Prayers for the First Week of Advent
Excerpt from Advent, A Family Celebration
Advent is a wonderful time of the year. It's a time of baking, gift making, buying, and wrapping. It's a time of expectant waiting, anticipating, and spiritually preparing for the coming of Christ Jesus. Continue »
Thanksgiving All Year Long
Acknowledging God's generosity—and teaching our kids to do the same
Family, football, and food: Thanksgiving is all of these things and more. It's also a perfect opportunity to think about gratitude. Continue »
Parenting Lessons from the Saints
Down-to-Earth Help for Raising Our Children
A few years ago, St. Joseph came into my life in a new way. Not long before, I had taken the plunge from singlehood to married life, jumping into the deep end of the pool by marrying a widower with six children. I was hardly a natural for the role of stepmother (just ask the children!). Continue »
Angels at My Doorstep
Finding True Friendship in a New Town.
When our family moved from Cleveland last year, it was quite a momentous event. My husband and I had never lived anywhere else, but we were forced to relocate so that he could accept a new job. Once the moving truck had been loaded, we said good-bye to our family and friends. Continue »
The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done!
To Get My Kids Talking about School
Parents share the most successful methods they've used to get their kids to talk about school. Continue »
Beyond Fairness
Justice tempered with mercy
Sunday's Gospel must sound familiar to parents who listen to the constant complaint, "It's not fair!" Our kids whine, "I studied hard, but I got only a 'C' on the test." "I went to every soccer practice, but I played for only five minutes in the game." Continue »
Coaching Children to Success
How to give your kids a firm foundation for learning.
Even in my youth, I knew that teaching children is both a calling and a gift and that God was calling me to the teaching profession. Heeding that call, I have spent more than twenty-five years in the classroom, working with students of various ages and abilities. Perhaps some of the lessons I have learned there, as well as from raising a daughter and son, may help other parents to improve their children's academic performance—and to emerge from the often tumultuous school years with sanity intact! Continue »
Who Is in Control?
My 9/11 Moment of Truth
"God has a plan for your life." I have heard the phrase countless times and never really doubted it. In fact, my husband and I have always loved the Scripture passage from Romans 8:28: "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." Continue »
Back-to-School Virtues
Three qualities that help your child succeed in class and in life.
As the new school year begins, parenting magazines, chat rooms, and talk shows come alive with suggestions for success in the schoolroom. There's enthusiasm, and often good advice, for ... Continue »
Sometimes, the first day of school feels more like New Year's Day than the first of January does. Classes are back in session; fall sports, religious ed, and other activities and meetings resume—a new year has begun! It seems like a logical time for making a "back-to-school" resolution. Continue »