How to help your child forgive Parenting Journey Practices for helping your child forgive the everyday hurts Read More
5 tips for helping your child learn to share Parenting Journey Encourage sharing and empathy, even when you aren't looking Read More
I’m terrified my son is considering harming himself Parenting Journey We want to give our children our emotional and spiritual support Read More
How Can I Affirm My Shy Daughter? Parenting Journey Encourage confidence in your child through your own faith. Read More
My stepson won’t obey house rules Parenting Journey My stepson won't listen to me when I try to enforce house rules – what can I do ... Read More
Point your kids toward heaven Parenting Journey My dad always taught us that if we borrowed something, no matter what it was, we... Read More
How can I keep my child safe without being over-protective? Parenting Journey Worry less, pray more when it comes to letting go of your child at any stage Read More
My kids always whine for things at the grocery store Parenting Journey Planning, treats and patience can help you prevent and manage meltdowns at the grocery store Read More
The rules at my ex-husband’s house are different from mine Parenting Journey Prayer and support can help you negotiate different post-divorce parenting styles Read More
How do I make my teenager do chores? Parenting Journey Ways to motivate your teen to do chores, along with a reminder about doing the little things for the love of God. Read More
How do we make a foster child feel at home? Parenting Journey Setting realistic expectations and being aware of your child's feelings can help you and your foster child feel more comfortable Read More
How can I stop my daughter from bullying someone online? Parenting Journey What to do when your child is the bully online Read More
My kids don’t want to go to their father’s house for Christmas Parenting Journey My kids’ dad and I are divorced. They don’t want to go to their father’s house f... Read More
I hear my mother's language when I talk to my kids Parenting Journey I hear my mother’s voice sometimes when I talk. Is there a better way to talk to... Read More
My daughter is really stressed at her first job Parenting Journey A transition into a new phase of life can be disconcerting. Read More
My daughter says she no longer believes in God Parenting Journey After graduation from college, my daughter told me she no longer believes in God... Read More
I can't talk to my mom because she's distracted by her phone Parenting Journey I know you usually answer questions from parents – but I’m a 14-year-old with a ... Read More
My son is home from college and won't go to mass Parenting Journey My son came home for the summer after his first year at college, and announced t... Read More
Should we try shaming for our disobedient son? Parenting Journey Our son is constantly disobeying us. The last straw was this week when he g... Read More
My daughter, a practicing Catholic, is dating a Muslim man Parenting Journey My adult daughter, who's always been a practicing Catholic, is dating a Muslim m... Read More
My 4-year-old is biting kids at preschool Parenting Journey My 4-year-old has been getting in trouble at preschool for biting some of the ot... Read More
Our college graduate needs to leave the nest Parenting Journey An Irish lullaby that I loved singing to my children includes lyrics that reflec... Read More
Our son says 'No' to college, he wants to be a construction worker Parenting Journey One of my best friends decided to work full- time in an audio library for the mu... Read More
I want my younger son to step out of his brother’s shadow Parenting Journey Our children had diverse interests in high school, but the entire family support... Read More
How can I invite my kids back to mass? Parenting Journey One challenging aspect of parenting is realizing that children grow up and forge... Read More
How Much Screen Time is Too Much? Parenting Journey When I was young, one of my teachers spoke of attending the 1931 White House Con... Read More
Does our daughter really need tutoring for a ‘B’ in math? Parenting Journey In his Prairie Home Companion radio broadcast, Garrison Keillor would invite lis... Read More
Is 9 years old too young for summer camp? Parenting Journey My daughter really wants to go to summer camp, but she's only 9. Is she old enou... Read More
If we're paying for the wedding, shouldn't we get to plan it? Parenting Journey Our daughter is getting married next year, and we offered to pay for the wedding... Read More
Can we have Easter fun without the Easter Bunny? Parenting Journey I love the tradition of the Easter Bunny, but don’t want to take away from the real meaning of Easter. Read More
