Motherhood

How to Teach Your Kids the Catholic Faith: Video Series

THE THREE KEYS TO TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN THE FAITH

As Catholic Parents we have the honor and obligation to pass the faith along to our children. But, this can be hard and tricky work. Our children are well, children, and many of us are imperfect and were imperfectly formed in our own faith.

However, God made you a Catholic Parent, and therefore you need to really fight for your own faith and the faith of your children.

This video is the first in a series of videos that will help you understand how you can be an effective teacher of the Catholic Faith.

The 3 keys to teaching the faith are:
1. Personal Prayer Life
2. Profoundly Trusting God
3. Trying your best to teach.

KEEP SCROLLING TO WATCH ALL OF THE VIDEOS! They are a series and were created to be watched together.

KEY #1: PERSONAL PRAYER LIFE

The first key to teaching you children the #catholicfaith is to remain grounded in and sustained by PRAYER. That’s right, before teaching the children in your life the Catholic Faith you need to work on YOU first and make sure that you are connected to God.

As Catholic Parents our first work is to create a DAILY, DEDICATED prayer time for ourselves. I hear from Catholic Parents ALL THE TIME that they just don’t have 10 minutes a day to use for prayer. In fact, I used to feel this way myself, but you do have time to pray, you just aren’t making prayer a priority…but you need to do this!

If you are frustrated that you don’t have time to pray during this busy time of raising Catholic Kids, please consider taking this FREE 7 day email course for Catholic Parents. It is called RECLAIM THE DAY, because once your priorities are in order you WILL be able to live better and find time to pray. Join here: https://catholicsprouts.com/reclaim-the-day.

KEY #2: PROFOUND TRUST IN GOD

The 2nd Key to teaching the #catholicfaith is to have a profound level of trust in God.

Yes, don’t dive into lessons plans and Pinterest crafts yet! Effectively teaching the Catholic faith must first be grounded in faith.

1. In order to be a good teacher of the faith, you need to be a trusting believer.
—Do you trust all that the church professes to be true? Even the things that you might not understand.
—Do you trust that God cares specifically about you?
—Do you trust that God is real and alive and active in the world today?
2. God has chosen you for the vocation of Motherhood, and charged you with the task of teaching the faith. God does not inspire us to do things that we won’t be able to achieve. Through His help we need to trust that we will be able to teach our children the faith.
3. Progress in this work will be slow and frustrating.
—Faith that God can bless your small efforts.

KEY #3: WILLINGNESS TO TRY

The 3rd Key to teaching your children the #catholicfaith is to TRY! That’s right, in this video we will finally talk about what we can DO to actually teach…but we are going to TRY our very best…and know that whether our work is fruitful is completely up to God.

So, let’s endeavor to teach our children the catholic faith! Here are the ideas I outline in the video:

1. Creating Situations to Learn with your Children
ex: Coloring and Read-aloud Books
2. Use on-going Devotionals and Lessons
ex: Jesse Tree (advent), Jesus Tree (Lent) and Catholic Sprouts (listen here: https://dosmallthingswithlove.com/catholic-sprouts)
3. Create a home where faith can flourish
ex: Turn off the TV, make room for silence, Make a habit of discussing the readings/homilies, Direct your conversations toward God, and Provide Catholic Activities the Kids can reach for on their own.

Some of the resources mentioned in this video:
Catholic Coloring Pages: https://catholicsprouts.com/free-ABC-catholic-coloring-pages
Jesse Tree Advent Devotional: https://catholicsprouts.com/jesse-tree
Catholic Sprouts Podcast: https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts
Saints in Pearlier Bead/Cross Stitch: https://catholicsprouts.com/the-catholic-saints-in-cross-stitch-the-book/

How to be a Better Mom

by Nancy Bandzuch · 2 Comments

As a modern mother we are constantly struggling between two extremes: Trying to be a Super Mom and failing, and then falling into guilt and self-loathing.

But, this is not the vocation we are called to as mothers. There is a better way for us Catholic Mothers and the model for this better way is St. Therese.

The Little Way of St. Therese is path to holiness for the rest of us. Instead of climbing a mountain to holiness, it is like riding an elevator, which is the very arms of Jesus Christ. And the little way is really the KEY to being the mother you were created to be!!

The little way to holiness is a reminder that if God put the desire for holiness–and to be a good mother–then because he is a good and just God there will be a way to do this. In order to walk this Little Way of Motherhood, we need to stop trying to be and do everything and instead, Let Go and Let God.

The little way also reminds us that the little things matter–and as mothers our live is FULL of little things like diapers and dishes. Each of these little things is an opportunity to love. And to God, nothing is little. Everything matters and everything is important to God.

