Tag: children

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Encourage early start on volunteering

Most children like the idea of helping others. Parents find this out when they ask their children to help pick up their toys or help set the table or clean up dishes after a meal.

We’ve encouraged our grandchildren to help when they visit our house. They seem happy to assist us, and I’m pleased to see they help when they visit other places.

Volunteering — like so many things — begins in the home. But it’s also important to teach kids about helping others outside of the home. As followers of Christ, we have an extra incentive in living out His commandment to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.

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Robert Enright

Forgiveness education for children, adolescents

Robert Enright

Fifth in a series of seven articles on forgiveness.

All of a sudden, Martha, age 28, found herself unable to cope with life.

Until now, the challenges were few and manageable. She grew up in a stable two-parent household, was an excellent student, and graduated from a university. She married and was blessed with two young children.

Difficulty coping

Four weeks ago, her husband suddenly and unexpectedly asked for a divorce. This is something for which Martha was unprepared.

She is having trouble sleeping, sometimes is not patient with the children, and is constantly tired. She wishes to forgive, but she is unsure how to accomplish this. “I am confused, angry, and scared. I do not know how to even start forgiving him” is her honest response.

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Chris Lee

Diocese offers ‘Protecting God’s Children for Parents’

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison’s Office of Safe Environment is offering a special session of “Protecting God’s Children for Parents.” This session will be held Tuesday, March 21, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Bishop O’Connor Center Auditorium Conference Room.

While this session is geared toward parents/guardians, it also satisfies the compliance requirement for employees and volunteers.

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Kevin Wondrash

Monona parish hosts talk on impact of anxiety on children

MONONA — Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish will host “Understanding the Impact of Anxiety on Children,” a talk by Justin Bangert, MS, LMFT, of the Center for Christian Counseling, Consultation, and Training, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Marian Hall, 4913 Schofield St.

Parents of children of all ages are invited to the discussion about the common and uncommon effects anxiety may have on children.

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Julianne Nornberg

Sharing, teaching God’s love with children

Everyday Faith column by Julianne Nornberg

The face of my four-year-old scrunched up as he sounded out a word in a book. “Gah,” he said, successfully figuring out the sound of the letter “G.”

He considered the next letter, “O,” thought a moment, then said, “Ahh.”

Finally he got to the last letter, “D,” and put the sounds together. “Gah-ahh-dd,” he said slowly, enunciating each letter individually, his eyebrows knit in concentration.

“Gahd.”

Suddenly, his eyes flew open, his eyebrows shot up, and the light of understanding emanated from his joyous grin as he shouted out, “God! It says God!”

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Julianne Nornberg

Asking for forgiveness through our humility

Everyday Faith column by Julianne Nornberg

“Kids! Set the table! Finish vacuuming!”

My voice roared through the house as I struggled to complete the task of getting dinner on the table for my family of six. It was 5:55, and Daddy would be home shortly.

Homework was scattered across the table, toys littered the living room floor, the two little ones were bickering downstairs, and the two older ones, lost in books, were reluctant to tackle their chores.

The general chaos of the household suddenly set me on fire as I caved in to the feelings of stress and anger that erupted on the surface.

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Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

A Mother’s Day gift: paid maternity leave

Did you know that women are the sole breadwinners in nearly half of U.S. households?

Yet, when women give birth to a baby, 88 percent of them are paid nothing in the weeks they take off after having a child.

These statistics were reported in an article by Cindy Goodman in the Miami Herald entitled, “Best Mother’s Day gift: paid maternity leave.”

As we approach Mother’s Day on May 8, it’s a time to thank and celebrate all mothers who gave us the gift of life.

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Jean Mueller

Alleviating concerns of adult children

I know most of the time children are writing in to you to ask questions about their aging parent. Well, this is the opposite.

I am a 79-year-old mother who is being “smothered” by my children. All of a sudden they think I can’t do anything on my own. They think I should stop driving and that I should sell my house; the list goes on and on.

My husband passed away several years ago and I have been just fine on my own. I feel I am in good health and really just want them to stop worrying about me. Do you have any suggestions? (From a mother in Portage)

You are obviously a very good parent and are so blessed to have such caring, concerned children. I know several others who would love to have this kind of attention from their children.

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