Our new parish isn't diverse at all Parenting Journey We just moved to a new community, which has been a big change for all of us. Read More
Does my kindergartner really need an iPhone? Parenting Journey My son is in kindergarten and several of his friends are getting iPhones for Chr... Read More
My daughter just started college and her grades are bad Parenting Journey My daughter is in her first semester of college, and her grades have slipped sin... Read More
My daughter thinks I play favorites Parenting Journey I love my children equally, but my daughter thinks I play favorites. How can I a... Read More
My 14-year-old is telling lies Parenting Journey Q: I have caught my 14-year-old daughter in several lies lately, sometimes about... Read More
Does summer vacation have to be so structured? Parenting Journey Q: It’s summer and my kids are out of school. I remember the lazy days of summer... Read More
My son has been using prescription drugs and painkillers Parenting Journey Q: I just found out that my 15-year-old son, who’s always been a great student a... Read More
Does prom have to be a 24-hour party? Parenting Journey Q: Around here, prom seems to have turned into a 24-hour-plus party. My daughter... Read More
My son’s friend is left home alone constantly Parenting Journey Q: My son’s close friend is in a household where the parents are rarely home. He... Read More
My kids’ wardrobes are driving me crazy Parenting Journey Q: My kids are driving me crazy with their wardrobes. My son wants to wear baggy... Read More
I’m afraid my daughter has an eating disorder Parenting Journey Q: I think my daughter is binge eating and purging. I’ve found empty packages of... Read More
My kids’ stepfather yells at them too much Parenting Journey Q: My ex-wife married a man who is a much tougher disciplinarian than I am. He i... Read More
Should I let my neighbor’s runaway daughter stay with us? Parenting Journey A: My mother’s warm heart led her to open our home twice in this way when I was ... Read More
Grandma is a recovering alcoholic and wants to baby-sit Parenting Journey Recovery: A long and winding road. An article by Kat MGowan, “The New Quitter” (... Read More
Do I have to baby-sit my younger brothers and sisters every weekend? Parenting Journey I am 17 and the oldest of five children. My parents treat me as their built-in b... Read More
Should I allow my child to go to this sleepover? Parenting Journey Parental monitoring: In order to make decisions about sleepovers, parents need i... Read More
I want to find the child I gave up for adoption Parenting Journey Q: I gave up my daughter for adoption shortly after I gave birth. Now that she i... Read More
Does my 4-year-old have to give up her security blanket? Parenting Journey Q: My husband thinks our daughter is too old for her security “blankie” and want... Read More
My husband is setting a bad example. How do I get him to buckle up? Parenting Journey Q: My husband won’t wear a seat belt. The kids are now questioning why they need... Read More
I don’t want my kids to watch horror movies when visiting my parents! Parenting Journey Q. Despite my objections, my parents let our young kids watch horror films when ... Read More
I feel cheap when my sister overspends Parenting Journey My sister spends too much on Christmas gifts for my kids – way more than I can a... Read More
Do grandparents have visitation rights? Parenting Journey Our son and daughter-in-law recently got divorced. Our son has no visitation rig... Read More
Parents and Sports when the cheering goes overboard! Parenting Journey My son told me that he would rather I didn’t attend his baseball games because I... Read More
Argument or agreement? Teens and household chores Parenting Journey I am returning to the work force. I have two teens – ages 15 and 13. What is rea... Read More
Is it time for the talk? Parenting Journey Q. My child recently turned 10 years old. Is that too young to have the talk? ... Read More
To be confirmed? Who makes the decision? Parenting Journey Q. My son has decided he doesn’t want to be confirmed. Is there something I can ... Read More
Who should walk my daughter down the aisle at her wedding? Parenting Journey Q. My daughter does not have a close relationship with my ex-husband, and now th... Read More
Should we attend a wedding if our children aren't invited? Parenting Journey Q. We were invited to a friend’s wedding and were told on the invitation that ou... Read More
Shouldn’t my kids dress up for Mass? Parenting Journey Q. My kids fight me about getting dressed up for Mass – I think the girls should... Read More
