Adolescence
What Can I Expect?
Authoritative parents expect that their children will contribute to the well-being of the family by taking on the responsibility of certain family responsibilities. Three areas of basic life skills which should be expected are: cleaning a house and keeping it that way, planning/selecting and preparing healthy meals, budget and making appropriate purchases. Expecting a child…
Read MoreMaking Sense of the Gender Debate
Download the PDF There are two things that really frustrate me: being confused and not being told the truth. That is why the culture’s campaign on gender is difficult for me to understand. Can you relate? The term gender confuses many people because it used to mean the same thing as “male” or “female” (a biological reality).…
Read MoreRaising Catholic Kids who Live the Virtues
A key element of Catholic parenting is to parent in a way that seeks to shape the heart of your child, not just manage their behavior. A great way to accomplish shaping your child’s heart is to offer opportunities to grow in virtue. Unfortunately we don’t hear much about virtues anymore. We hear more about…
Read MoreSetting Expectations of Goodness within your Family
One of the main tasks of good Catholic parents is to set high expectations for their children. This is often done by setting basic expectations within the life of the family. But part of being the “primary educators” of our children is also to set expectations that the young people under our care grow in virtue and build their character.
Read MoreEveryone Fails. What You Can Do About It.
Children have free will, just as we do. They are also fallen human beings, just like we are. While frustration is natural, parents can also see an opportunity to exercise Christlike love. This article explores what parents should do when their children fail to meet the expectations parents set for them. What do we do when our children choose what is harmful, what is wrong, and even what is hurtful to others?
Read MoreWaste Time with Your Kids
On October 27th, 2015, Pope Francis sent out a challenge to parents across the globe. His simple and direct tweet said: Parents, can you “waste time” with your children? It is one of the most important things you can do each day.
Read MoreConnect With Your Family All Year Long
We can connect to each other as a family (a “community of persons”) in any circumstance. in fact, the formula for an authoritative family: high demands and high levels of response (love and presence) can also lead to a greater connection as a family in any season and in any circumstance.
Read MoreTasks of the Family
Becoming a family means that you, as the parent, will lead your family towards the completion of a Godly mission. This mission comes from the document Familiaris Consortio (On the Role of the Family in the Modern World) which was written by Pope John Paul II. In his writings, the Pope identified four main tasks…
Read MoreSet a Firm Foundation in the New Year
The new year has begun and with it a new decade. Take just a moment to think back over the past ten years. Reflect upon this question. What has changed in your life since 2010? You may have married and started a family. You might have changed employment or the place you reside. Perhaps you experienced something life–altering that either caused you great joy or pain.
True Joy Comes from Self-Control and Striving
Download the PDF Where do your children find joy? I teach at a Catholic school whose motto is “Joyfully Catholic.” Students will sometimes claim that we are not living up to our motto because we hold high standards for them. We give our students homework and expect them to complete it. We expect them to…
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