Are you enjoying Level 3 book with your family? If you want to extend the catechesis by reading living picture books and chapter books that touch on the story or theme from particular lessons, these are for you!
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Self-discipline is key to success in our endeavors and for our sanity. Particularly in the long haul of motherhood, self-discipline protects priority and peace.
Self-discipline is a habit. In fact, it is the foundation of habit formation. Whole books can and have been written on self-discipline. Here, I would like to look at self-discipline in the life of the homemaker in three areas:
We can stay stuck in our emotions when it comes to self-discipline. Sometimes there’s a lot of shame around the idea.
The Holy Spirit can use our emotions to convict us. He pricks our conscience. But there is a big difference between:
"I notice that when I scroll on my phone right after I wake up instead of praying, I’m much less patient with the kids’ needs."
and
"I’m always cranky with the kids in the morning, the worst mother, and I’m probably just screwing them up."
One thought is the conviction that spurs us to the right action; the other is condemnation that leads us to despair and low-level comfort-seeking.
When we spiral like this, we tend to focus more on the circumstances rather than our interior lives.
But the heart is precisely where we must begin.
Whatever your external circumstances, the Lord sees the heart. This is paramount in the life of the mother because our seasons shift often and dramatically. Self-discipline in one season will look different from self-discipline in another.
We must be more attached to Jesus than our schedules.
We must listen to His voice over self-condemnation.
We must ask Him to cast the vision for self-discipline in this season rather than the latest Reel promising to enhance our morning routine. Resources can help, but not more than the Holy Spirit.
If our goals for self-discipline are not a fruit of prayer we will likely end up defeated or self-reliant.
So before we address any other areas, we should ask the Lord for His wisdom and vision for this season of our lives.
And if we want to grow in self-discipline, let’s ask Him for help!
As we allow the Lord to transform our hearts and clarify our vision, He is going to give us opportunities to practice! After all, we grow in virtue by doing things consistently and intentionally.
Once the Holy Spirit has shown you how to grow in self-discipline this particular season, focus your energy there. We all-or-nothing types often hear the Holy Spirit’s marching order for one step forward, then go blazing into the full battlefield.
The exercise of the will is an interesting point of reflection for the stay-at-home or homeschooling mom. We have a lot of freedom. We set the schedule. We make the appointments. We discern levels of involvement. We are the CEO, the manager, the cook, and the janitor.
This freedom is so good. It is partly why homemakers have a particular duty to preserve leisure in our culture (but that’s another email for another time).
This freedom also presents unique considerations. After all, if we make the schedule and the rules, then we can say there is no schedule and there are no rules, right?
A piece of our self-discipline as homemakers is identifying the priorities of this season and being sure we steward our time and energy well.
How do we do that? Let’s look at some practical ideas.
I mentioned it above, but a significant step in self-discipline is getting very clear about your priorities.
The Lord has been teaching me about this a lot this summer. He has given me my assignment in this season. When I cease hemming and hawing about it, looking to my right and left, I have much more peace.
It is worth taking this to deep, extensive prayer. It is worth sitting down with our spouses and reviewing the priorities of the season. And it is worth structuring our lives around the assignment.
Boundaries look different for different people, personality types, needs, seasons, and vocations. But they are important!
Once we have identified our priorities, it might be necessary to put some boundaries in place to ensure those priorities are nurtured as needed.
For example, one boundary I have set this year is protecting our school time in ways I have not done in the past. Unless otherwise impossible, I am not scheduling kids’ appointments during our blocked school times. I’m not taking meetings. I place my phone on “Do Not Disturb" and put it away.
Notice that this is a boundary I’ve set for myself. No one is demanding that I have a dentist appointment at 9 a.m. or that I answer their text message immediately. But I know myself well enough to recognize this is a necessary boundary to protect the priority.
It requires self-discipline to make a plan and set boundaries, and it requires self-discipline when it all goes to pot.