My daughter likes the baby sitter more than she likes me! Parenting Journey Q. My daughter seems to like the day-care provider better than she does me. As a... Read More
I don’t know how to be a good godparent Parenting Journey Q. We were asked to be godparents by some friends who are expecting a baby. We a... Read More
Do I have to change my cooking to vegetarian because my kids are vegetarian? Parenting Journey Q. Our kids have decided to become vegetarians, which we think is ridiculous. Sh... Read More
Helping your first-time voter make wise choices Parenting Journey Q: My son is about to vote for the first time. How can I help him make wise choi... Read More
She’s 15, he’s 18 – should they date? Parenting Journey Q: Our 15-year-old daughter is interested in an 18-year-old who also likes her. ... Read More
We have a special needs child and I stay home to take care of him. Parenting Journey Q. We have a special needs child and I stay home to take care of him. I love him... Read More
Should our daughter compete in beauty pageants? Parenting Journey Sexualization of girls. One of the concerns about beauty pageants is the focus o... Read More
I am a widower How do I tell my children I am in a new relationship? Parenting Journey Not a new mother. Clarify that your new wife is not a replacement for their mom.... Read More
I want my children to love their father even if I don’t Parenting Journey A. Once, when I was a lunchtime helper at my daughter’s grade school, her classm... Read More
My mother is interfering with my baby-sitting rules Parenting Journey Wait for a private moment to talk. It may be that your mother was on automatic p... Read More
What defines immodest clothing for teens? Parenting Journey Clothing is an expression of identity. The choices that we make in terms of ... Read More
This bullying has to stop. What do we do? Parenting Journey Get school administrators and teachers on board. A tattle-tale is someone who go... Read More
The disaster zone my teen calls home Parenting Journey Generate simple room makeover ideas! Why not focus on ways to help her plan some... Read More
Survivor's guilt after a fatal accident Parenting Journey • Share a meal. What did you do together before the accident? If you went out to... Read More
Am I a bad parent if I don't go to every one of my son's soccer games? Parenting Journey Families are systems When children are young, parental work and social activi... Read More
Is a gift for good behavior Reward or bribery? Parenting Journey What is the difference between bribery and a reward? In some ways, it’s all ... Read More
I lost a child, and Mothers’ Day is hard. Can’t they avoid talking about it at church? Parenting Journey If you can, stand for your blessing. You will always be a mother. When you pr... Read More
How can I get my parents to discipline my children my way? Parenting Journey Your family issues mirror global concerns. Most European countries have banne... Read More
We are having a baby, but all of our friends’ kids are grown Parenting Journey What time is it on your social clock? We hear so much about our biological clock... Read More
How can I find my birth mother without hurting my real mom? Parenting Journey Reasons behind apprehension. As children reach the end of the teen years and ent... Read More
TV or not TV? That is the question Parenting Journey No TV is an extreme choice. Parents want to make choices to keep their children ... Read More
Sibling jealousy: What is a parent to do? Parenting Journey Get down to the specifics. Talk to your younger daughter one-on-one during a neu... Read More
How do I get my toddler to stay in bed? Parenting Journey Look at other parts of the day. It sounds counter-intuitive, but to see why your... Read More
Are high-pressure sports good for my child? Parenting Journey I think sports are a wonderful team-builder. But I’ve noticed that some of the p... Read More
My grandchildren are annoying! Parenting Journey Keep boredom at bay! An R. I. Fitzhenry quote gives a clue on how to change t... Read More
I can’t get my 3-year-old to use the potty Parenting Journey Mature in every way but one? A mature preschooler is able to communicate his ... Read More
My kid is on drugs! What do I do now? Parenting Journey Call on your own support system. A first reaction might include the desire to st... Read More
I can’t stand my son-in-law – three tips to make it work Parenting Journey The die is cast. As parents, we picture rosy scenarios for our children’s future... Read More
My grandchildren have terrible manners! Parenting Journey The essence of etiquette is to make other people comfortable. Even as adults, we... Read More
