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Marriage & Parenting Resources

The site links below are resources for parents,
to help them love and care for their children
with a self-giving, life-giving and dignity-respecting love
(truly living their Faith),
and raise them in a fully Catholic way.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
"Bring up your children in the ways and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

First and most importantly, it all starts with
A Healthy Marriage

Here is a great book on making and keeping a marriage healthy: For Better…Forever

To have a "real relationship" you have to be willing to get real with one another. This means real talk.
To do this you need a clear understanding of your feelings and be able to communicate them to one another.
Here is a great tip from Marriage Encounters, as well as a link to their online Dialog Companion resource.

Always express your true feelings to one another.
The "I THINK vs. I FEEL" rule can help.
_______________________________________________

When issues or arguments arise and you're about to
tell someone how they've made you "feel",...

...if you can substitute "I am" for "I feel",
you are expressing a true feeling (emotion).

...if you can only substitute "I think" or "I believe" for "I feel",
it's just a thought or judgment, and better left unsaid.

Click here for the online Dialog Companion from Marriage Encounters.
(wwme.org)

Below is an anonymous poem about being real with others:

The Dilemma

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk rejection
To place your dreams before a crowd is to risk ridicule
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure

But risks must be taken
because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing
does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrows,
but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow, or love.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave -
he has forfeited his freedom.
Only a person who takes risks is FREE.

Click here for a Path to Understanding Intimacy with God.
(lifeaftersunday.com) [printer-friendly version]

Click here for a great essay on Understanding Behavior and Intimacy Disorder.
(pureintimacy.org)

E5 Men
“Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.” (Eph. 5)
Jesus gave up his body for his bride, the Church, and E5 Men give up their bodies for their brides through fasting.

These two site links offer help with Troubled Marriages:

http://www.retrouville.org
http://www.wwme.org

(See also our Health & Wholeness section.)

Parenting 101

The Best Parenting Guide we’ve seen so far is: Parenting With Grace

(See also our Catholic Family Handbook section.)

Here is our all-important info sheet on Affirming Your Child!!! - It's not all about "praise".

http://www.attachmentparenting.org/index.html

http://askdrsears.com/resources.asp

http://www.naturalchild.org/articles/

http://www.focusonyourchild.com/develop/art1/

http://catholicparenting.com/

http://www.parentleadership.com/borntoserve.html

Click here for Plain Talk About Spanking
- and click here for 9 Things To Do Instead Of Spanking

Click here for Helping Your Child Deal With Bullies

.
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Understanding Child Sexual Development
and Teaching Children Healthy Sexuality

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

The Basic Four Temperaments
.

Here are some pages with real-world reflections
to help us in our daily walk and spiritual growth:
Catholic Manhood (from Catholic Exchange)
Parenting and Family (from Catholic Exchange)
Other Real-World Topics (from Dads.org)
Minute Meditations (from American Catholic)

For crafts and activities to match the Church's liturgical season,
visit these Catholic Culture and Catholic Parenting links.

Modesty Guidelines, Modest Clothing, Modest Dress:
Click here for a list of Modest Clothing online shopping links
(colleenhammond.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/resources.html)
...and PureFasion.com is a modelling program that offers modesty guidelines
and teaches the importance of living a life in accordance with God's will
and fostering a life of grace through purity of heart, mind, and body.
Models participate in an eight month Model Training Program covering:
public speaking, manners and social graces, hair and make up artistry, personal presentation and much more.

Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM)
- advocate for families and human dignity at the U.N.

Family Research Council
- public advocacy on behalf of families.

Institute for Marriage and Public Policy
- aspires to be the main place for the same-sex marriage debate.

Click here to order Free Catholic CDs and Audio Tapes
(catholicity.com)

FamilyHonor.org - Sexuality education at its best! (for kids and parents)

Family Honor was created in 1987 to help provide opportunities for parents and children to connect on important life values, with a special emphasis on chastity and the goodness of God's gift of sexuality.

Their four main presentations (described below) teach life-changing truths to parents and their children in a clear, engaging, faithful and age-appropriate manner. The presenters have each been formally trained in the following areas, the truths of which are woven beautifully into the fabric of their presentations: Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, chastity and virtue, fertility appreciation, family systems and healthy family life, psychosexual development of children and adolescents, research on abstinence education, communication skills that support family “connectedness”, and history/trends in sex education.

