A Facebook post from a mom struggling to bring her large family of small children to Mass inspired today's show. The mom was in a jam, getting the kids to Mass by herself as her husband was deployed. Many advised her not to bring the children to Mass until they were older. This is terrible advice.

Mass is not optional. It isn't easy when you bring many babies and toddlers, and in fact, it's heroic. Ginny and Mary Ellen can help and want to share their hard-earned, practical advice learned in the pews of thousands of masses with many toddlers in tow. Listen and enjoy their love, humor, and common sense.

Ten Tips on Taking Young Children to Mass

1.   Make your peace with the fact that this will go off the rails sometimes. God put the wiggle and the noise in those children, and He knows they will use them both at Mass. Remember that not every fellow parishioner will be patient. Expect a few dirty looks; don't let it get you down. 

2.   Prep the night before. Lay out everyone's clothes, find the shoes and socks, set breakfast, and pack the diaper bag.

3.   Everyone goes to the bathroom before you leave for Mass.

4.   Sit up front and quietly whisper to point out the priest, the candles, and the bells. 

5.   Do not bring toys. Having toys at hand is a reason to fight, make noise, and be a general distraction for everyone around you. A soft book for 4-5-year-olds is fine.

6.   No food or drink for anyone over three. Nursing babies and small toddlers get a bottle or cup, but everyone else can go an hour without food. Feed everyone before Mass; small children are not required to fast. A bag of dry cereal for desperate times, but it should be the exception.

7.   No devices, ever.

8.   Keep the three and under people on someone's lap as much as possible.

9.   If the baby or toddler makes some noise or moves around too much, don't let it make you self-conscious. Most people can focus through a distraction and are very tolerant of small children. Just take it in stride.

10. If the noise becomes too much, take the child out and settle them quickly but bring them back in so the habit of poor behavior getting them out doesn't take hold. Just wait against a wall until you can get back to your pew. This is a biggie! You do not want to form a bad habit. Act up– go to the vestibule and run around. Again, people understand.

Again – you do not want to form bad habits.

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, (Franciscan Friars of the Renewal) was ordained in 2018 and lives at the CFR friary in the Bronx. Fr. Mark-Mary is a weekly host on Ascension Presents, the second-largest Catholic YouTube Channel in English. 

His new book Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress, is a perfect and practical spiritual guide for homeschooling families. In it, Fr. Mark-Mary, takes 800 years of Franciscan spiritual wisdom and extracts “small steps” that can lead anyone — especially lay people — to great holiness.

Habits for Holiness

In this episode of the Stay-at-Homeschooling Mom Podcast, Father explains how to get the most from his book Habits for Holiness:Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress and how to grow closer to sainthood in your daily life.

What led you to write Habits for Holiness?

In the book, you speak of prayer as food; actually, in the first chapter. Can you explain how prayer is that necessary?  

What do we say to busy mothers and fathers who feel they have no time for a meaningful prayer life?

An Easy Way to Do a Daily Examen

Father recommends taking a few minutes in the middle of your day to write down five things to thank God for, five ways you’ve failed him, and five things coming up where you could use God’s help.

In the chapter on liturgical living, Father explains that, as Catholics, our values are radically different. We know this (we try to avoid bad television, music, movies, etc.), but how do we live it deeply? 

Father explains the Christian call to contentment - Based upon the poverty check of the Franciscans, a discernment tool to see if we are suffering from too much. 

Discussed in this episode:

https://www.franciscanfriars.com/

https://focus.org/

https://ascensionpress.com/products/e-book-habits-for-holiness-small-steps-for-making-big-spiritual-progress

Mary Ellen and Ginny have wanted to bring you Historian Jerry D. Lenaburg since the debut of their podcast. They knew he was the most qualified historian to make a case for why homeschoolers must teach history the way it happened. It's not hyperbole to say that our future depends on it.

A pleasure to listen to, Mr. Lenaburg is a 1987 graduate of the US Naval Academy with a BS in history, an MS in technology management, and an MA in military studies. A naval flight officer from 1987 to 1998, veteran of Operation Desert Storm, he has written extensively on military and national security topics, and has taught home school history for over 15 years.

Why is it so important to teach history the way it actually happened?

The Nation’s History Report Card - A National Disaster

The two-part litmus test for choosing history textbooks:

   1. The Ronald Reagan test

   2. The Founding Fathers’ treatment

Lenaburg recommends Teaching Real History:– Teach the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

In today's brick-and-mortar schools, he observes that there are two ways to teach American History.

The Founding Fathers

Chronological Snobbery - CS Lewis says this is the uncritical acceptance of the intellectual climate of our age and the assumption that whatever has gone out of date is, on that count, discredited.