As mothers, we must be flexible because there will be hiccups. Things will regularly not go according to plan. Ideals are often massacred by toddlers and teenagers.
These are further opportunities to exercise self-discipline. We get to discipline our minds. How will we respond? Will we throw up our hands in resentful surrender (I have no idea what that’s about. Never done that before.)? Or will we face pivots with fortitude, doing the best we can and giving the rest to God?
The last point I’ll make on the topic of self-discipline for mothers is that we must accept the Lord’s grace and realize that we are in a marathon.
Sometimes self-discipline looks like true self-care. Maybe it’s going to bed earlier instead of watching one more episode so you’re better rested. Maybe it’s taking a walk outside or reading a book instead of checking Facebook. Maybe it’s making time for dedicated prayer. Maybe it’s eating an actual breakfast so you’re fueled for the day.
Remember, the motive of self-discipline must not be self-hatred. We can honor God by stewarding well the bodies, souls, and minds He gave us.
We want to be able to serve Him well for as long as He has us in this field.
In our desire and effort to grow in self-discipline, our aim is to give glory to God and to allow Him to make us saints. This is simply not possible apart from grace and the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
So once again, I entreat us all to pray. It is the font and fruit of self-discipline.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. We are all always students at the feet of the Teacher! Comment below!
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The term "morning basket" has been tossed around in homeschool circles for a couple of decades now. It has spread like wildfire (for good reason) and is not only reserved for homeschooling families.
Because of its increased popularity, it has become somewhat of an enigma. Assembling a morning basket can feel overwhelming because what if I don't do it right?
I'm here to release you from that pressure... There is no singular "right" way.
When it comes to creating a morning basket for your children, the main goal is to spread a feast of truth, beauty, and goodness.
If you're already implementing The Daily Feast, then your morning basket is already, like, 85% filled.
Our morning basket usually consists of the elements of The Daily Feast plus some poetry and a few picture books.
While you get to make the rules about your morning basket, it's helpful to have a few loose principles to build upon:
Same idea, but for you.
A mother's morning basket is meant to fill her soul and mind with truth, beauty, and goodness.
For many years, my mother's morning basket has been an anchor in my day. It affords me a moment to tend to my own soul and interests so that I can be poured out for my family—not by my own power, but His.
The same loose principles of a morning basket for your kids apply to a morning basket for yourself. The focus is prayer and beauty, you don't have to "do it all" every single day, you don't have to use a literal basket, and you can do it at any time of the day*.
Your mother's morning basket will likely shift according to seasons (both literal and metaphorical). You may be able to enjoy it before the kids wake each day or amongst their happy interruptions.
*I prefer the morning because I desperately need communion with Him first thing. A few months ago, some friends and I discussed our desire to include a "mother's night basket" in addition to our morning baskets. I have been doing this, and it has been a peaceful way to end my days! My night basket is much more abbreviated and includes night prayer, an examen, poetry (sometimes), and a novel. Also, this is not yet as firm a habit as my morning basket because many nights I fall into bed face-down and expired.
So what should we include in our mother's morning baskets?! This is the fun part! Again, you make the rules. But I'm happy to offer some suggestions based on what has been particularly helpful to me over the years.
Remember, you can include any, all, or none of these. And you don't have to partake in what you include every day. This is meant to bless you, not burden you!
This isn't necessarily tangible, but it's the cornerstone of my morning basket.
Each morning, I sleepily crawl into the lap of the Father, ask the Son to "give me a drink", and voice my dependency upon the Holy Spirit. I wake up like a child.
Additionally, many moms use this as a time to pray their rosary or other devotional prayers.
God's Word has proven to be a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. I am a beggar before the Lord, and He continuously feeds me with His Word and His Body in the Eucharist.
Reading Sacred Scripture—most often via the daily readings for Holy Mass—is the top priority of my morning basket.