Leading & Loving - can help parents develop better parenting skills and learn to build a stronger family. Topics include: self-worth vs. self-esteem, effective communication skills, understanding child psychosexual development, fertility appreciation and much more. For parents only that have children up to age 14.

Changes & Challenges - teaches about God's wonderful gift of fertility and about the beauty of becoming an adult. Topics include: fertility appreciation, how babies grow in the mother's body, understanding the virtue of chastity, the SPICE concept (five dimensions of human personhood: spiritual, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional), and whole-person sexuality. For parents with their 6th grade sons or daughters.

Real Love & Real Life - teaches parents and adolescents to build a better family life by learning to communicate, anticipate and deal with changes. Topics include: fertility appreciation, learning about appropriate future dating behavior (as in older teens), developing values and responsibilities in the family, the changes in adolescence, and much more. For parents along with their 7th or 8th grade sons or daughters.

Created to Love - helps parents and teens maintain good communication and "connectedness" even as the teens move toward adulthood. Topics include: effective communication, fertility appreciation, dating, love vs. infatuation, and much more. Even as they move toward independence, teens still look to parents for guidance and support. This program can recharge that important relationship. For parents along with their 10th, 11th or 12th grade sons or daughters.

Click here for Helpful info about homosexuality
(couragerc.net)

and click below for some real solid
Medical and psychological research regarding homosexuality.
(Catholic Medical Association)

Protecting Our Kids
(guarding against Sex Offenders, Drugs, Pornography, Objectionable Movies/TV/Internet, Unsafe Toys/Products, etc.)

National Runaway Switchboard

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Protect Against Sex Offenders - See a local map with buttons that show pictures and locations.
(familywatchdog.us)

Protect Against Drugs - Helpful info about various drugs, drug abuse, and talking about drugs.
(theantidrug.com)

http://www.treatment4addiction.com

http://12-step-review.org
http://www.lightweigh.com
http://www.whodoesithurt.com
http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com
http://www.pornnomore.com
http://www.trueknights.org

TV, Movie & Music Reviews

http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/familyguide/weekly.asp

http://www.usccb.org/movies/index.htm

http://dove.org/reviews.asp

http://www.screenit.com/all_titles.html

http://www.catholicmoviereview.org

http://www.decentfilms.com

http://www.parentalguide.org/movies.html

Internet Safety & Media Filtering

FREE filter for your Computer. Prevent impure websites and search results. - http://www.k9webprotection.com
- If you have Windows 2000, install the version below instead (still get a free license code for each PC from above link):
http://www.k9webprotection.com/download/v4/k9-webprotection-4.0.288.exe

http://www.ClearPlay.com - DVD players that filter both profanity and objectionable scenes.
http://www.TVGuardian.com - TV/Movie filtering devices for muting profanity (audio only).

Click here for more good about Internet Safety
(getnetwise.org)

Click here for some great Safe Internet Sites for Kids

Product Safety Reports & Recalls

http://toysafety.org

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Social Youth Groups & Fun Activities

(See also our Kids Links page.)

Find a local youth group through the Catholic Youth World Network
(cywn.net)

Or find a local parish that offers a LifeTeen program
(lifeteen.org)

Or see the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)
(focusonline.org)

Click here for some 'Good Clean Fun' Activities

Here is a link to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting

Learn how to Play Harmonica here for Free

The All-American Boy's Adventure Catalog

The Beautiful Girlhood Collection

Straight Talk on Love and Dating

(See also our Love Life and Pro-Life sections.)

http://www.godofdesire.com

http://www.lovematters.com

http://www.pureloveclub.com

http://www.covenanthouse.org/

http://www.godspy.com/life/index.cfm

What about SEX ?

(See also our True Love, Dignity, Virtue & Sexuality section.)

IMPORTANT:

For anyone facing an unwanted pregnancy and
the many worries, fears and difficulties that are associated:
please first see the following links to be fully informed about
all your options, including housing, education and career help, adoption attorneys, agencies and couples, and abortion facts.
http://www.pregnancycenters.org/
http://www.birthright.org
http://www.nurturingnetwork.org/needhelp.html
http://www.bethany.org
http://www.abortionfacts.com
http://www.physiciansforlife.org
- for solid medical info about pregnancy, abortion & alternatives.
Elliott Institute
- a leading researcher on how abortion harms women.
http://www.secondlookproject.org/
- for info about partial-birth abortion.

Covenant House
- provides shelter and services to homeless and runaway youth.
Good Counsel Homes
- provides homes and support for pregnant single women.

