by Olivia Spears
Cultivating the Virtue of Order in Our Homes
Order is a virtue that we can practice as a family at Home, both for the benefit of our children and for their benefit as adults. But how can we start? Here are some tips!
by Into the Deep
Help! My Kids are Bored at Mass!
Bringing kids to Mass is often a sacrifice of praise in and of itself. Even when tantrums and bathroom breaks are avoided, there's the threat of "boredom." Children have a relatively short attention span as it is, but when theyâre bored⌠Prepare for the whispering, âAre we almost done?â  to repeat steadily until the end of Mass. This is natural and understandable. It also offers us an opportunity to train their attention, patience, and understanding of the importance of being at Mass (even when we're bored).
by Into the Deep
Reclaiming the Sabbath as a Family
It's the third commandmentâthe final one pertaining to our love of God. Keeping holy the sabbath is doable when it comes to getting to Mass on Sundays. But the rest that God commands on the sabbath for our benefit? Not so easy to attain, especially in family life.
by Into the Deep
What We Use for First Communion Prep
Preparing for First Communion is a beautiful experience for children and parents alike. Many children will receive their first Communions this spring and early summer, so naturally, preparation is on our minds. We want them to have a memorable encounter with the Eucharist. We want to do our partâinasmuch as we canâto prepare them for this intimacy with Jesus.
by Olivia Spears
How to Prayerfully Plan Your School Year
Truly, there is something exciting about preparing for and planning a new school year. It's a new start, and, hopefully, the break has given us new perspective and renewed interest and vigor.
by Olivia Spears
Memorizing Scripture with Your Kids (Why + Where to Start)
Just as we sit around the campfire and tell stories we have heard and memorized, we can do the same with Scripture! Just as one would recite a poem or story aloud, we should be able to recite God's Word. We memorize the multiplication tables, simple addition problems, and the metrics system. Wouldn't it make sense then, as Catholics, to include Scripture memorization with the other things we encourage our children to commit to memory?Â
by Olivia Spears
When the Baby *is* the Catechesis
In these moments I am tempted toward frustration or discouragement, the needs I believe bumping up against the needs I perceive. Babies (and toddlers) are a blessing that bring with them enormous joy... and interruption. If you have older children in the home, these interruptions can seem to be an obstacle to your efforts to teach and instruct the older child(ren).