Catholic Parenting

November 13, 2010

The Critic & The EXTREME Parent

On a Friday night about eight years ago, I got myself into an argument with one of my college age children (“the college student”).  The argument centered around a certain movie that I thought was morally objectionable.  At one point, the college student blurted out: “Dad, most Catholics would not agree with you about this movie.  You’re too extreme when comes to things like this.  I can only think of two other people who would agree with you: grandmother (my mom) and Aunt Patty.”

November 7, 2010

A Revolution Against Fatherhood

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word revolution as “a sudden, radical, or complete change … a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something.”

October 30, 2010

Religion On A Sleeve

A Son and His Father

October 23, 2010

Say Hello To Your New “Friend”

In last week’s article, A Prowler In The House, I threw down the gauntlet and challenged fathers to start conducting surprise inspections of their son’s iPods, cell phones, computers, and other devices.*

October 16, 2010

A Prowler In The House

About 10 years ago I stopped by another attorney’s office to talk to him about a case we were working on together.  After we were finished discussing the case, I asked him how his two sons were doing.  He responded by telling me that he had recently caught his 18 year old son viewing pornography on the internet.  I asked him how he handled the situation and he said he told his son it was “silly” for him to be looking at pornographic pictures and videos on the internet.

October 9, 2010

The Ability To Avoid Surrender

Earlier this year in an article I wrote entitled Ambushed By My Cousin, I told you I was going to write 3 articles about how to raise boys into responsible Catholic men.  The articles were going to be entitled: (1) Hammerheads, Bricks & Challengers; (2) A Prowler In The House; and (3) Religion On A Sleeve

October 2, 2010

A Replaceable Commodity

When I was a junior in college, I got into a discussion with my dad about the role of large companies in America.  I remember the conversation like it was yesterday.  We were standing in the kitchen at my parents’ home and I told him I believed that one of the primary responsibilities of large companies was to provide employment for individuals.  He looked at me like I was a two headed creature from outer space and said, “You’re not going to get anywhere in life with that attitude.” 

September 25, 2010

Lombardi Time

Any discussion about what it takes to transform boys into men should always include a consideration of the lessons used by great coaches to train boys and young men on how to be winners.  Although I am not an avid fan of professional sports, I am a fan of the late Vince Lombardi who some claim was the greatest football coach of all time.  Before I talk about what Lombardi himself called “Lombardi Time,” I want to give you a brief summary of his life as a coach.

September 18, 2010

Walk Like A Matador

Do you know the name of the first grocery store in Peoria that had scanners at checkout lanes, instead of cash registers where everything had to be rung up one at a time by hand? I know the name of the store because I worked there when I was in high school. The store was Randall’s Foods and it was located in the Westlake Shopping Center, across the street from Northwoods’ Mall.