What does "preside" mean, anyway?

preside-be in a position of authority in a meeting or gathering; be in charge of a place or situation. -Oxford American Dictionary

“...fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness...Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” -The Family: A Proclamation to the World

So what does it mean to preside in a family? According to the dictionary, it means being in charge. According to LDS doctrine it means…being equal partners? This doesn’t really work with the dictionary definition. Maybe we need a new word (or a new dictionary). If anyone wears the pants in an LDS family, it’s not usually the husband (just an observation). There seems to be a lot of teachings and opinions on the matter but none of it really makes it clear to me exactly what “presiding” means. So, I am taught that I have a divine responsibility to preside in our home. What do I do that my wife doesn’t? If we both are equal partners, are we not both presiding? Is the word “preside” just a word without much practical application in the home? I see how it has application in an organization or church or business, but not really in the family. I’m open to ideas, but I’m sort of leaning to the opinion that the word is not significant in practical family life when a married couple acts as “equal partners.” What do you think?

They always get you

Thinking I was real clever, I applied for a Discover card so I could get 1% back on my massive tuition bills. Hah. What a joke. The dubiously "independent" service that the school uses just so happens to charge 2.75% to use a card for tuition payments. Hah. So with a 6k tuition bill this semester, I would get back $60, and then have to pay $180 for the service charge. What a deal. At the U. they charged a whopping $1 or something to use a card.

Prajna Through Reading

I light of my yen for reading (and my new discovery of libraries), I have made (yet another! Sheesh sw this is really getting out of hand!) a page with very very small book reviews and/or thoughts on what I've (and anyone else, if the want to participate!) most recently read. PLEASE DON'T feel obligated to look at it. It's mostly for me but if you're ever curious or want my obnoxiously blinkered opinion on something good to read you can check it out.

Good Books

I just finished Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five (I loved it) and have suddenly been overwhelmed by the desire to read more great books. So, if you would be so kind, I would appreciate it if you would leave me the title of one of your favorite books (preferebly a classic but anything is ok). Thanks!

Chinese Restaurant, August 3rd

The overweight man in overalls (and a slightly intrusive nude Betty Boop tattoo on his arm) says to the young parents that his son is 26, and that things will change once the baby starts crawling.

Some women at another table debate the pronunciation of "Tsao's". They can't decide if it's 'chows' or 'dows' or 'tsaous'.

Just before leaving a lady tells her husband that she has to see the baby, and the young parents show him off yet again. He draws a lot of attention, which the introverted couple is not used to. The lady wants to see him smile.

A mother ponders something illustrative of American prosperity: "I can't decide if I want crispy or soft noodles with my chow mein." She orders the crispy noodles, but says it was a hard decision.

A father grows impatient, as the check has not come yet. He says to his wife that the tip is getting smaller by the minute. Some of this is due to his impatience, some of it due to his newfound frugality as a working father/student not living next door to his parents anymore.

The fortune cookies come (and the check). One of them reads, "You will receive helpful information."

A women who just came in says that the baby is cute, and guesses that he is 3 months old. Actually he is 3.9 months.