How do I help my children understand chronic illness and death? Parenting Journey First, network with parents of other chronically ill children in your community.... Read More
We had a baby, but lost our friends! What do we do? Parenting Journey Blue Heaven was released in 1927, but great artists like Frank Sinatra and Fats ... Read More
Big changes are coming Parenting Journey Q: How do I prepare my daughter for a new baby brother? A: Your daughter will... Read More
Protecting your child - driver’s tips Parenting Journey A: If she will be driving to school, have her leave home early so that she is pa... Read More
Too little play? Not enough? How do I make sure my child is getting it right? Parenting Journey Try to match your suggestions to her interests. The novelty of an old-fashio... Read More
What is the right age to talk to your children about sex? Parenting Journey I was appalled to find out that my sister had already talked to her 9-year-old d... Read More
I hate my son’s lip ring! How can I get him to take it out? Parenting Journey • Your son honored your wishes until he was out of your home. Perhaps he will ag... Read More
“I do it myself!” Can you reason with a pre-schooler? Parenting Journey It is certainly true that the logic of a pre-schooler doesn’t match our logic. I... Read More
Our son is gay - what do we do? Parenting Journey Bortner men tended to die in their 40s of heart attacks, and so Ray was ready to... Read More
“The valley of death" Parenting Journey Rows of Boys Scouts sitting in high-school bleachers call up images of award cer... Read More
Hey baby, come a little closer Parenting Journey Each generation questions the taste of those that follow, whether it be in hairs... Read More
Not a child anymore Parenting Journey A decade ago, a national poll investigated the attitudes of 13- to 17-year-olds.... Read More
How do I raise my child to be a good Catholic? Parenting Journey A few years ago, a PBS show, Mixed Blessings, followed the closing of Sacred Hea... Read More
I do it myself! Parenting Journey During the collection at Mass young children come down the aisles to drop off th... Read More
Boomerang baby! Parenting Journey My daughter, Kaiti, attended a college that was an “intimate distance” from our ... Read More
Preserve your family history Parenting Journey In the 1930s, teens would turn the radio dial to NBC and make up steps when Let=... Read More
Is Christmas making you crazy? Parenting Journey As we pray for international peace during the Advent season, parents often have ... Read More
Should I let my teen get a job? Parenting Journey A small café near our home comes to life early on Friday mornings during footbal... Read More
“Can you hear me now?” Parenting Journey When I was growing up, it was easy for Mole Hole Club members to stay in touch. ... Read More
What if you find out your teenager is having sex? Parenting Journey The wooden privacy fence surrounding my friend’s back yard sometimes corrals a d... Read More
A role we don’t control Parenting Journey I was sitting on a poolside chair, enjoying the busy antics of a toddler splashi... Read More
Grandparents as Mom and Dad Parenting Journey A stroller was positioned next to the minivan’s sliding door. I watched as a sil... Read More
“I don’t want to go to Mass” Parenting Journey When I was 11, Msgr. Galvin spotted me wandering around the church courtyard – a... Read More
You decided what?! Parenting Journey We pour our hearts into our children, hoping that our parenting decisions are fo... Read More
Parenting our parents Parenting Journey The brick ranch house across the street has a “For Sale” sign in the yard. My mo... Read More
I say, “Just do it.” Parenting Journey Every parent has experienced moments of exasperation when a child seems determin... Read More
Grieving parenthood Parenting Journey The twilight glow of light in the hospital room was dim, but I could see the ink... Read More
“I want that!” Parenting Journey As parents of young children in 1913, you and your spouse are wondering just wha... Read More
My child is NOT my best friend Parenting Journey I enjoyed watching Jessica Fletcher of Murder She Wrote solve crimes, and now I ... Read More
Why am I sick? Parenting Journey Talitha koum! Little girl, I say to you arise! The Gospel of Mark that greets us... Read More
Why don’t you trust me? Parenting Journey During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, all the lords in Ireland were required to... Read More
My kids are embarrassed when I show up at school Parenting Journey The Acts of the Apostles on the sixth Sunday of Easter describes Cornelius falli... Read More