When it comes to Bibles, I recommend the NRSVCE translation. I use this one. If you prefer a journaling Bible, I like this one.
I like to keep some sort of paper journal in my morning basket to jot down prayers or verses.
Do you have a prayer book you love? Keep it tucked in your morning basket and refer to it as needed or prompted.
For example, the Pieta prayer book is magnificent.
Is there a devotional you're praying through, particularly during Advent or Lent? Are you in the middle of a consecration? These are great additions to the morning basket!
My morning basket also includes whatever spiritual book I'm currently reading. You can see some of my favorites here.
Poetry is not currently a part of my morning basket, but what a lovely way to rouse to the day! I have this collection of nature poems that I read with my kids, but my girlfriends love the daily version and the night version for themselves!
Under this category falls anything lovely but not necessarily religious.
Think food or design magazines, coffee table books, cookbooks, art collections, nature journals, homemaking resources, etc.
What lifts your heart and inspires you for the tasks you are about to undertake? What inspires you to live a life worthy of the call you have received?
Tuck these in your morning basket and take delight!
Finally, I include any non-fiction (but not spiritual) reading I'm tending to at the time. Books about homeschooling, homemaking, homesteading, health, historical figures, parenting, marriage, work, relationships, etc. fall into this category.
It bears repeating: not all of this is to be done every single day! We would likely be neglecting the duties of our vocation if we spent three hours in prayer and reading every single morning. Don't be afraid to just start! Nothing is a failure when offered to the Lord in humility, trust, and love!
Once you have determined when would be a great and realistic time for your morning basket, put it on your actual schedule in your actual planner. It makes a difference!
Then, set the space. Choose where the contents of your morning basket will reside. Choose where you will sit.
How can you make this space more conducive to prayer?
Can you drape a blanket across the chair to invite you into rest with Christ? Can you hang a crucifix, icon, or other holy image nearby so you can contemplate it during your prayer?
Consider obtaining a candle that is just reserved for your morning basket time. I like these clean ones and these Catholic ones (use code ITD15 for 15% off).
The night before, set out a favorite mug (perhaps one from Into the Deep... perhaps this is a hint?) to fill with rejuvenating coffee or steeping tea before you begin.
I keep these highlighters and a good pen on hand for emphasizing and taking notes.
Curious about what's in my mother's morning basket right now? Here's my lineup:
You can see them all here, too.
The demands of our vocation are blessed and many, and the Lord does not ask us to do them apart from His grace. It is worthwhile to dwell with Him in the mornings. He is waiting to meet us in prayer. He longs to fill us with His love and delight, even in seasons of dryness.
Let us, then, make a point to come to Him. Let us not rely on our own limited strength but on His endless power.
Let us give our families the gift of a mother filled with beauty, wonder, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us make time for what fills us up so we can be poured out another day.
I'm so eager to know what you think about a mother's morning basket. Totally lame? Overwhelming? Thrilling? And if you already have some version of a Mother's morning basket, I'd love to know what's included in yours!
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August is upon us, which means it is nearly time to begin another school year in our home. I have been in planning prep for a couple of months (I take it slow!) and I'm happy to share our booklists with you here!
My planning process typically follows three movements:
First, I'll share our booklists. Then, I'll share a loose idea of our rhythm!
My oldest kids are entering the 4th and 1st grades, and my youngest two are 3 years and ten months old.
While each child does their own level of phonics, math, copywork, and logic, most of our subjects are done family style in a loop rotation (more on that later). This fits our family best in this season and we all really enjoy this setup.
My three-year-old will not do any formal preschool work; however, he likes feeling "big" and has asked for his own school work this year. I've picked up A is for Art to go through with him as interest dictates.
My main priority each morning is to snuggle him and read picture books to fill his cup before our school day begins.
***Unless otherwise linked, all books can be found on this Amazon list!***
Like I mentioned, we have family subjects and individual subjects. Only the older two have individual work. These children have different learning styles, so we use different resources for each.
