Catholicism in our homes

A few months back I wanted to find out how you amazing moms incorporate Catholicism into your daily lives. I got a great response and wanted to share it here. Bringing Catholicism to the front lines of the family isn't always easy amidst sports events, school requirements, and basic life. But regardless we all know how crucial it is to immerse our kiddos in the faith, now. Check out these great ideas from other moms just like you and implement them into your own lives!

If you would like to contribute any additional ways just blog me and I will post those as well! Thanks!

Sharon from ‘The Birds Nest’ shares:

- Our main way of spreading the Catholic tradition to our kids is in our everyday life.
- In our home we have a crucifix hung in each room.
- They have Catholic children's books. They have a kids' rosary. They see us pray the rosary. - We pray grace before each meal, and attend Mass together (usually ;).
- I am taking my boys to Living Stations for the 1st time.
- My oldest will also be attending out parish school in the fall.I like that because he will gain more friends of the same faith.
- That's probably my biggest thing: surrounding them with other Catholics. Not that it's the ONLY type of people we interact with. But we do have some good Catholic friends in the area, and it's good for our boys to see other kids doing the same thing.

NP from "Coffee Stained Mama" shares:

- We're expecting our first in August, and I've already been thinking about how to share our faith with him. I've been looking online and in Catholic catalogs for good Catholic toys and things, he'll have a Crucifix in his nursery (along with a statue of the Holy Family).
- I think, at least at first, it'll be us living our faith. My husband and I pray together before bed every night, so when Wyatt comes along, we'll make sure he's there, as well, from the very beginning. We attend Mass on the weekends (always together), so when Wyatt is born, he'll be there, too.
- As he gets older, we'll have other ways of incorporating our faith into his life (praying the Rosary as a family, studying Scripture and saints together, etc.), but for now, I think the strongest testimony of our faith will be walking the walk.

Ellen from Thrifty and Chic Mom shares:

- I love the kids CD I have by 'The Rennas' it is Catholic music and we often start the day with the song "Good morning Jesus",
- We color religious pages I print out such as saints.
- Another thing is family bedtime prayers.
- These are just a few simple ones but that book you got is full of great suggestions that I use too.

Andrea from "Momma In Flip Flops 2" shares:

- A lot comes from my FAMILIA which is awesome. I have a 3.5 and a 1.5 year old and a baby on the way.A Few Things We Do! -Prayers before bedtime. 3.5 y/o Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be with intentions. He knows all three now. 1.5 y/o just a simple Sign of the Cross and Thank you Jesus! She's close to knowing her Sign of the Cross.-Catholic Saints Videos (excellent for 3.5 y/o)
- Prayer before Meals Always.
-A great Children's Rosary DVD (I can get you the exact name) both kids LOVE it.
-Simple prayer books, just bought a Find the Saints Book. More Catholic books in the home the better.
-Rosaries to play with.
-Saying a prayer with them when hearing an ambulance or for daddy at work, various times throughout the day.
-Children's Adoration once a month.
-Coloring books!

I shared:

- I just bought 'The Big Book of Catholic Customs and Traditions'. (Review to come soon!) This book provides different activities for teachers or moms to do with their kiddos.
- We do a Rosary playgroup on Fridays. My little one gets to have a playdate and I get to pray the rosary with my girlfriends. The kids definitely get loud during the rosary but I am sure Mother Mary is smiling down on us.
- Holy Baby DVD's! Love them! (Another Holy Baby DVD giveaway to come soon!) They are Catholic DVD's that provide music, mass parts and so much more for your child.

Keeping it Catholic.org

Although I only have a two year old I am already beginning to investigate the different options for her schooling. I was the product of a Catholic grade school, high school, and college. My first home school exposure was when I was 18 years old and my first college roommate told me she was the product of Catholic home schooling! I was amazed!

So the first thing I did when I found this web site was bookmark it! It is a fantastic resource for all those even thinking about Catholic home schooling!

Keeping it Catholic is a website devoted to keeping a home schooling program Catholic.

Keeping It Catholic is an international network of homeschooling parents, theologians, priests and laymen, chaplains and directors of Catholic home study programs, and many Catholic publishers.

Keeping It Catholic refers constantly to the Church's timeless teachings on marriage and the procreation and education of children.

Keeping It Catholic supplies national updates on Catholic homeschool issues, articles, reviews and almost 200 pages of information pertinent to Catholic family life and homeschooling.

Keeping It Catholic is an aid for the mom who wants to home school and is trying to ensure that the program is 100% Catholic.

The site is pretty easy to navigate and truly offers a lot of resources for home schoolers.

Check it out!

