just found your blog from Maggie’s From the Heart…(so I hope it’s okay I’m commenting.) This post is actually quite applicable to all young Catholics out of college…I’m in a boat where I myself would like, specifically, ahem, Catholic friends.
I love my friends…they are slapstick fantastically funny and diverse, and a great blessing. But my Catholic faith is something they, well, tolerate and don’t share. Since I don’t seem to have your ingenuity, would you start your Chaplet and Chat at my parish, and I’ll atten? 😉
Thanks so much for your comment! Wouldn’t it be great to have national chapters of Chaplet & Chat? How fun! I can sympathize with your frustration, not being able to share such a huge part of your personality with your friends. Dr. Ted Sri, a former professor at Benedictine (where Maggie and I went), said that in order for a single coal to stay hot, it has to be with other hot coals. Once you take a single coal away from the heap, it’s flame can die quickly. A good analogy, I thought. I love your blog too! It’s been so fun to happen upon the thoughts of others who are in the same boat. 🙂
What a wonderful name!!! I love it. We have been trying to come up with a name for ours instead of Our Lady of the Visitation Moms Group. Hmmmm, perhaps I need to keep thinking.