Parenting

hello everyone,its nice to be back.i hope everyone is well and preparing for the season.stay blessed.

I have 3 boys 2,4, & 6- I still occasionally bathe them together. I think my 6 yr old is probably getting close to wanting to shower alone- I think it really depends on the kid!! Good luck to you!!

MarisaJean- this is a tough one!! But I think you need to just level with her and be pretty tough- tell her that mommy just doesn't sleep very well when she sleeps with you and that it is just not ok to do this. You might consider telling her if she can stay in her bed all night for 5 nights, then you can have a slumber party on Sat night or something like that, Good Luck!! I'll be praying for you!

With a Catholic perspective, what do you think of bathing same sex brothers and sisters together, if so to what ages?

Hello all I am a single mother of a 4 y/o girl. Up until the age of 3 my daughter always slept in her own room and she was fine. Last year I finished school and let her have sleep overs with me, which I see now was a bad idea. I can't get her out of my bed. I've tried night lights, music, blankets, and reading books and nothing seems to be working. She doesn't get up when I put her there but she doesn't go to sleep either. It will be midnight and she will still be singing just so she doesn't have to sleep. But if I put her in my bed she is alseep within 2 minutes. Any suggestions? This year has taken a tole on me. I am constantly over tired. i just don't know how to break this BAD habit I started. Please help !!!!

Hi nguemo! Well to tell you the truth- it scares me to death! But like FPH, we live too far and it's way too expensive to send our kids to a good Catholic school, my 6 yr old did very well last year in the public school, but we see the influence of other kids and teachers that don't have our values and beliefs in him and that scares me even more. I am certainly not ready to do this yet, but we think it has to be an option for us!! We're still praying for direction!

hello myboysmommy, thank you for the warm welcome.home schooling is almost alien in my part of the world and it's interesting to read about families who actually home school or are at least thinking of it. i'm wondering where one would find the time AND the patience to actually attempt it.

Wanted to share this prayer I found- It's become one of my favorites!

O Lord who taught Monica to perservere for the good of her family, help me to be a better parent to my children. Help me to have patience with them when they misbehave, and give strength to guide them gently to the right path. Permit me always to forgive their misdeeds, and keep me from speaking harshly, or punishing unwisely. Please help me to be a beacon of goodness for them as they grow to adulthood, and to be a good example to them in all I say and do. Amen

AnotherChance- thanks so much for your post! I will check out Our Lady of Victory- It is a very intimidating endeavor, but you are right the decision gets to be a little less daunting with lots of prayer and information!! The biggest challenge I have is my 2 younger kids, I don't know if to keep my son in public school till the little one is at least pre-school age or if I should just jump in with both feet. I know the Lord will lead me to the right path- I just pray I have the courage to take it!!

FPH and myboysmommy: We are also praying about the homeschool option and are pretty much settled on that direction for this fall with our 5-year-old. I am leaning toward Our Lady of Victory curriculum. I used to teach in the public schools, but now I teach online part-time from home. I have been learning a lot aobut homeschooling over the past month or so since I have gotten serious about it. The more I learn and pray, the more convinced I am that this is the right choice for our family.

Hello FPH! I'm glad you have asked this question, I've been playing with this idea for awhile now- I'm currently doing some research locally but I can see if I can find out info or sites to share! I've been praying for some direction, I have a 6 yr old ready to start 1st grade and a 4 yr old that will start kdg fall of 2012 and then a 2 yr old and you're right- there has got to be a better option!! If I find something, I'll certainly share! Glad that you're here!