Parenting Archives
A Mother's Love
“But there’s a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begins.”
»MORE Certain Change
Change is the one certainty of life. Life is simply a series of transitions from one stage of human development to another. Each major stage involves separation from previous attachments and lifts us to a higher level of self-awareness. Although each separation is painful, each new stage provides the potential to grow in our expression of love to others. »MOREGrowing Pains
Adolescence is not easy for any family – including the holy family. Jesus must have been an ideal son. Mary and Joseph were surely godly parents. And yet, even for the holy family it was not easy. Growth comes at a price. It is impossible to escape growing pains. If the holy family could not do it, then neither can we.
»MORE Raising An Athlete for Christ
Chrysostom has a high and noble view of children - philosophers in formation, athletes in training, and citizens being shaped for their eternal dwelling in the heavens »MOREResponsible Family Planning
Is it morally permissible for a married couple to employ technological methods in an attempt to prevent conception while engaging in normal sexual relations? »MORERoots for Our Soul and Wings for Our Spirit
We parents should not fear that if we are no longer needed, we are no longer loved. Family love (storge) must change and develop over time in order to faithfully steward the gift of children from infant to adult. Parents must learn the art of welcoming and letting go. Ideally, family love gives us roots for our soul and wings for our spirit.
»MORE Roots for Our Soul and Wings for Our Spirit: Reflections on the Uniqueness of Parental Love
Parenting is hard work. But it also holds promise of great reward. Parental love (storge) is a unique love, different from philia (friendship love) and eros (romantic love). As such, it possesses unique dimensions: (1) It is not directly chosen, but welcomed. (2) Our children are a stewardship, not a possession. (3) Storge calls for intentional discipline and instruction without authoritarianism. (4) It is a responsibility we discharge without possessiveness. We parents should not fear that if we are no longer needed, we are no longer loved. Family love (storge) must change and develop over time in order to faithfully steward the gift of children from infant to adult. Parents must learn the art of welcoming and letting go. Ideally, family love gives us roots for our soul and wings for our spirit.[Mp3] | [Manuscript]
Proverbs 22:6 "Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray" (NRSV) "Point your kids in the right direction--when they're old, they won't be lost." (The Message) »MORE