What's a kid to do? Parenting Journey In 1974, it looked like the career of Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Tommy John was ... Read More
3 ways to build a parenting consensus when you disagree Parenting Journey The happiness of the two couples in the pew ahead of us was contagious. The men ... Read More
How can I make my children care? Parenting Journey On New Year’s Day, we welcome the new year and review the old. Once again, we wa... Read More
Mom loves me better! Parenting Journey When Billy Carter was just 6, his brother Jimmy joined the Navy. Billy and his f... Read More
Does forgiving mean forgetting? Parenting Journey In his 1605 novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha, Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra writ... Read More
“Because I said so!” Parenting Journey My daughter Shannon taught me some funny new lyrics to a popular teen song. I wa... Read More
When a child grieves Parenting Journey The family life of a third grader nicknamed “Lolek” Wojtyla changed forever when... Read More
What to do when your kids say 'no' to Mass Parenting Journey Sunday mornings have become a battleground. The kids don’t want to go to church ... Read More
My teen is a vegetarian Parenting Journey The atmosphere in the community education building was warm and friendly as we w... Read More
Congratulations - it's a baby! Parenting Journey As new parents, we have plenty of information about raising children, but we see... Read More
Parenting: how to teach your kids about ownership Parenting Journey "It’s mine!” “But I was playing with it first!” Parents often find themselves ne... Read More
3 ways to beat teen stress how your faith can help Parenting Journey In Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan plays the role of Cadie, who was home-schooled in A... Read More
How can parents deal with sex in the media? Parenting Journey As parents, can we compete with our kids’ friends and the media to positively in... Read More
How to teach your kids to respect life Parenting Journey Children do get exposed to violence. How many murders do you think children will... Read More
Do I really have to honor my mother-in-law? Parenting Journey This question might arise if your spouse’s parents have different ideas about ra... Read More
Ways to re-establish family time Parenting Journey It may feel like your family is going a million different directions, seven days... Read More
3 ways to help your child pray in a healthy way Parenting Journey Not long ago, my son, Ryan, came home from school saying, “This is my lucky day!... Read More
Parenting: Ways to bring your kids back to the Church Parenting Journey It is not uncommon to find parents worrying about a child who has strayed from t... Read More
4 top stressors Parenting Journey Students attending Central Michigan University are given a Code of Student Right... Read More
Depression: how do you know? Parenting Journey A lot of us remember Roy G. Biv from grade school. He wasn’t a classmate – the n... Read More
4 ways to deal with someone you just don't like Parenting Journey As friends come back from summer vacations, we hear stories of the places they’v... Read More
What would you do if you were falsely accused of a crime? Parenting Journey In 1984, Jennifer Thompson’s world turned upside down when a man broke into her ... Read More
What to do when your kids scream 'it's not fair!' Parenting Journey George Eliot wrote, “Justice is like the kingdom of God: it is not without us as... Read More
3 ways to be humble yet strong with those you love Parenting Journey Blessed are the meek? What words spring to mind when you think about a “meek” pe... Read More
Where does comfort from grief come from? Parenting Journey Looking into a March dawn, I search for evidence of new life. Beneath the earth,... Read More
6 steps to help your family stop fighting over money Parenting Journey Jose Canseco earned $75,000 as a baseball player with the Oakland A’s in 1986. T... Read More
3 tips for a spiritual Advent Parenting Journey St. Francis de Sales compared love to a spiritual fire, a fire that bursts into ... Read More
Do you avoid sick or dying people because of how you feel? Parenting Journey Looking down on Kalaupapa, one sees the turquoise waters and bright whitecaps of... Read More
The reality of 'happily ever after' Parenting Journey Our wedding guests followed a winding road past a cemetery before reaching the c... Read More
3 ways to encourage family and friends to seek God's will Parenting Journey Several years ago my daughter begged to watch a videotape over and over. It wasn... Read More