The importance of bringing perspective and balance to the conversation

The Value of a History Major

A History Major’s ability to synthesize data, cite sources, and reach sound conclusions is a skill set that stands on its own or broadens opportunities in other career choices.

Speaking Points:

Is the U.S. Constitution broken? – Critics often have not read it. 

Is Public School an Option? - AP Courses offer some promise.

The first book Jerry Lenaburg recommends buying is a Barnes and Noble leather-bound copy of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers, and other related writings. At $25.00, you cannot beat it.Also recommended: Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story by Wilfred M. McClay

Recommendation to students on writing: "So the two things that I try to get all my students to do is, number one, I let them roam. I give them book reports. I'll have them do a biography. I might pick something that interests you because you'll study history more if you find something that interests you. And yes, one of my students wanted to do the history of video games. I said, have at it, Dude. I want a 10-page paper in Chicago style, appropriately sourced, and with a bibliography and footnotes. Have at it! That gets him interested in something, and he's learning how to write a paper, and it probably goes back a lot further than we think. It was a fascinating paper."

Other tips:

Links:

Common Sense Barrage – Blogspot

Books mentioned:

The American Heritage Series – Google for used copies.

The Great Battle series 

Johnny Tremain

Killer Angels

Jeff Shara

Laura Ingalls Wilder – Little House in the Big Woods

Let’s face it; homeschooling with a toddler around can challenge learning and Mom’s sanity. Little people don’t care much about order, method, or quiet; they want to explore, move around, and touch everything—all perfectly appropriate but completely distracting to your homeschool day.

Ginny and Mary Ellen have run this drill thousands of times and have learned how to turn this challenge into an enriching, family-focused triumph for toddler, siblings, and mom. Now, they want to share these nuggets of practical advice with you. 

Toddlers Defined

Typically, toddlers are children ages one to four who are independently mobile; that is to say, they can toddle around, pulling things down upon their sweet little heads and tossing objects willy-nilly everywhere. This is called independent mobility.

Acceptance is Key

The key to a peaceful homeschool when you have toddlers is to accept it’s not going to be peaceful. It may be chaotic and messy. There is not much you can do, but here are some suggestions.

Revolving Kids – The Game for Larger Families

Start by giving toddlers something to keep them busy. Then, work with your K-2 students. Their work goes quickly. If toddlers start to drive you up the wall – send in an older child to keep them busy. Rotate older kids in and out to play as they finish their work. This activity is good for the little guys and teaches the older children to be responsible.

High-chair-age children can be given colored construction paper, a small plastic cup of water, and a paintbrush and told to paint. Older children can sit in a blow-up kiddie pool. I buy these at the end of the summer for about five dollars. They store easily (just deflate), and the little ones love to sit there and play.

Ideas for Young Toddlers

Ideas for Older Toddlers

Toddler School - I also found it extremely helpful for older toddlers to have their own school box and work. They could only join us at the table if they would “work” quietly.

Use nap times, evenings, and weekends when you have an extra pair of hands. If this is a possibility, consider hiring help.

BONUS: Accept that somedays none of this works, not much work will get done, and that’s ok. 

June is upon us; now is the time to plan your homeschool year. Take a day or two to think about last year. What did you love? What was a disappointment? What drove you crazy? There’s an old saying in the business world, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” 

Ginny and Mary Ellen’s treasure trove of tips, organized in five easy steps, is worth their weight in gold. Listen to them all and find those that resonate for you. 

First – Pick your curriculum.

● If you liked what you had last year – stick with it. Switching involves both you and the student learning new formats. Don’t chase after something new because a friend loves it. 

● If something didn’t work, try to figure out why. Was it indeed the product’s fault, or was it a reluctant learner? Don’t count on a new shiny book to coax that kid back.

● OTOH if a book or a program was just confusing to use, or not helpful, or not Catholic enough, or didn’t work, find something else. If possible, ask a mom you know whose kids are turning out great – not a stranger on social media.

Second – Order your material in June or July. 

Waiting until August almost guarantees a lower level of service – because of the rush of homeschool moms who waited for August.

Third – Think about WHERE you will teach.

● Can you organize your dining room better, add some bookshelves, and buy desks for the basement? Can you use your picnic table in nice weather?

● Are you facing problems because your husband works from home three days a week and can’t stand the noise? Public libraries are usually pretty empty during the day; they often have toy corners for littles. Sometimes, they have study rooms.

● Make sure you have a system to organize books, art and school supplies, and manipulatives. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Pens and pencils in cups, books in milk crates – but you need to be able to find things – quickly and easily.

Fourth – Have your school day planned. 

