Snuggle Parties

Thank you to Alissa Olson, a kindergarten teacher at St. Columbkille School, for introducing my family to the “snuggle party.”

Last fall her class – which included my son, David – earned a party, so she asked what kind of party they should have. They decided to watch a movie and bring a favorite pillow or stuffed animal to snuggle with. And the teacher, or someone in the class, coined the celebration a snuggle party.

David excitedly told me about the party, and we determined we could have one of our own. Other family members found our two-person party, though, and wanted to join in. And ever since, snuggles parties have become a regular family tradition.

We typically have them after a long day, when we need to unwind and relax. We hold them in the basement of our house, where my husband and I have our bedroom. It’s dark, cool and relaxing there.

Four, five or six of us will squeeze onto a queen-size bed. Usually there’s some fighting as we get adjusted, each person trying to grab a spot to lie down for the movie on DVD or via Internet. Even the dog joins us, because she loves to snuggle as much as anyone. And usually she’s the worst offender of taking more than her fair share of space.

Sometimes even our older kids will stop down for a while. They might have to grab some laundry in the basement or have something to tell me. But they’ll linger for a few minutes to watch a few scenes and grab some of our snacks.

Snuggle parties are my kind of parties: low on preparation, effort and energy, but high on quality time close to loved ones. They’re a break from a day full of activity, a way for us to relax together, tightly squeezed onto a bed with favorite pillows, blankets and maybe a stuffed animal. (There isn’t much room left for toys.)

I’ve been thinking about the notion of snuggle parties during the afterglow of Pentecost. Just as our minds and bodies need peace, solace and relaxation, so do our souls.

And the Holy Spirit seems to be just what we need, the chicken soup (or snuggle party) for our souls.

At Masses on Pentecost we sang or recited the sequence “Veni, Sancte Spiritus,” including these lines:

“You, of comforters the best;

You, the soul’s most welcome guest;

Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe . . .”

That certainly describes what my soul needs.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

"Because we are members of His Body" (Eph. 5:30)

The busyness of spring is all around: weddings, graduations, May crowning, soccer, baseball, school field trips.

Something is going on every day.

At many destinations this week I've had the pleasure of visiting with people from St. Columbkille Parish. And after almost every encounter, I walk away feeling better, warmed by fellow parishioners -- not because of sweeping, heroic gestures, but little everyday conversations, hugs and smiles.

Here's how much of the week went:

Friday night was kindergarten soccer night. My son's team, the Huskers (because of their red T-shirts), gave one of their players to the opposing team because they were short a player. And of course, the kindergarteners happily obliged.

The coach's wife made sure she stopped by to ask how I was doing, one parent patted our family's dog while others relaxed and talked on the sidelines.

On Saturday I watched kindergarteners and first-graders hug and congratulate the teacher they knew as Miss Senger after she became Mrs. Olson. The church courtyard, filled with well-wishers, was a sunny, happy place.

In the pews at the noon Mass, my family was sandwiched in between several rows full of other St. Columbkille School families, who warmly greeted each other and wished the moms happy Mother's Day. It felt comfortable sitting among them.

Monday was May Crowning for my daughter at Mercy -- and several other Mercy students from St. Columbkille. The ceremony was beautiful and emotional, and afterward a few St. Columbkille mothers laughed about the tears they shed at the event.

Tuesday and Wednesday were baseball games at St. Columbkille fields, where younger siblings ran and played while parents, bundled in blankets on the bleachers, visited and occasionally shared a laugh with the coaches and umpire.

Thursday began with the all-school Mass, hugs and greetings from the regular Mass-goers and afterwards updates from friends -- which made me slightly late for the fourth-grade fishing trip.

Dedicated parents, relatives and school staff made sure the field trip went on after being canceled because of rain Monday. Families had to dig out hats, gloves and winter coats because it was cold and windy at the lake. But parents managed to laugh about it. One dad set up my son's fishing line on his pole and showed him how to cast. The fish weren't biting much, but the kids ate hot dogs, chips and watermelon and ran around. It was a good day.

Nothing really extraordinary happened this week. But maybe that's why it was special. Day in and day out, I encounter good, kind people -- kids and adults -- from St. Columbkille.

Our family's busy schedule puts me in regular contact with them. After 25 years at St. Columbkille, I have many old friends here. Yet because our parish is large and ever-changing, I constantly meet new people. Having nine children helps. I don't consider myself outgoing; typically other people reach out to me, often just to say hello or for small talk.

This week made me stop and think: Are other parishes like St. Columbkille? Do we have something special here?

What do you think?

"Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble."

-- 1 Peter 3:8

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Farewell Miss Senger...

...she is now Mrs. Olson.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs. Adam Olson!