3 Ways to see the gifts of those you may have trouble with Parenting Journey Visits from my East Coast relatives were eagerly anticipated when I was a child.... Read More
5 ways to bring the positive impact of Mass back home Parenting Journey Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” “Thanks be to God.” With the rite of di... Read More
Ever say 'You're forgiven' without meaning it? Parenting Journey In March of 1901, Amy Carmichael sheltered a distraught runaway, the first of ma... Read More
There are friends and then there are soul friends Parenting Journey Jesus poured love into our hearts when He said, “I call you friends,” inviting u... Read More
Are guys really from Mars and girls from Venus? Parenting Journey Are guys from Mars and girls from Venus? Are gender differences really a matter ... Read More
Leftovers Are OK Parenting Journey Erin dipped her brush into the bucket of soapy water and scrubbed the kitchen fl... Read More
5 stages of grief Parenting Journey The loveseat was one of my favorite spots when I was a kindergartner. But as we ... Read More
There are moments in our lives we remember forever Parenting Journey It is human to react with strong emotions when our lives feel threatened, whethe... Read More
How deeply rooted are our differences Parenting Journey The yellow pages of the phone book include several pages of Christian church lis... Read More
Dwelling on God's holy mountain Parenting Journey A psalm of David describes the characteristics of those individuals who are wort... Read More
Will Our Kids Ever Outgrow that Parenting Journey Life Begins with Questions that Have No Answers. The dynamic beginning to eac... Read More
3 Ways to Navigate Through Christmas Parenting Journey As Christmas approaches and we begin to think of holiday journeys to see family ... Read More
6 fair fighting rules Parenting Journey The intrasquad “Green and White” game has been a tradition of the Michigan State... Read More
A Mother and Daughter Exchange Do's and Don'ts Parenting Journey A mothers ... Three Do’s 1. Do remember the old saying, “The more things c... Read More
What is in Our Best Self-Interest? The Answer is a Paradox Parenting Journey One section of my son’s reconciliation workbook asked him to identify the many g... Read More
How do you forgive when you can't forget? Parenting Journey When I read Lydia’s story of the power of forgiveness, a sentence that jumped ou... Read More
I love you with all my heart Parenting Journey Ok, but how about: I love you with all my BRAIN? Frank Sinatra sang “I left m... Read More
¿La fiesta de Promoción (Prom) tiene que durar veinticuatro horas? Parenting Journey P: Por aquí, La Prom parece haberse convertido en una fiesta de más de veinticua... Read More
Mi hija de 14 años de edad está mintiendo Parenting Journey P: Últimamente he descubierto que mi hija de 14 años de edad está mintiendo, a v... Read More
No puedo hablar con mi mamá porque está distraída con su teléfono Parenting Journey Sé que generalmente respondes las preguntas de los padres, pero tengo 14 años y ... Read More
Mi hijo está en casa por las vacaciones de la universidad y no quiere ir a misa Parenting Journey P: Mi hijo llegó a casa durante el verano después de su primer año en la univers... Read More
Ayuda a tus hijos a ser santos Parenting Journey Mi padre siempre nos enseñó que si tomábamos algo prestado, sin importar lo que ... Read More
Mi hijo ha estado usando medicamentos recetados y analgésicos Parenting Journey P: Acabo de descubrir que mi hijo de 15 años, quien siempre ha sido un gran estu... Read More
Mi hija piensa que tengo favoritismo Parenting Journey P: Quiero a mis hijos por igual, pero mi hija piensa que tengo favoritismo. ¿Cóm... Read More
Mi hija adolescente podría estar usando Snapchat para sextear Parenting Journey P: Sospecho que mi hija de 16 años podría estar usando Snapchat para sextear, pe... Read More
¿Realmente necesita un iPhone mi niña de kindergarten? Parenting Journey P: Mi hija está en kindergarten y varios de sus amigos están recibiendo iPhones ... Read More
¿Tienen que ser tan estructuradas las vacaciones de verano? Parenting Journey P: Es verano y mis hijos terminaron la escuela. Recuerdo los días de descanso de... Read More
Mi hija acaba de comenzar la universidad y sus calificaciones son malas Parenting Journey P: Mi hija está en su primer semestre en la Universidad, y sus calificaciones ha... Read More
¿Deberíamos tratar de avergonzar a nuestro hijo desobediente? Parenting Journey P: Nuestro hijo nos desobedece constantemente. El colmo fue esta semana cuando l... Read More
Mi hija dice que ya no cree en Dios Parenting Journey P: Después de graduarse de la universidad, mi hija me dijo que ya no cree en Dio... Read More