Mother Inferior

Welcome to my site! I'm so grateful you stopped by. :) My name is Dena Dyer and I'm a writer, speaker, editor, musician, and--most important of all--a proud wife of a seriously funny guy and mom to two rambunctious, creative boys.

In my day job, I serve as the Director  of Communications and Development for Catholic Family Service, Inc. in Amarillo, Texas. It's challenging, rewarding work, and no two days are the same (I'm easily bored, so that's good!)

Here at "Mother Inferior," I blog--usually on Mondays--about family, faith, and the high calling of our daily work.

If you're looking for speaking topics and my availability, I'll be glad to send you a list of talks I give, as well as my fees and requirements. I have experience in professional entertainment, as does my hubby Carey, so we're open (individually or as a duo) to doing music, drama, and storytelling at your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Just send an email to denadyer [at] gmail [dot] com, and I'll respond ASAP. (P.S. I love speaking to women--it's about the only girl time I get!) If you'd like to see me "in action," I have a few short speaking clips here.

Whatever brings you to "Mother Inferior," I hope you'll kick your shoes off, stay awhile--and come back often. You're welcome here--and you never know just what you'll find!

An Open Apology Letter (from a Working Mom)

Dear vacuum, broom, and dust pan: I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you. After working all day, you’re about as attractive as Newt Gingrich in a Speedo.

To my girlfriends: I do want to get together. I’m not just saying that. During the day, I’m distracted by disbursement authorizations. At night, I’m surrounded by fart jokes (the perils of living with boys). I could REALLY use a night on the town. But by the time I think about calling you, my eyelids are heavy. And Portlandia is on.

I’m just being honest.

To my pastor, you’re a brilliant man. Seriously. My dozing off in the middle of your Sunday sermon is not indicative that your delivery is lackluster or your content boring. I’m just. So. Tired.

 To yoga, walking, and other exercises I once performed regularly periodically: I will come back. I promise. For now, I’m taking the stairs, parking further from work, and doing “Just Dance 3” with my sons.

To my long-distance friends and family: I love you, I really do. But if you’re not on FB, I probably won’t be in contact. It’s not ideal, but then, neither is Facebook.

 And to my fellow working moms: I’m appalled that I ever questioned your commitment to our sons’ school. Why did I look down on you because you couldn’t make it to the Groundhog Day party? Never again.

I now know what I didn’t know before: that you’re doing the best you can, in the midst of a crazy-busy life. And you most likely want to be a driver on a field trip. But you also want to keep the job that help pay for the field trip...and lunches...and raffles...ad nauseum.

Finally, to my hobbies: I remember our time together with fondness. God knows, I spent plenty of money purchasing necessities like mini paper cutters, industrial-strength adhesive, and pacifier-shaped “punches” when my firstborn was a toddler. Since then, however, your appeal has faded.

The choice is clear, and I’m sorry to be so blunt, but I side with sleep, reading, and spending time with my family members.

And for that, I make no apologies.

YES!

Just a quick note to report that I recently received some very good news. And in the business of writing, which is full of "NO's", I've learned to celebrate the emails and phone calls that contain a "YES."  :)

So I'm excited to report that one of my posts--which originally appeared on this blog and was reprinted at The High Calling, an online magazine about the intersection of faith and work--was chosen as a "Best of 2011"  for THC.

It's especially rewarding for me to have this post honored, because it deals with the refugee assistance work we do at CFS.  As for THC, I love the quality and variety of writing on the site, and feel completely honored and humbled to be a part of a year-end roundup.

Here's the link where you can read my article and several others in the "Faith" category:
http://www.thehighcalling.org/faith/best-2011-faith

Be sure and check out the other "Best of" lists, too. There are some really wonderful articles on such diverse topics as depression, exercise, the work of a retailer, teen pregnancy, and marriage.

Here's to a 2012 full of YES-es.