A Crash Course in Loving: Barbara Mahany

Barbara Mahany writes, “Mothering was my crash course in love. Love of the sort I call Divine. Love in the way we yearn to be loved: Without end. Without question. Without giving in to exhaustion. Love with a big and boundless heart. Love with eyes and ears—and soul—wide open. Love even when it’s not so easy.”

Host David Dault speaks to Manahy about her new book, Motherprayer: Lessons in Loving. In this far-ranging and frank interview, Mahany generously shares her own personal stories on the mysteries and gifts of mothering. We talk about why the book is interspersed with family recipes and notes from bird-watching.  Through exploring the structure of the book, we discover how Mahany has stitched the pieces together, to offer beautiful lessons in how to love, and how to love well.

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In her bracingly honest style, Mahany captures the ephemeral moments of motherhood—the hard, the glorious, the laughter, and the tears—and invites readers to pay attention, cradle our loved ones in prayer, and see the sacred lessons in loving.

We also spoke to Mahany about her earlier book, Slowing Time. You can listen to that interview here.

From the front pages of The Chicago Tribune to her revered page-two columns, Barbara Mahany has opened her heart and told her stories and the stories of her family’s life that have drawn in thousands of readers for decades. Bracingly honest and heartachingly daring, she explores the sacred mysteries with a voice recognizable and clear. Barbara is a sought-after speaker, retreat leader, writing teacher, and author of Motherprayer and Slowing Time. She lives with her husband, Blair Kamin, and two sons in Wilmette, Illinois