To help you really take this message to hear, I invite you to download a FREE COLORING PAGE to reflect on the little way of St. Therese, head here:
https://pages.convertkit.com/30f283e8bf/20db6eab1b

I also SERIOUSLY encourage you to look at your priories. Are they in order? If you feel a little out-of-whack, I encourage you to take this FREE EMAIL COURSE. It is simple and has changed so many lives already. Sign up here: https://www.catholicsprouts.com/reclaim-the-day

Make sure to listen to the DAILY PODCAST FOR CATHOLIC KIDS!
https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts

And, join us on Facebook!!!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125545047685401/

Thanks for being here–and don’t worry! Motherhood is HARD! We are all making mistakes each and everyday. But keep fighting, keep working, and keep praying!

Your sister in the small things,

How to Live Liturgically as a Catholic Family

by Nancy Bandzuch · Leave a Comment

Do you wish that your Catholic Family lived more liturgically, but struggle to do all that you think is required to live liturgically as Catholics?

Well, it is time to stop feeling guilty, and instead embrace these simple ideas to start living in tune with our beautiful Catholic Church. In the video I share some simple, doable ideas that ANY Catholic Family can embrace right now. Don’t stress about living liturgically. It can be done, and it can be done easily.

Here are a few ideas.

1. Start Reading the Daily Reading.

This will keep you in tune with the church. To get the daily readings consider using the Laudate App, or going to the USCCB website. Simply reading the readings can REALLY help you stay in touch with the liturgical season.

2. Take advantage of free resources.

I like to read the daily reflections from Bishop Baron (Word on Fire). I also read the daily reflections from Blessed is She. There are lots of other options, and they are all free.

You can also take advantage of free resources for KIDS!! Make sure to listen in to the daily podcast for Catholic Kids!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm7nk3SkLtg0bYbSkXF6qTQ
This is a super easy way to help your kids stay in season with the church.

3. Finally, pick out a few feast days and plan ahead! it is good to celebrate and often times kids need so activities to pull them into the harder seasons like Lent and Advent.

Join the private Facebook group for Catholic Parents!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125545047685401/

Thank you so much for being here! And don’t worry, do what you can. There is no need to celebrate EVERY feast day. In fact, if you did that you would be celebrating everyday, and that is not how we are called to live! But, with some simply planning you can live in rhythm with the church, and living this way is fun, and a great gift for you children.

Daily Docket: Day Planner for Catholic Moms

Finally live with your priorities in order with the Daily Docket for Catholic Mothers.

The Daily Docket is a simple page you fill out every morning that asks you to plan correctly and gets your day started right.

There is room to plan all of the practical needs of your day as well!

Grab a printed booklet with 150 planning pages for just $7, or 2 booklets for $10.

Daily Docket Booklet for $7

2 Daily Docket Booklets for $10

Because life really can be lived a little bit better. It just takes a little planning.

Your sister in the small things,

J1ST 072: A Year Later

by Nancy Bandzuch · 2 Comments

LISTEN ON ITUNES

LISTEN ON ANDROID

Hey there friends!

I am taking a break from all of the wonderful guests (I hope you loved hearing from them as much as I enjoyed talking with them!).

So, instead of having a guest, I am taking minute to share personally (yikes!). I am actually an introvert, and would rather talk about other people, but since it has been a year since we lost Max at 20 weeks. That loss was a tremendously transformative event. I talk about the amazing experience I had while loosing that baby in this episode: https://www.catholicsprouts.com/2017/12/j1st-022-on-still-being-here.html.

It has been a very full year since we lost Max. Life has kept moving forward, that is for sure! We suffered another miscarriage, and are now about 27 weeks along with another little boy. I shared about that miscarriage in this podcast episode: https://www.catholicsprouts.com/2018/05/j1st-046-when-trusting-feels-foolish.html

Most profoundly, though, both my husband and I have really grown in a devotion to Mary. We aren’t perfect, but we are at the point where if we slack in our devotion for even a day, we FEEL it. I really feel like we depend on her. I thank our little Max in heaven and St. Maximillian Kolbe for helping me embrace this devotion.

If you have yet to listen into the Catholic Sprout’s Podcast, I really encourage you to tune in! Find all of the listening options here: https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts

In the episode I also discuss a major shift that I plan to take in the coming year. I plan to focus more on Catholic Kids and Catholic Families, and will be producing more content under the banner of Catholic Sprouts. Find all of the listening options here: https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts

My first major project is a new Youtube channel! Crazy, right?!? The channel is called Catholic Sprouts for Moms. It is a channel for Catholic Parents, where I hope to help you raise saints, and answer questions we all have as Catholic Parents. I would love to have you jump over to Youtube and watch the first couple videos. Head here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC45d_VVnoX-VMYNy7OECo2A

And finally, if you are still looking for Advent ideas, head here! I’m obsessed with Advent: https://catholicsprouts.com/advent

Thank you for all of your love and support!!

Your sister in the small things,