Look it's Jesus

As my second child begins to get older the task of teaching her about her faith is becoming more real. Hera are a few things I learned while teaching my older daughter about the faith.

1. Do not point to a crucifix at the front of church and say "look it's Jesus" during mass, your child will think the priest is Jesus from then on.

2. Try to distinguish between a priests clothes and dresses or your child will tell the priest how pretty they look in their dress.

3.Calling a priest Father can be very confusing so sometimes it is best to stick with Priest or Father so and so using their name specifically.

4. Try not to sit close to the Holy Water it is way too strong a temptation for kids to play in it during mass.

5. Explaining the mass is good, doing it during mass will bring on a never ending stream of questions.

What words of wisdom do you have from teaching your kids the faith?

Parenting by the Book

'Parenting by the Book' by John Rosemond has been a God send in our home! Dr. Rosemond is an "anti-psycho-babble" psychologist who has written a book based on Scriptural parenting. How cool is that? I have been devouring the book late at night after Liv is asleep and cannot put it down.

I love Dr. Rosemond's no nonsense approach to parenting. He talks a lot about all the lies psychology has fed us over the years that has contributed to our parenting. He lays it on the table when he speaks about how Scripture really has all the answers for parenting. I mean, the Bible is there for us in all other aspects of our life, why wouldn't parenting be one of them?

Part of the book that has really spoken to me is in regard to the sinful nature of mankind. Dr. Rosemond reminds the reader that we are part of a fallen race. (Thank you Jesus for our redemption) But alas, our children are born with original sin. He goes on to say that due to this fallen nature a child is prone to sin. What?! Not my child! Oh wait, you mean all the times that my sweet little two year old turns into a very demanding and self serving child is not my fault? Dr. Rosemonds writes that the minute a mother starts 'blaming' her actions for her child's actions is the minute that the child's behavior gets excused. He likes calling a spade a spade.... My two year old makes self serving choices because it is built into her human makeup. He recommends a no tolerance policy and setting a firm consequence. (So sitting down and trying to rationalize why little Suzy can't hit Bobby when he takes a toy does not work... I know.. I have tried... it's like talking to a two foot wall with very cute clothes).

This book provides questions for reflection and group discussion throughout the chapters and could be a great resource for a mom and dad together. In my situation, my husband does not have the time to sit down and read but I have highlighted all the things I feel that are relevant (um, a LOT of the book) and overtime I have been reading them to him so that we can discuss.

I enjoyed this book immensely and walked away from it feeling so much better about my parenting. It chilled me out a little and reminded me that God truly is our perfect parent who has provided us with a manual.... a parenting manual of all things! Overall I think we all want respectful, strong, independent, kind, generous, loving and holy children. This book definitely provides a realistic framework for heading in that direction. Check it out!

“John Rosemond is one of the few psychologists I’ve ever met who always makes sense. This is the best common-sense guide to parenting I’ve read in a long time.”—Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Making Children Mind without Losing Yours.

“If you think ‘new’ is always better, this is not the book for you. John does all parents a huge service by skillfully illuminating the timeless wisdom of Scripture that has served generations in raising healthy, happy, obedient human beings. I was struck, both as a parent and a professional, at how simply and practically John presents these biblical truths for mothers and fathers. Parenting by the Book could start a parenting revolution, and I pray it does for the sake of our children.”—Glenn T. Stanton, author of Marriage on Trial and My Crazy, Imperfect Christian Family

“Truly a masterpiece. John’s concepts are consistent with both biblical principles and the best parenting research. As such, they work! A must-read for parents and professionals who work with parents.”—DuBose Ravenel, MD, FAAP, pediatrician and emeritus member of Focus of the Family medical advisor team

--------------------Picture respectful, responsible, obedient children who entertain themselves without television or video games, do their own homework, and have impeccable manners. A pie-in-the-sky fantasy? Not so, says family psychologist and bestselling author John Rosemond. Any parent who so desires can grow children who fit that description—happy, emotionally-healthy children who honor their parents and their families with good behavior and do their best in school. In the 1960s, American parents stopped listening to their elders when it came to child rearing and began listening instead to professional experts. Since then, raising children has become fraught with anxiety, stress, and frustration. The solution, says John, lies in raising children according to biblical principles, the same principles that guided parents successfully for hundreds of years. They worked then, and they still work now!

Through his nationally-syndicated newspaper column and eleven books, John has been helping families raise happy, well-behaved children for more than thirty years. In Parenting by The Book, which John describes as both a “mission and a ministry,” he brings parents back to the uncomplicated basics. Herein find practical, Bible-based advice that will help you be the parent you want to be, with children who will be, as the Bible promises, “a delight to your soul” (Pro. 29-17). As a bonus, John also promises to make you laugh along the way.