Our Morning Time will consist of The Daily Feast + any memory work (like poetry, Mass parts, and longer dictations for my oldest).
P.S. already using my Daily Feast notepad and it's a game changer for organization!
We will also do our fun read alouds during this time. I don't have a final list yet, but I've shared some definites in the Amazon shop!
We will be using Into the Deep Level Two this year, taking pauses to do the picture studies on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary during Advent, the Luminous + Sorrowful during Lent, and the Glorious during Easter.
We used The Story of the World last year and it was a family favorite all around! We are moving to Volume 2 this year. I use the student guide for extra reading, map work, and projects.
Additionally, I'll be reading one story each week from American Tall Tales so they have a touch point with their national history.
We use the geography prompts in the SOTW above.
I'll also pepper in Charlotte Mason's Elementary Geography.
It's a water year for us! I'll be using Among the Pond People in the fall semester and Ocean Anatomy and Watercolor with Me in the spring.
I picked up The Good and the Beautiful's Wind + Waves. We used their Little Hearts and Hands last year and it was a great resource to have on hand for days when I needed extra support (like when a kid was sick or the baby didn't sleep). Excited to have that in my back pocket again this year.
My fave! Well, alongside catechesis and history.
We will ease into the first semester by revisiting A.A. Milne's When We Were Very Young. Aligned with our history studies, we will also read some Norse Myths!
In the second semester, we will read a couple of Shakespeare plays (the kids have loved these—not yet sure if we will revisit old favorites, read new, or a combination of both).
Our main focus this spring semester will be fairy tales. I've snagged some fairy tale picture books from Will Moses, and I have a couple of collections here at home I will pull from. (A note on finding books on fairy tales: be sure they are the original text, not adaptations!)
I have some perfectionistic students (no idea where they got that 😬), so we are working on growth mindset with Mistakes that Worked.
We will also be reading through A Book of Golden Deeds.
In the spring semester, we will revisit Connoisseur Kids. We used it this year and it was a roaring success, so the kids want to go through it again!
Each year, we study two artists. In the fall we will study Van Eyck and use the picture studies from Simply Charlotte Mason.
In the spring, we will deep dive Michelangelo. I'm pumped. We will use SCM's picture studies, along with The Stone Giant, Michelangelo for Kids, Mike Venezia's Michelangelo, and a giant coffee table book of his complete works.
As with the artists, I select two composers to study each year. In the fall, we will study Handel and, in the spring, Paganini.
I'm an Opal Wheeler fan girl, so I just use her books. Mike Venezia has a book on Handel, too, so we will use that as well.
I don't stress about this much yet. My energy is focused more on reading fluency at this stage and, with a toddler and baby, I don't have much overflow to devote to foreign language.
I have Prima Latina and we will use those DVDs each week in "car school" when we drive a small distance to pick up our farm food and dairy.
Our family functions best with a rhythm rather than a strict schedule. But we typically begin around 9 a.m. (this gives us time for personal prayer, breakfast, morning chores, and getting ready).
Typically, we school Monday-Thursday, as Fridays are set aside for errands, Mass, and cleaning.
With that, here are the family subjects we will loop throughout the week:
Like I mentioned, all of this will be tested by actually living it, and we will adjust as needed!
I always enjoy reading other people's homeschool plans, so I hope this has brought you some entertainment and solidarity! God bless your new school year!
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Memorization in catechesis can be a surprisingly divisive topic. I can understand why.
Some people have childhood scars from being required to recite long prayers in Latin in front of a class, perhaps being physically reprimanded upon a mistake.
Others grew up post-pendulum swing, and were hardly required to memorize anything about the Faith beyond the Hail Mary (and whatever else they needed to pass the multiple choice tests).
The former tend to shun memorization and a question/answer format for learning the Faith because they don’t want their children to suffer the same empty talk and humiliation.