We all know that life will throw you curve balls, but a plan keeps everyone on the same page and helps you get back on track.

● Set specific times to start, take breaks, eat lunch, and tidy up. A Schedule makes all the difference in the world. 

Even if circumstances force you to change it, you have a plan when things return to normal.

● Think about how you will start your school day. Prayers, the Pledge, saint of the day, morning Mass?

● If you have babies and toddlers, consider how you can keep them from disrupting too much. Hire a local nanny to take them to the park, Homeschool outside so they can run around the yard. Set up a play area.

● Think about how you can eliminate distractions. Silence your phones. Let friends, family, and neighbors know you are dedicated to homeschooling.

Fifth – and finally – Remember that these are our homes, not a classroom. 

We don’t have custodians cleaning up for us, a nurse’s office to send a sick child to, or an aide. Don’t stress when the house is messy, or plans don’t work out. 

BONUS – In fact, by seeing how a real home operates, your homeschooled children are learning how to navigate their future families.

You've made the decision, you are going to homeschool. When you announce it to friends and family – not everyone is supportive. How do you handle this? 

In today's podcast, Mary Ellen and Ginny cover the questions you will get about your decision and walk you through solid answers. Whether the questions are from loved ones or the simply curious, you will be prepared with well-thought-out replies. 

Some people deeply care and may need a better explanation.  

You'll learn where to find convincing data on homeschooled students showing that they:

● Routinely score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests.   

● Score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parent's level of formal education or their family's household income.

● Increasingly recruited by colleges.

● And more…

Here's how to answer the simply curious.

● It is not your job to give them an in-depth understanding of your choice. 

● Ginny and Mary Ellen offer polite answers.

● And they explain when being vague may be appropriate.

Be careful not to knock brick-and-mortar schools.

They may be why you homeschool, but it's a potential minefield: for instance:

● Your children’s grandparents could take it as an insult.

● Some wonderful people graduate from brick-and-mortar schools.

● Each family needs to decide what is best for them.

 Bonus - We have the answers to common objections:

● How will you teach Trigonometry, physics, and foreign language? 

● How will they learn to interact with their peers?

● Aren't you worried they'll be weird?  

Always informative, practical, and guaranteed to bring a smile, Ginny and Mary Ellen provide the questions you may not have thought to ask…but you'll be glad they did!

In today's show, Ginny and Mary Ellen introduce us to University of Iowa senior and author Jacinta Hamilton. In March 2023, the National Catholic Register and LifeSiteNews featured Jacinta Hamilton's work to build awareness of World Down Syndrome Day.

Jacinta is an Iowa City, Iowa native, the oldest of seven children, and a 2019 Seton Home Study School graduate. She is blessed to be the big sister of Gabriel, her little brother with Down syndrome, who has positively influenced all areas of her life. 

In the National Catholic Register, she said, "It's World Down Syndrome Day, and I'd Like You to Meet My Brother Gabriel." We thought you would like to meet Jacinta and learn what motivates her to do great things.

It’s World Down Syndrome Day, and I’d Like You to Meet My Brother Gabriel NCRegister.com

It’s not a race: My brother with Down syndrome embodies in a special way the precious gift of life LifeSiteNews.com

Jacinta Hamilton – Building Awareness to Make a Difference SetonMagazine.com - Includes insights on homeschooling from Jacinta’s mother, Mrs. Marcy Hamilton.

How important is cultivating beauty in your homeschool? Ginny and Mary Ellen speak with Joseph Pearce about the true, the good, and the beautiful and how it affects our homeschool, worship, and very selves. 

There are few as qualified as Joseph to speak on the topic. He is a man of many hats, including bestselling author, EWTN host, and Director of Book Publishing at the Augustine Institute. His website www.jpearce.co is replete with his work and thoughts and emphasizes the subject of today’s podcast. He is also a homeschooling Dad.

Beauty and Truth in Education and Evangelization

Beauty is Key

Be careful - We separate goodness, truth, and beauty at our peril. 

Because - the three are inseparable, transcendental, and will lead us to God.  

Beauty is in the thing beheld, not in the eye of the beholder.

Culture has turned away from the good, the true, and the beautiful and now serves power. This path leads to despair. To distract ourselves from the despair, we turn to noise. 

Contrast that with the soul in love with Christ and in His grace who craves silence. 

Popular culture and the secular school system have turned away from Objective Truth and embraced Relativism. In this cult of Relativism:

However, a significant and growing minority are on fire for the faith and know what they are on fire for. Homeschoolers – like the monks of the Middle Ages have the means to preserve the culture of the Good, True, and Beautiful.