For anyone who may have already had an abortion:
please see the following links for real help, healing and hope.
http://www.abortionrecovery.org/
http://www.postabortionhelp.org/
http://www.hopeafterabortion.com
http://www.afterabortion.org/healing/index.htm
http://www.projectrachelboston.com
http://www.rachelsvineyard.org

FamilyHonor.org - Sexuality education at its best! (for kids and parents)

Changes & Challenges - teaches about God's wonderful gift of fertility and about the beauty of becoming an adult. Topics include: fertility appreciation, how babies grow in the mother's body, understanding the virtue of chastity, the SPICE concept (five dimensions of human personhood: spiritual, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional), and whole-person sexuality. For parents with their 6th grade sons or daughters.

Real Love & Real Life - teaches parents and adolescents to build a better family life by learning to communicate, anticipate and deal with changes. Topics include: fertility appreciation, learning about appropriate future dating behavior (as in older teens), developing values and responsibilities in the family, the changes in adolescence, and much more. For parents along with their 7th or 8th grade sons or daughters.

Created to Love - helps parents and teens maintain good communication and "connectedness" even as the teens move toward adulthood. Topics include: effective communication, fertility appreciation, dating, love vs. infatuation, and much more. Even as they move toward independence, teens still look to parents for guidance and support. This program can recharge that important relationship. For parents along with their 10th, 11th or 12th grade sons or daughters.

Teaching Youth to Live & Defend the Faith

Click here for the Basic Essentials of the Catholic Faith
(therealpresence.org)

http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/

http://opusangelorum.org/Friends/Friends.html

http://www.faithfirst.com

http://www.catholiceducation.org

http://www.catecheticalresources.com/Teacher_Resources.htm

Our favorite sacramental preparation program: God's Gift by Loyola Press

For kids, see the clever flash cards from Ascension Press called "Friendly Defenders":
http://www.friendlydefenders.com/index2.htm

Just For Kids by CatholicParenting.com provides
coloring pages, crafts, puzzles and more.

And here are three more great children's books:
1. The Rosary Comic Book
2. The Squire and the Scroll
3. The Princess and the Kiss

And here's a great prayer site for young children
(catholicireland.net/talk2god)

Click here for the best Vacation Bible School program provider we've seen.
(groupvbs.com)

Click here for our page on The Virtues - with links to
two other great sites that further expound upon them.

(See also our Examinations of Conscience section.)

Other Resources for Parents or Future Parents

Here is a great book on making and keeping a marriage healthy: For Better…Forever

Couple-to-Couple League / Natural Family Planning

La Leche / Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing

Click here for a GREAT book on Setting Boundaries with Children

Click here for a GREAT book on Setting Boundaries for Yourself

Click here to Find a Pro-Life Ob/Gyn

Click here to Find a Pro-Life Physician

...and for those struggling with End-of-Life issues:
Click here for A CATHOLIC GUIDE TO END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS
(National Catholic Bioethics Center, ncbcenter.org)
See also John Paul II’s Address on Nutrition and Hydration for Patients in PVS
(ncbcenter.org)
and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services
(National Conference of Catholic Bishops, NCCB)
Visit the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity for various other topics regarding
defending and promoting human dignity in scientific research and medical practice.
(cbhd.org)

Attention Parents:
Click here for
How to Nurture Vocations
to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life

These two site links offer help with Troubled Marriages:
http://www.retrouville.org
http://www.wwme.org
...and here is a great book on making/keeping marriages healthy: For Better…Forever

Catholic therapists, counselors and psychology:
Click here for Guidelines for Selecting a Counselor or Therapist
(pureintimacy.org)
Click here to Find a Catholic Therapist
(catholictherapists.com)
…and here’s Another Good Catholic Counseling Service
(exceptionalmarriages.com)

Note: Not all Catholic therapists are yet listed on CatholicTherapists.com,
so you can also go to the Association of Christian Therapists (ACT)
and look up your regional ACT contact.
You'll then need to contact that person yourself and ask them to
provide you with a list of "Catholic" therapists in your area.

Not ready to speak with a therapist?

Learn about Emotional Deprivation Disorder and how
Affirmation Therapy is one of the best Catholic psychologies available
(if you're lucky enough to have a Baars therapist in your area).
(conradbaars.com)

Also A Guide to Psychology and its Practice is a website that provides
professional psychological information and answers absolutely free.
(guidetopsychology.com)
Click here for Descriptions of Common Psychiatric & Psychological Disorders.
(saintmichael.net)
Click here for a great essay on Understanding Behavior and Intimacy Disorder.
(pureintimacy.org)

See also our Crisis & Charity Resources section for help handling
serious, difficult, or overwhelming life issues.