The latter tend to crave the unrelenting presence of Truth that fills one’s brain when memorizing and place highest priority on knowing the details of the doctrine, period.
So what are we to do?
The Church, per usual, offers a both/and approach.
"The blossoms—if we may call them that—of faith and piety do not grow in the desert places of a memoryless catechesis" (Catechesi Tredendae 55).
We must memorize. We were made to memorize—even brain science reveals that.
But we aren’t meant to memorize for its own sake.
Memorization is meant to lead to transformation.
What we commit to memory about the Faith should compel us to commit our lives to it.
That’s why, here at Into the Deep, we emphasize meaningful memorization.
We want our kids to memorize Scripture so that, when they face giants throughout their lives, they’ll have an arsenal of the Living Word at the ready for spiritual battle.
We want our kids to memorize doctrine so that their consciences are well-formed and they’re trained to choose the good.
We want our kids to memorize prayers so that, when words fail them, they fall back on the words that were whispered over them as children.
We wants our kids to memorize truths about the Faith so that their brain and heart pathways lead them to the One Who created them.
"What is essential is that texts that are memorized must at the same time be taken in and gradually understood in depth, in order to become a source of Christian life on the personal level and on the community level" (Catechesi Tredendae 55).
Memorization is key and, when done with depth and intention, waters the blooms of devotion.
What has been your experience with memorization in catechesis? How has that colored your approach to memorizing the Faith with your own kids?
“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.”
- Charlotte Mason
Order is something we all strive to have in our lives. It makes the world go ‘round and helps create a sense of security throughout childhood and adulthood.
Maintaining a smooth, rhythmic schedule aids your child in more ways than you can count. Having a rhythmic home life is good for the body, but having a rhythmic liturgical life is good for the soul.
The Faith isn't simply meant to be learned; it's meant to be lived. Things such as reading about the lives of Saints and understanding the seasons of the Church can be done during any time of day, not only during religion class. Leaning on the liturgical year provides a structure in your children's lives that can accompany them into adulthood.
An impactful way to help children as the next generation of Catholics is having structure built within their spiritual life. Helping your child increase attentiveness to their faith will aid them in growing long-lasting habits in their love for the Church and the Lord.
Reading the Bible as a family, attending Mass every Sunday, and praying the rosary are great ways to have a lasting impact. A good liturgical option is to keep up with Saints’ feast days. There is a feast every day and there are multiple ways to celebrate. Reading a summary and then praying to the Saints daily is a fun and mindful way to keep up with the liturgical year.
Another great option is considering a liturgical planner for your child. A planner is used to organize the day to day events. Your child can not only keep track of the upcoming week, but also see different religious feast days and holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.
The Catholic liturgical year organizes the Church's celebrations and events, providing a structure for worship and reflection. Having a religious structure encourages orderliness in the soul. Order is physical as well as mental. Following the ebb and flow of fasting and feasting within the liturgical year is a physical reminder of the liturgical year.
For example, let's say that, at the beginning of the week, you fill out your planner. You include things like events, birthdays, work schedule, weekend plans, etc. A liturgical planner works the same way as a normal planner, but it has Catholicism filtered into its pages. What a fun way to help your child grow in their faith!
Living the liturgical year allows us to remember the life and teachings of Jesus and to deepen faith through various liturgical seasons and feasts. Remembering the Saints that have lived out the faith serves as an inspiration for Catholics. Contemplating the faith daily helps with spiritual growth.
The liturgical year helps to create a sense of unity and community among Catholics worldwide. Community is something we as humans need. We usually look for people that we can relate to, sympathize with, similar beliefs, etc. Connecting with other Catholics over your love of the Faith is amazing!
What’s a fun, immersive way to help your child grow in the faith? Consider purchasing our newest product, the Student Liturgical Planner! This is a great option to encourage orderliness and structure in your child's school and home life.
