We, the Mrs. and Mr. Caitlin P. Carroll family, are a picturesque family of four. We met in May of 2008 and waited the traditional three months before getting married, after having met in the traditional American courtship center, a BYU singles' ward. While we wanted to do so earlier, we followed cultural norms and waited another three months before becoming pregnant with our son Atticus (the traditional American name for a first-born son), who was born a traditional 9 months later, after making a pilgrimage to the all-American center of gestation, Washington, DC, for the last 4 months of the pregnancy. We waited the obligatory 1.75 years before becoming pregnant with our second child, Tallulah (bending again to tradition in the naming of our children), before which we took the obligatory summer trip to Egypt.
Following traditional gender mores, Cait began her PhD program in Political Science at Wisconsin University, which she also studied undergrad at BYU, in hopes of fulfilling her feminine obligation of domination of the US political system, five months after Tallulah was born. Tim, after graduating with a "Daddy degree" in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic from BYU enjoys his role as the archetypal male housekeeper and finds enjoyment in fulfilling his society's and religion's proscribed domestic gender roles. He also hopes to get a Master's Degree in Library Science, not with any plans for employment, but with hopes of using his education to better raise his children, and to provide for his family if the worst should happen and Cait should die or become incapacitated in her divine role as the provider for her family, but he loves being with his kids so much, it might be hard to get away.
We entered into the standard Mormon faith crises in its traditional location of Madison, Wisconsin, and have explored customary faith alternatives such as Unitarianism or Atheism. Our decision will largely be based, of course, on the recommendations of our parents, but the process is slow, because, as most American parents, they are reluctant to offer their opinions on the behavior of their children, especially in religious matters. We might be forced to turn to our equally un-opinionated siblings for advice.
We enjoy the following traditional American pastimes:
Reading and discussing feminist literature.
Family viewings of home births on youtube.
Watching PBS mini-series and documentaries.
Amateurish discussion of Marxism.
Sharing the joy of Vibram FiveFingers with our friends.
Hiking through the ubiquitous neighborhood nature preserve.
Wishfully contemplating a car-free, vegan/whole food, carbon neutral, fair trade, socially just lifestyle. Basically we just want the American dream.
Election trivia: While we feel the pull towards voting for the wildly popular establishment Green Party candidate, Jill Stein, we have contemplated casting our ballot for the obscure third-party candidate, Barack Hussein Obama III, but we're afraid that would just be wasting our vote.
Following traditional gender mores, Cait began her PhD program in Political Science at Wisconsin University, which she also studied undergrad at BYU, in hopes of fulfilling her feminine obligation of domination of the US political system, five months after Tallulah was born. Tim, after graduating with a "Daddy degree" in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic from BYU enjoys his role as the archetypal male housekeeper and finds enjoyment in fulfilling his society's and religion's proscribed domestic gender roles. He also hopes to get a Master's Degree in Library Science, not with any plans for employment, but with hopes of using his education to better raise his children, and to provide for his family if the worst should happen and Cait should die or become incapacitated in her divine role as the provider for her family, but he loves being with his kids so much, it might be hard to get away.
We entered into the standard Mormon faith crises in its traditional location of Madison, Wisconsin, and have explored customary faith alternatives such as Unitarianism or Atheism. Our decision will largely be based, of course, on the recommendations of our parents, but the process is slow, because, as most American parents, they are reluctant to offer their opinions on the behavior of their children, especially in religious matters. We might be forced to turn to our equally un-opinionated siblings for advice.
We enjoy the following traditional American pastimes:
Reading and discussing feminist literature.
Family viewings of home births on youtube.
Watching PBS mini-series and documentaries.
Amateurish discussion of Marxism.
Sharing the joy of Vibram FiveFingers with our friends.
Hiking through the ubiquitous neighborhood nature preserve.
Wishfully contemplating a car-free, vegan/whole food, carbon neutral, fair trade, socially just lifestyle. Basically we just want the American dream.
Election trivia: While we feel the pull towards voting for the wildly popular establishment Green Party candidate, Jill Stein, we have contemplated casting our ballot for the obscure third-party candidate, Barack Hussein Obama III, but we're afraid that would just be wasting our vote.
This made me laugh out loud for reals. Well done.
ReplyDeleteLove it! You guys are awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the giggle today, funny read.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! Bustin' a gut! Thanks, Tim. Sounds like tradition has yet to lead you amiss. ;) Still ashamed that Jon and I never made the traditional jaunt to Egypt . . .
ReplyDeleteEven I'm laughing. So, you're still willing to listen to your parents on the matter of faith and religion?
ReplyDeletei LOVE this. thank you, tim! i loved it from the first sentence, mrs & mr caitlin p carroll.
ReplyDeletegenius.
I get you guys. I really do. I've have or am having a continual faith crisis of my own (and yes, I've listened to the CES couple. His dad was my seminary teacher.) I have had many of the same thoughts and feelings you have. I am sure you know these are not unique and progressive as there are many people who feel like this. I find it liberating to know I'm not alone. Which is interesting because I also find it annoying to fit the same mold as other people. I don't know you. You've never met me. I live in Mtn. Green. I know Tim's family. I've read several of your posts and comments. So, here's the point of my comment... I believe that friends and family should treat you with love and respect even if they don't agree with the way you live YOUR life. After all, it is your life. But, you and I both know that that's going to be difficult because they are human and they will judge you. I also believe that it's a two-way street. They deserve love and respect too. I feel that your "about us" section does not portray love and respect. The words, rather the, tone is so hurtful. They will never come to a place to respect you if you can't respect them. Please just take a step back and read it. I understand that you want to make a point. Can you find a way to make the point in a respectful way. Can you use the love and kindness that you thought was missing from the primary program? You can mend relationships, not by going back "to church," but through love and respect and trust and maturity. I am sure you are kind, caring, decent people. Your mom thinks you are the greatest parents and I really mean that. At the end of the day, what really matters is how you treat others REGARDLESS of their actions or how they treat you. Respect commands respect, The Golden Rule. Yada, yada.
ReplyDeleteFinally, remember this? We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. It's the 10th article of faith. And, our kids have been learning it in primary lately. I love the fact that they are learning this. Sometimes I feel pigeon holed by my friends who are not LDS and have negative comments. They believe that we are teaching our children intolerance. Maybe some families are. But, I make an honest effort to instill love and kindness into my children. This Article of Faith is a basic principle of the LDS church. To me it embraces tolerance and I hope and pray that I can find a way in my religious practice to interpret it correctly.
I hope you can respect my comment as I understand your points of view. I may not completely agree, but like I said before, "I get it." I also hope that since I'm a stranger and have a neutral point of view in the family feud, you can objectively consider my unsolicited advice. May you find peace.