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Faith Life	Prayer Life	Love Life	*Family Life*	Civic Life
Marriage & Parenting Resources · *Catholic Family Handbook* · Nurturing Vocations Education Resources · Catholic Youth Stuff · Crisis, Pro-Life & Recovery Resources

Catholic Family Handbook

The site link below is to an online version of the classic
Catholic Family Handbook - another resource for parents,
to help them love and care for their children
with a self-giving and dignity-respecting love
(truly living their Faith),
and raise them in a fully Catholic way.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
"Bring up your children in the ways and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

Click here to read the classic Catholic Family Handbook online
(http://home.earthlink.net/~cantj59/tcfh.html)

Attention Parents:
Click here for
How to Nurture Vocations
to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life

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Faith Life	Prayer Life	Love Life	*Family Life*	Civic Life
Marriage & Parenting Resources · Catholic Family Handbook · Nurturing Vocations *Education Resources* · Catholic Youth Stuff · Crisis, Pro-Life & Recovery Resources

Education Resources

Spiritual Education of Children | Scholastic Education (including Homeschooling)

The site links below are resources for parents,
to help them educate their children
and raise them in a truly Catholic way.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
"Bring up your children in the ways and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

SPIRITUAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
The following links can help educate children (and parents) in the faith at home:

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
(ewtn.com)

Click here for a little Fuller Presentation of the Faith
(ewtn.com)

Click here for the Basic Essentials of the Catholic Faith
(therealpresence.org)

http://opusangelorum.org/Friends/Friends.html

http://www.faithfirst.com

http://www.catholiceducation.org

http://www.catecheticalresources.com/Teacher_Resources.htm

For kids, see the clever flash cards from Ascension Press called "Friendly Defenders":
http://www.friendlydefenders.com/index2.htm

Just For Kids by CatholicParenting.com provides
coloring pages, crafts, puzzles and more.

And here are three more great children's books:
1. The Rosary Comic Book
http://www.pauline.org/store/moreinfo/081986479X.html
2. The Princess and the Kiss
3. The Squire and the Scroll
... - A nice review of books 2 & 3 can be found at
http://www.love2learn.net/literature/littleones/litlit.htm

And here's a great prayer site for young children
(catholicireland.net/talk2god)

Click here for the best Vacation Bible School program provider we've seen.
(groupvbs.com)

Click here for our page on The Virtues - with links to
two other great sites that further expound upon them.

SCHOLASTIC EDUCATION (INCLUDING HOMESCHOOLING)
The following links provide info regarding the scholastic education of children:

Standards of Expected Learning & Knowledge

Core Knowledge Sequence [PDF]
(coreknowledge.org)

Useful information from Scholastic.com regarding Child Development

Useful information from Scholastic.com regarding School Help

Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture
- promotes Intelligent Design as alternative to Darwinism and Creationism.

Homeschooling Links

National Association of Catholic Home Educators
(nache.org)

Catholic Homeschool Support - includes a Catholic group lookup tool.
(catholichomeschool.org)

The Teaching Home - includes a general group lookup tool.
(teachinghome.com)

Homeschool Home Educators Resource Directory
- includes a general group lookup tool with lots of resources.
(homeeddirectory.com)

TORCH - Traditions Of Roman Catholic Homes
(catholic-homeschool.com)

Homeschooling Legal Advocacy

Home School Legal Defense Association
(hslda.org)
,

http://www.familylifecenter.net/article_category.asp?artCatId=11
-homeschooling articles

http://www.materamabilis.org
-a Catholic Charlotte Mason curriculum site
(highly recommended)

http://www.queenhomeschool.com
-another great Charlotte Mason materials resource
(highly recommended)

http://www.classicalhomeschooling.org
-a classical Trivium (Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric education) information site

http://www.catholichomeschooling.com
-sellers of Natural Structure: A Montessori Approach to Classical Education at Home
and other great resources.

http://www.michaelolaf.net and http://www.michaelolaf.com
-two more Montessori resources: method and materials, respectively.

http://www.kolbe.org

http://www.setonhome.org

http://www.staa-homeschool.com/

http://www.angelicum.net

A Beka is a very fun curriculum, especially for the very young.
(Note: Although it is not Catholic, it is Christian.)

