Documentary Movie: God is the Bigger Elvis HBO Documentary Films 2012 Nominee for an Academy Award
Topics: Benedictine Nun, Religion, Hollywood Actress, Connecticut
Dolores Hart was an actress who found quick success in the 1950s after being cast in a movie opposite Elvis Presley. She was cast in other movies after that and was a young and beautiful popular actress at the time. She left it all to move to Bethelhem, Connecticut to become a Benedictine Nun at Regina Laudis Abbey. She has been there for fifty years.
This is an interesting movie which shows the lifestyle and work of these Benedictine Nuns. Why people would leave mainstream society to become a nun is explored yet it is not all peaches and cream as many struggle and question why they are there and if they made the right choice.
Dolores Hart is the central figure in the film and she is now prioress, a top position at the abbey and she seems happy with her life. This is a thought-provoking movie that made me think about the thinking behind a person who chooses to leave mainstream society to live a strict and restrictive lifestyle of service in a religious capacity.
However the most confusing aspect of the story of Dolores Hart was that she was engaged to a man, Don Robinson, and left him to become a nun. Robinson continues to visit her regularly and has never married. He seems to still be in love with her. The two are companions and their relationship boggled my mind and made me feel sad. I wondered why some compromise to be of service to others could not be done while also marrying the man she loved and sharing a life as husband and wife.
This is an interesting film that will make you think. If after watching it you are still curious you can find articles and video interviews by doing a simple internet search with the name Dolores Hart.
This movie is suitable for family viewing in my opinion.
The Power of Connection
This weekend, I was lucky enough to meet up with 6 other mamas, some of their husbands, and 7 of their babies for an amazing weekend of cuteness.
This group of mamas are a diverse, beautiful, supportive bunch of women that I've had the privilege to meet and get to know since I found out that I was pregnant with little man. So, I've been getting to know some of these ladies for almost two years at this point. Having babies that are all within about 1-6ish months apart, we've been able to experience a lot of the new world of being mothers together. The good, the bad, and the ugly, these women have always been ears to listen and words of support and encouragement through many of the great and not-so-great days since little man was born (as with several other wonderful ladies who were not able to make it due to distance or other conflicts).
As a new mama, it has been extremely helpful to me to have a support system. Of course, I have my husband, my parents, my family, and my close friends, but there is something of an unspoken bond to be said of a group of mothers who come together in support of each other and a good baby poop joke or two :) This weekend, several of us ladies traveled quite a distance to make it to the gathering, including one mama who came with not only her toddler, but also her newborn, from hours away.
Thankfully, I have one very close local friend who is part of the mom's group who decided she was in for the ride, so we attempted the trip sans husbands and braved the 5 hours in the car and hotel stay together (which I'll dedicate an entire other post to in a day or so). It was SO great to be able to spend time with her, and actual REAL quality time with her and a few of the other mamas while we were there.
I find that, at times, it is difficult to be able to connect fully with other women and mothers at short play dates, park trips, etc. at times, because you are so focused on making sure your little one is taken care of, that half the time you don't even really get to talk to the other parents. This weekend was a little different of course, because it was somewhat extended in time (my local friend and I stayed overnight two nights), but also because these mamas knew each other and already had connections that this visit sufficed to only strengthen. Even if it were only for short conversations, we were able to really make the effort to better know and support each other this weekend.
If you are a new mother, or are going to be a new mother, I HIGHLY recommend finding a mother's group you are comfortable with and in which you can express your feelings openly. These women above are some of the women I run to with questions or alternately give advice to, and it has been such a helpful part of my path into becoming the mama that I want to be. To all the ladies present this weekend, and all the others who were unable to come, I appreciate you, and I thank you for being in my life.
♥ the naptown organizer
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