As a Christian dad, you’re called to be the spiritual leader of your family. In a big family, where challenges like financial strain or societal pressures can test your faith, your spiritual strength is a beacon. Speaking from my Catholic perspective and expanding on Catholic ideals (though these apply to all Christian brethren), spiritual strength… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Three – Leading with Spiritual Strength
Tag: stress
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
As a dad, your mental strength is the bedrock of your family’s stability. In a big family, chaos is constant, from spilled juice to sibling squabbles to unexpected bills. Mental strength isn’t about never feeling stressed; it’s about adopting a selfless mentality that shows your kids how to face life’s challenges with grit and grace.… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Our house is small, much smaller than most people would probably believe. I know people with half the kids I have who live in a house that’s literally 3.5 times the size of our house (not a joke or an exaggeration either) because they “outgrew” their previous house which was only twice the size of… Continue reading Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Nineteen: Hello World! Redux
We are officially, as of 10:02 am, Monday, May 19th, a family of eight (how is that possible?!?)! I’ll keep this one very brief by saying only a few things, the most important of which is…. We are so excited to have our other bookend to hold all of the boys together! God has truly… Continue reading Nineteen: Hello World! Redux
Fifteen: Why the Slate Truck Sparks Joy for Our Big Family of (Almost!) Eight
A little something different today…. As a dad of five (soon six!) rambunctious kids, I never thought I’d be daydreaming about a two-seat electric pickup. With car seats, baseball and ballet gear, and enough snacks to feed a small army, our family’s rides usually scream “minivan or bust” (actually, our Honda Pilot isn’t a minivan, but I… Continue reading Fifteen: Why the Slate Truck Sparks Joy for Our Big Family of (Almost!) Eight
Random Musings # 6
I recently had the opportunity to take a group of students to hear author Stephanie Land speak about her book, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive. It was quite the experience to hear her speak about how she knew she had a good story to tell but didn’t think anyone… Continue reading Random Musings # 6
Thirteen: So Many Little Questions: A Dad’s Insight
Sometimes, my life feels like one, (very) long Q&A session. The questions, small as they may be, come hot and heavy from the first moments the kids are awake in the morning until the last moments before they go to bed. What’s for breakfast? What time is it? Why do I have to get dressed?… Continue reading Thirteen: So Many Little Questions: A Dad’s Insight
Random Musings #5
My last post was about stress and one way which my family responds to it, which got me thinking a little broader: what exactly is stress? Turns out, there’s actually a lot more to stress than I originally thought. A lot more. So, naturally, the English teacher in me took over. Time for a little… Continue reading Random Musings #5
Twelve: Teacher by Day, Dad by Night: The True Story of How Early Dinners Keep Me Sane
Everything I’ve written about so far has been fairly positive. And that’s been purposefully done, because there are so many positives to highlight from life with a bunch of kids. But one thing that is ever present is the stress that comes with it. It is hard to adequately sum up just how stressful raising… Continue reading Twelve: Teacher by Day, Dad by Night: The True Story of How Early Dinners Keep Me Sane