Home Science Tools and Tobin's Lab
both sell great items and kits for hands-on science and discovery projects.
... Also check out the Discount School Supply website.

.
Fun and Educational Websites for Kids

Click here for our Kids' Links list of sites and site reviews

For crafts and activities to match the Church's liturgical season,
visit these Catholic Culture and Catholic Parenting links.

Click here for some Faith-Fun Cartoons
.

Click here for the Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College

Click here for a list of Mandatum Schools
- a growing list of U.S. Catholic Universities who publicly require
all Catholic theology professors to have the mandatum
(their bishop's recognition of their pledge to teach in
communion with the magisterium of the Church).
(ncregister.com)

Finding Archdiocese & Diocese Info
To link to, or find general information about,
the various dioceses, parishes and Catholic schools worldwide,
visit the site link below:
http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/qview.html

What about Social Justice?

(See our Catholic Social Justice section.)

...and for those struggling with End-of-Life issues:
Click here for A CATHOLIC GUIDE TO END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS
(National Catholic Bioethics Center, NCBC)
See also NCBC on John Paul II’s Address on Nutrition and Hydration for Patients in PVS
(ncbcenter.org)
and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services
(National Conference of Catholic Bishops, NCCB)
Visit the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity for various other topics regarding
defending and promoting human dignity in scientific research and medical practice.
(cbhd.org)

What about SEX ?

IMPORTANT:

Covenant House
- provides shelter and services to homeless and runaway youth.
Good Counsel Homes
- provides homes and support for pregnant single women.

What about Angels?

Father John A. Hardon is one of the Church's authorities on angels
as well as the author of the Catholic Catechism on the Angels,
Click here for online articles by Fr. Hardon explaining Angels
(therealpresence.org)

Click here to purchase a copy of the Catholic Catechism on the Angels
(lifeeternal.org)

Go to the top of this section >
Go to the Home page >
Go to the Site Map >

CathoLinks.com - Online Resources for the Faithful

[ Home ]

[ Site Map ]

[ Contacts ]

Faith Life	Prayer Life	Love Life	*Family Life*	Civic Life
Marriage & Parenting Resources · Catholic Family Handbook · Nurturing Vocations Education Resources · *Catholic Youth Stuff* · Crisis, Pro-Life & Recovery Resources

Catholic Youth Stuff

The site links below are for our Catholic youth,
- some resources to help them really know their faith,
view their world through the lens of that faith,
and live in a truly Catholic way.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
"Bring up your children in the ways and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

General Youth Sites

http://www.nextwavefaithful.com

http://www.lifeteen.org

http://www.lovematters.com

http://www.pureloveclub.com

http://www.catholicyouthweb.com

.
Fun and Educational Websites & Activities for Kids

Click here for our Kids' Links list of sites and site reviews

Click here for some 'Good Clean Fun' Activities

For crafts and activities to match the Church's liturgical season,
visit these Catholic Culture and Catholic Parenting links.

Click here for some Faith-Fun Cartoons
.

Modesty Guidelines, Modest Clothing, Modest Dress:
Click here for a list of Modest Clothing online shopping links
(colleenhammond.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/resources.html)
...and PureFasion.com is a modelling program that offers modesty guidelines
and teaches the importance of living a life in accordance with God's will
and fostering a life of grace through purity of heart, mind, and body.
Models participate in an eight month Model Training Program covering:
public speaking, manners and social graces, hair and make up artistry, personal presentation and much more.

Click here for our Media & Entertainment list

And here's a great prayer site for young children
(catholicireland.net/talk2god)

Click here for our page on The Virtues - with links to
two other great sites that further expound upon them.

Social Youth Groups & Fun Activities

(See also our Kids Links page.)

Find a local youth group through the Catholic Youth World Network
(cywn.net)

Or find a local parish that offers a LifeTeen program
(lifeteen.org)

Or see the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)
(focusonline.org)

Click here for some 'Good Clean Fun' Activities

Here is a link to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting

Learn how to Play Harmonica here for Free

The All-American Boy's Adventure Catalog

The Beautiful Girlhood Collection

Straight Talk on Love and Dating

http://www.godofdesire.com

http://www.lovematters.com

http://www.pureloveclub.com

What about SEX ?

IMPORTANT:

Covenant House
- provides shelter and services to homeless and runaway youth.
Good Counsel Homes
- provides homes and support for pregnant single women.