When I was four years old and living in the Philippines, there was an elderly man who would come around our street once or twice a month to beg for food. He was ill and had a difficult time speaking. Nobody in the neighborhood seemed to know his name. Every time he came, my Lolo, or grandfather, greeted him with a hearty "Hello My Friend!" From then on, all of us children called him "My Friend".
Read More »Greetings from Gibraltar!
It's a good thing we got fuel – the winds were not as high as predicted... we enjoyed dinner with dolphins! A huge pod of dolphins joined us – at least two types of dolphins and 1 shark too.
Read More »8 Steps to Homeschool Success for Dads
With humor and sound advice, Ed Gudan outlines an 8-step plan to help fathers support their wives & live out their commitment to homeschooling.
Read More »Homeschool Mother wants Mini-Cooper, Gets Red Homeschool Bus
I have eight kids and, therefore, I am compelled to drive an exceedingly large van. A van which is, even more humbling still, an eye-catching, look-at-me-I'm-hideous! red. It is a monstrosity.
Read More »Un-Common Core: Where Does it Go?
There has been a lot of worry lately among homeschooling parents regarding the “common core” curriculum. Judging by the amount of views by readers of this journal, it is the biggest issue of the day. But the problem is not so much in merely having a common core—it is in what that common core consists. Some cores are good and some are rotten.
Read More »For Love of Them
Like most Catholic-Christian parents, we are dedicated to the care of our children. The Philippine culture is notable for the utmost importance it places on the family. In fact, in the Filipino communities, it is normal to find a modestly-sized house occupied by several extended family members.
Read More »Pope John Paul II on Family Prayer
by Pope John Paul II | Family prayer has for its very own object family life itself, which in all its varying circumstances is seen as a call from God and lived as a filial response to His call. Joys and sorrows, hopes and disappointments...
Read More »Marriage, the Family, and Home Education
by Fr John Hardon | Home education means the teaching by the parents at home, by both parents. A father’s contribution to the home education of his children is indispensable.
Read More »New Beginnings: The Reflections of One Homeschooling Mother
by Kerry Costanzo | Homeschooling is not easy. It can be really hard. For me, it is often really, really hard. Yet, it is the right things to do in life that can sometimes be the hardest. Homeschooling can be a cross, yet as we Catholics know, it is only in picking up and carrying our crosses that we can hope to follow Our Lord to Heaven.
Read More »4 Preparations to Start the School Year
Whether you are just starting to homeschool for the very first time, or are an old hand at it, a new year gives a chance for a fresh start. Although every family is different, and each family must find its own unique way of homeschooling, there are certain preparations which will help almost every family to be more successful.
Read More »Fruitfulness: The Abundant Life among the Ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks identified the sign of fruitfulness as proof of the art of living well, as the true mark of civilization. On the shield of Achilles in the Iliad ...
Read More »A Straight and Narrow Path
For our family, the decision to homeschool our soon-to-be seven children includes ALL of the aforementioned reasoning. We believe homeschooling is truly the straight-and-narrow path to the arms of Our Heavenly Father. For our family, homeschooling is, “The way, the TRUTH, and the life” (John 14:6).
Read More »No Tap Dancing on the Table: In Praise of the Family Meal
“Last night, I had a dream,” three-year-old Drew announces during dinner. “Oh?” I say. “Yes. There was an alien in my dream and you know what he said, Mom?” “What?” ...
Read More »Motivation and Home Schooling: Finding the Right Carrot
I recall once going to my aunt’s house to baby sit for her three daughters. While in the kitchen, I was amused to see that she had a picture of a swimsuit model on her refrigerator. Before pulling anything out of the refrigerator to eat, my aunt had to look at the picture. This was clearly meant to dissuade her from eating, in hopes of having a figure like the woman in the picture. While the idea was amusing to me, it made some sense. Although my aunt had a general intention to lose weight, the picture gave her direct motivation at the time it was most needed.
Read More »Making the Break: Dealing with Homesickness
Suddenly it hits you: within a very few weeks, for the first time in your life, you are going to be more or less on your own, away from your ...
Read More »The Family: Cradle of Civil Society
Pope Leo XIII| This is a suitable moment for us to exhort especially heads of families to govern their households according to these precepts, and to educate their children from their earliest years. The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society, and it is in great measure within the circle of family life that the destiny of the State is fostered.
Read More »“I am Not Going to Homeschool…!”
The Alessandrini Family’s unexpected discovery of the joys of Homeschooling. by Susan Alessandrini “I am not going to homeschool! I am not ‘that’ kind of mom!” When my husband originally ...
Read More »A Great Family Vacation: The Colorado Plateau
Almost everyone knows about and has seen pictures of the Grand Canyon, but did you know that the Grand Canyon is just one of the many national and state parks ...
Read More »Bear One Another’s Burdens
A couple of weeks ago I attended the annual conference of the National Stuttering Association in Scottsdale, Arizona. Why anyone schedules a conference in Scottsdale in July is beyond me ...
Read More »10 Commandments Word Puzzle
See the Answers… I am the Lord thy God, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods ...
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