Keeping track of events such as sports practices, play-dates, to-do list on chore day can all be done in this planner. Throw in the liturgical year filtered into the calendar and you have the perfectly-curated Catholic Student Planner.
What are some of your favorite ways to build your child's life on the liturgical year? Give us some ideas in the comments below!
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Every mom out there is familiar with occasional chaos. It is inevitable in life, and you can’t just stop life from happening. You can, however, make small but life-altering changes that will have a positive impact on you and your children.
Order is a virtue that we can practice and help our kids practice now, both for the benefit of our homes and for their benefit as adults.
"When you keep your life in order, your time will multiply, and therefore you will be able to give greater glory to God, working more eagerly in his service.” -Saint Josemaria Escriva
Ordering our external environments aids in ordering the internal environment of our souls and minds. An underlying virtue in the exercise of order is discipline. Establishing order is one thing, but maintaining order requires self-discipline so that order remains once the motivation wanes. If you have a prayer life, then you understand well the importance of discipline!Order is something that we all wish to achieve, but we can view it as more of a dream than a reality. By practicing simple cleanliness as a family, you are nurturing a lifelong habit they they will continue to utilize in adulthood and in the workplace, as well as their personal life.
Just as you take your child to Mass for a well-ordered soul, they must learn to keep their space clean for a well-ordered existence.
Being initiated into the life of Christ through the sacraments is the great gift we can give our children. It is our charge to model a sacramental life for them, witnessing to the grace, peace, and joy found in this kind of union with Christ and His Church.
Wonderfully, we also have a building treasure trove of Catholic picture and chapter books to help form their understanding and love of the Seven Sacraments!
Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan
Light of the Sacraments by Cory Heimann
Jesus Speaks to Me about My Baptism by Angela Burrin
Chosen by Jenna Guizar
The Soldier of Christ by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)
Home for Good by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)
Jesus Speaks to Me on My First Holy Communion by Angela M. Burrin
Jesus Speaks to Me about the Mass by Angela M. Burrin
The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman
Jesus and the Miracle of the Mass by Gracie Jagla
The Weight of a Mass by Josephine Nobisso
Receiving Jesus for Little Ones by Kimberly Fries
The Treasure of Saint Tarcisius: Hero of the Eucharist by Caroline McDonald
First Communion by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)
The King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)
Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids by Kathryn Griffin Swegart (chapter book)
Jesus Speaks to Me about Confession by Angela M. Burrin
Peter and Jesus by a Charcoal Fire by Maura Roan McKeegan
First Confession by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)
One Holy Marriage by Katie Warner
Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass by Katie Warner
Jack Giorgio: Future Priest by Katie Warner
What books would you add to the list?!
The Virgin Mary is loved by all, young and old alike! Each of these picture books is all about our Lady; it will delight your children. Check out below for our Picture Books about Mary!
This book contains fifteen stories featuring our Lady, from childhood to her glorious Assumption into Heaven.
Take It to the Queen is a beautiful picture book, rich in allegorical references; we truly can take anything to our Mother in Heaven.
Written by Brian Wildsmith, this book chronicles the life of Our Lady from her Immaculate Conception to her glorious Assumption.
In The Life of Mary, Biffi walks us through the life of Mary accompanied by gorgeous illustrations that bring each event to life.
Both adults and children will delight in this discovery of various botanicals that represent the mysteries of Mary's life and how she points us to Jesus.
To help us learn about Our Lady, DeStefano walks us through her different "outfits" as she has lived and appeared throughout the centuries. This book is perfect for the month in which we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Fatima!
A collection of stories set in Texas, this book follows the mysterious 'blue lady'.
Our Lady of Guadalupe follows the beloved story of Juan Diego and details his deep love for our Heavenly Mother.
This is a great option if you want a good Marian board book for your little ones!
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The stories of the Saints engage our children's imagination and invite them to go on their own faith journey with Christ. Here is a list of our favorite picture books about the Saints.
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