The family is the first school of virtue Discipline is the issue that we get the most questions about probably because there is so much conflicting advice for parents out there. The bottom line is that every couple must … Continue reading
Tag Archives: parenting
What are Children For?

Why does God give us children? He gives them to us to teach us to love Him. The problem for us is that loving God benefits us more than it benefits Him. He gave us life. We can’t give Him … Continue reading
MFP 149 : It’s a New Year! How are you doing?

“Let us begin again, brothers, for up until now, we have done nothing.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi January is a time of beginnings and new resolutions. The best way to make plans for the future is to … Continue reading
MFP 148 : Bring Your Kids to Christ, an interview with Colin and Aimee MacIver

We are asked very often how parents can create an environment in the home that will keep their kids close to the faith. To help give parents even more resources for this, we decided to interview Colin and Aimee MacIver, … Continue reading
Sibling Challenges

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is another brother or sister. But as parents, our responsibility isn’t just to provide those siblings and just walk away saying, “Hope it all works out!” We need to provide … Continue reading
Messy Family Minute #28: Online Influence

MFP 147: Judgy Parents, Toddlers in Stores and Mean Teens

In this podcast, we discuss some good and challenging topics suggested by listeners.The first one is about parenting advice. Many parents who look for advice from friends are give absolute declarations about the “only way” to parent. But in reality, … Continue reading
Messy Family Minute #25: Sibling Conflict

Messy Family Project · MFM 25 – Sibling Conflict This is Mike and Alicia Hernon with a Messy Family Minute. St. John Paul II tells us that the family is the school of virtue, but for many parents, it feels … Continue reading
MFP 145 : What every parent needs to know about screens and technology

If parents help kids develop good habits, they improve the odds. If permissive and let kids do what they want, the odds are now against you. – Dr. Leonard Sax The use of technology is a major issue in … Continue reading
MFP 144 : Personal Prayer for Parents

“Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for Him.” ~Saint Augustine Many times when we think about taking time to pray parents’ first reaction is … Continue reading
MFP 143 : Wisdom for couples and parents from Scott and Kimberly Hahn

We have a treat for you as we are sharing a special date night interview with Scott and Kimberly Hahn. They have been married for 40 years and have six children along with eighteen grandchildren. They are world-renowned Catholic evangelists, … Continue reading
MFP 142 : Kids and Kindness

“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” Ephesians 4:32 After 26 years of parenting you would think that we knew how to promote an atmosphere of virtue in our home … Continue reading
Messy Family Minute #24: Failure

Messy Family Project · MFM024 – Failure This is a Messy Family Minute from Mike and Alicia Hernon. Have you ever felt like a failure? A failure at work? At home? In your marriage? One of the ways to overcome … Continue reading
Messy Family Minute #23: Identity

Messy Family Project · MFM023- Identity This is a Messy Family Minute from Mike and Alicia Hernon. Many people, especially young people in our culture today, are feeling fragmented and lost. They don’t know who they are or where they … Continue reading
MFP 140 : Dealing with Failure
“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father’s love for us” ~St. John Paul II All parents will fail. How do we know this? Because we are all imperfect! Many … Continue reading
Parents and the Law of Love

A rules-first approach to Faith can lead to rebellion as children mature Article from Catholic Answers Online Magazine by Michael and Alicia Hernon This summer we had the great pleasure of speaking to hundreds of Catholic families at five different … Continue reading
MFP 138 : Non-practicing Spouses, Mouthy Teens, and Keeping Kids Catholic

The family is so important because, when it’s lived well, it teaches us how to be really human. It’s a school in how to love. – Archbishop Chaput In this podcast we continue to answer some very important listener … Continue reading
MFP 137 : Toxic Relationships, Social Media, and Talking to Kids about Sex

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 Listeners send us questions all the time and … Continue reading