Effectively conveying your blessing on your child opens up a world of satisfying relationships, accomplishments, and joy. Borrowing from biblical example, five elements of blessing can be incorporated  into your relationship with your child :

1.  Meaningful touch. Most sacramental moments involve significant touch that conveys a transfer of power, energy, healing, or strengthening for a mission. At the same time, meaningful touch communicates love and personal acceptance. In the home this can take the form of hugs, a firm, prolonged handshake, walking down the street arm in arm, or even tracing the sign of the cross on your child’s head.

2.  A spoken message. Our kids desperately need to hear from us, and not just nagging. They need to hear why we believe in them and what we value. Too often kids get silence or distraction from us. Overactivity robs children of our presence and robs us of the chance to know them well enough to speak a language that touches their hearts. Children who get only silence from their parents interpret that to mean they are unworthy of attention, that something’s wrong with them. It can set them on a lifelong search for approval.

3.  Attaching high value to the one being blessed. Speak about one of your child’s specific positive traits. Express your appreciation for his or her potential. This shouldn’t be a prediction . Rather it should reflect awareness that this child is a work in progress, someone developing with mighty potential for good.

4.  Picturing a special future for the one being blessed. Our kids need hope that the world holds a place for them. You can illuminate a path of promise for them based on their true gifts.

5.  An active commitment. This means you are declaring your intention and willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill this blessing for your child. You promise to be there to guide, support, coach, and do whatever it takes to help your child achieve a worthy future. You vow to tend to his or her best interests, which you will discover by becoming a student of your child.

Here are seven essential health lessons I teach  my son and all parents should teach their kids :

1.  Safety comes  first - always.

2.  Fitness feels good.

3.  Healthy foods fuel the body.

4.  Washing your hands regularly keep sick days away.

5.  A well-rested child equals a happy child.

6.  Smoking ,  drinking  and drugs are bad for you.

7.  Your body is private.

 Enjoying the remaining week of his one month school break. How time flies ! His school holiday is nearly over.

playing endlessly at the golf and country club

watching ships as they pass by aboard the MV Doulos

having fun before bedtime

School breaks, from a mother’s point of view means :

1.  waking up late,  so no hassle to  beat the early morning school rush;

2.  having my nine year old son help out in home chores ;

3.  fun and laughter at home in the company of my only son ;

4.  having enough time to tutor my son in contents not being covered in his  grade level plus advance Catechism lessons ;

5.  being able to take my son out on trips during our free time ;

6.   more busy days when he is at home compared to regular school days  ;

7.  and most importantly , having my son close to me and keep me company in the duration of the school break.

- I know what it’s like not to have a child at home. The house is so empty, lonely and quiet. Thank God for my son JM . You are a blessing from above !

One of the things that I encourage JM to do during his spare time is artwork. His favorite subjects are landscapes , animals , movie characters and his family. Water color, pastels , and colored pencils are the mediums that he uses. When an idea comes to his mind , he immediately expresses this by drawing. With a one month mid-year break to look forward to, I’m thinking of other ways by which he can express himself through art. We’ll shop for ideas this weekend.

“Let the little children come unto Me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these . “

- Matthew 19:14

Attending mass as a family is important because of the Church teaching that we should bring children with us  at an early age. However, many of us encounter difficulties in keeping our children quiet and attentive during this hour. Children in Church offers help and tips to parents on how to manage babies and young children during masses.

I’m tying the  shoe lace of my school shoes for the last time this semester , today is the last day of my final exams, and the last day of classes . Full of hope that I will get flying colors in all my subjects in the two programs that I’m attending and looking forward to a month long vacation of fun and play, just made me realize that half the school year is gone. How time flies ! Wish me the best during the month long break.

- JM, 9 yrs.

Pray for the Children Weekend, October 19-21, has a simple mission,  to generate as many prayers for children as possible and to encourage formal commitments to prayer. Visit Pray for the Children  for free brochures and adult and youth prayer cards to start an effort in your community.

Happy Feast Day JM !

Namesake of  St. John the Apostle and St. Michael the Archangel