Yes, it might feel a bit dramatic, but it is fueled by the fact that you know that your children are the most precious gifts God has given to you and your spouse, and no other worldly achievements will mean anything to you if you end up losing your kids in the process.

The stakes are high, and you rightly feel the weight of it all. 

The Church herself recognizes the family as the "first and vital cell of society.” In fact, St John Paul II said, “The future of the world and of the Church, therefore, passes through the family. (Homily in Perth, Australia, 30 November 1986)

In other words, focusing your energy and efforts on loving your family and raising your children not only results in the good of your family, but also contributes to the greater good of society.

Sometimes, though, it can be a lot — raising these beautiful souls and instilling in each of them a greater awareness of their dignity and worth and the knowledge that they are cherished and loved — and sometimes it will feel like we’ve failed in this mission.

In those dark nights, I like to remind myself of the things I’ve learned over 24 years of parenting.

First Lesson: it is never too late to begin again

It is never too late to repair the damage you may have done to a relationship. I’ve seen it in my own life. It’s why Christ gave us the sacrament of confession and it’s why we need to offer and receive forgiveness in our families, again and again.

I’ve seen the darkest nights of the parenting soul turn into the most brilliant days, all because I refused to despair and I took the steps to begin again. Do not underestimate the power of forgiveness. It can change everything.

Second Lesson: Christ is continually pouring out his grace on us through the sacrament of marriage.

This is not just some generic kind of grace, but a very specific grace for you and your spouse and your children. 

God knows exactly what we need to make it to heaven and he knows exactly what we need to make it through today. He knows all of it, and he is pouring his grace into your marriage so you can finish the race he has set before you.

If you find yourself a single parent, divorced, or separated from your spouse, know that God is pouring specific grace into your situation as well, so do not despair.

When we hit those rough patches, we need to remember that there is grace for this moment, and sometimes being open to this grace requires going to confession and taking the time to pray and ask God for the things we need. 

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church offers us this encouragement: “The family is presented, in the Creator's plan, as “the primary place of ’humanization’ for the person and society” and the “cradle of life and love.” Because of all this, “the Lord himself is the guarantor of the love and fidelity of married life.” (Par 209, 210)

In short, we have everything we need to be the spouse and parent we need to be because God is with us every step of the way.

Final Lesson: when you need answers, turn to the Church.

We have saints who have written volumes, a catechism, and the magisterium of the Church to respond to all of our questions with the answers we need. 

Never forget that God and the saints are cheering you on. They want your family to be just like that Holy Family of Nazareth, 2,000 years ago. They want that for you — and yes, they know that you aren’t going to do it perfectly —but don’t let that stop you from always striving to become more like that Holy Family, every single day.