Advice to Homeschoolers 

Finding (and Teaching) the Good, the True, and the Beautiful

Good - The key is to know that a good program:

True – Truth is found through studying philosophy. Philosophy is simply using reason to understand truth, and its study will become more significant in high school. 

An example of an excellent high school Philosophy text, and the text instrumental in Joseph’s path to conversion, is Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine by Archbishop Michael Sheehan. 

Part 1 – Apologetics: Rational Proofs for the existence of God

Part 2 – Catholic Doctrine: How those rational proofs play out in the teachings of the Church.

True or False

Modern culture preaches two extremes. 

Materialism - there’s nothing but matter. 

Subjective Reality – all reality is in the mind. 

To counter these false notions, we must surround our children with the truth of God The world is charged with the grandeur of God as articulated by Gerard Manley Hopkins in his poem, “God’s Grandeur”.

This truth must be taught through reason and rational processes. 

Summary

The Good is an education in virtue.

The True is engagement with philosophy using wisdom to engage with the truth. 

Beauty needs space and silence. Unplug from gadgets and distractions.

Our takeaway:

Beauty speaks profoundly and, like prayer, evangelizes by lifting the heart and mind.

Links:

Please visit our sponsor: Benedictine College

Joseph Pearce’s website: www.jpearce.co

Referenced in this episode:

Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine by Archbishop Michael Sheehan

Gerard Manley Hopkins “God’s Grandeur”

It's easy to blame others for the loss of civility and politeness in the news and social media. Fortunately, as homeschoolers, we are blessed with the opportunity to train our children to push back on cultural influences and lead others by example.

In this episode, Mary Ellen and Ginny examine modern behavioral norms and provide simple, concrete, practical tips, methods, and lessons to regain civility and good manners. Please join us and learn how your home can flourish as a training ground for polite, civil, and well-mannered leaders of the future.

Program Notes

A 2017 Study of Millennials – people born between 1981 - 1996 – today's homeschooling parents and tasked with teaching their children social skills and polite behavior is unsettling. The study reveals many feel challenged as role models of good social skills.

What are Social Skills?

These are the skills we use every day to interact and communicate with each other. We are not speaking in this podcast about people with disabilities who struggle in this area or are unable to communicate in a typical way.

But let's dig deeper. We are talking about courtesy and manners. A polite society that is sadly lacking in today's culture. Things like 

The root of the word "rude" is interesting: it comes from the Latin rudis, meaning 

unsophisticated, which remains its primary definition today. In the late Middle Ages, the word came to mean ill-mannered, which is the opposite of polite.

Simple, Practical Lessons 

These will help your children be comfortable in any situation and allow them to succeed in all social situations. Remember, it is never a formality to practice good manners.

In Summary - There is a reason to teach etiquette and good manners; it's not to place yourself above others but to recognize other people's feelings and accommodate their needs.

Sources

You can't go wrong with Emily Post

https://amzn.to/3lD61Xk

Manners in God's House

https://amzn.to/3FLey13

The Compleat Gentleman, The Modern Man's Guide to Chivalry

https://amzn.to/3lEMENG

Teaching our children "how to" work is a lesson too often overlooked. The consequences of this oversight can last a lifetime, robbing our children of reaching their full potential as faithful servants of God and role models for their children. 

In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss why teaching "how-to" work is critical in raising strong and independent children. They make a convincing case for why today, more than ever, we must train our kids how to work for them to become responsible adults. And they show us, practically and simply, how to do it.

Why Aren't They Working?

I heard on the news the other day that two jobs are available for every person seeking employment. People stay out of the workforce for many reasons, but most of us agree that we want our children to have a strong work ethic. We want them to have the competence and self-confidence that comes from working – having a job.

So how can you give your children a strong work ethic? Much the same answer to the old NY joke about how to get to Carnegie Hall – practice, practice!

Younger kids

A big part of the problem today is that we don't NEED our children's labor. In times past, when most families lived on farms, daily life was so labor intensive that children were taught to provide essential services early on. They hauled wood and water, gathered eggs, shoveled manure, and fed livestock as soon as they were physically able – often at five or six. 

Now we would be thrilled if they made their beds!!!

Simple Lessons Will Yield Lifelong Habits

As they get older, give them regular chores for which they have full responsibility. 

A Word about Allowances

I never believed in paying kids because they breathe. I don't even believe in it for carrying out regular chores. No one pays me for cooking and cleaning. I occasionally offered a sum for a major job like cleaning out the garage. We all shared responsibility, and we all shared generosity.

Teen Years

Bottom Line

It is important to learn how to navigate the real world of employment. 

Show up – on time – and do the job you are being paid to do.