All in God's Plan helps parents in teaching their kids about human sexuality, the sacredness of life, and the importance of family. The program is age-specific and age-appropriate (girls 10-13 and boys 11-14). It fosters communication between parent and child and reinforces the positives of life.
Registration has closed. Contact Sue with questions.
Mother-Daughter Tea flier
Father-Son BBQ flier
Formation for Parents: We are especially excited to welcome Jen Messing as the main speaker for the required Parent Night, speaking to issues that are relevant for our 10-14 year olds.
Jen is the Founder and Executive Director of Into the Deep. She has been giving presentations and leading theology of the body-based retreats in both outdoor and traditional settings around the United States since 2002. Her particular gift is to inject the universal language of the theology of the body into a wide range of ages, populations, and subject matter, showing how applicable it is in everyday life and in every aspect of the Catholic faith.
Parent Night: March 24, 7 p.m. (Parents only, please)
Mother-Daughter Tea: April 24, 12:30 for photos and praise, program begins at 1 p.m.
Father-Son BBQ: April 25, 2 p.m.
Jen's Previous Presentation
Resources for All in God's Plan
Music and Shopping Suggestions
Side by Side Podcast (Lori Ubowski)
:
Side by Side by Urbowski & Urbowski: A Catholic Mother-Daughter Journal
Mother's Little Helper (Angelus Press)
Written like letters from a mom to her daughter, this book is a little outdated, but its ideas on how to approach this topic with your daughter are invaluable. Many moms I know read them directly to their daughters.
Listen, Son (Angelus Press)
Similar to Mother's Little Helper, but for boys.
The Joyful Mysteries of Life by C & B Scherrer
Written in short chapters designed for an older child to read on their own with questions at the end of each chapter. I wouldn’t necessarily have my child read it on their own, but use this book to learn how to approach the topic and perhaps have my child read one chapter here or there when appropriate. Again, the content is slightly outdated but the ideas and approach are invaluable!
Beyond the Birds and the Bees by G & L Popcak
Recommended and used frequently by both Jim and Paulette Kostick for their 8 children.
The Care & Keeping of You 1 (American Girl)
This is an up to date book that basically covers everything that All in God’s Plan Tier 1 aims to cover with the Mother Daughter Tea. I wouldn’t necessarily hand the entire book to my daughters at one time, but I paper clip sections for them to read at different points. Book 2 is also noteworthy, but for older girls, and again I wouldn’t necessarily have my daughters read it cover to cover, but we do own it.
Wonderfully Made! Babies by Ellen Giangiordano
This is a wonderfully orthodox book addressing Catholic Theology of the Body. As a parent, I found it a good synopsis of the sexual act. The book says it is meant for children 9+ on the cover, but it looks like a children’s picture book. It might not be something I would necessarily show my children (not my style or approach), but I will use its information and clarity for teaching.
Forming Character in Adolescents by Rudolf Allers
This book sold at HolyHeroes.com comes highly recommended. It provides an intellectual approach to understanding your child’s psychology.
The Temperament God Gave Your Child by Art & Laraine Bennett
Find help in understanding the temperament your child was born with and how your temperament works best with his.
Your Spiritual Growth Plan for Your Choleric Child by Connie Rossini
Connie provides a quiz you can take for your child to discover his temperament. As an adult I took the quiz answering as I would have as a young student, and I found it identified my temperament more accurately then the test in Art & Laraine Bennett’s book. Connie’s short one word definition of a choleric child is “active”.
Your Spiritual Growth Plan for Your Phlegmatic Child by Connie Rossini
Once you have discerned your child’s temperament, discover how you can help them thrive with it. Connie’s short one word definition of a phlegmatic child is “still”.
The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman
Helpful book easily accessible at the library!
God Made All of Me by Holcomb
A book to help children protect their bodies. Can read to young children as well. Helpful book easily accessible at the library as well! I own and use this one frequently with my littles when issues come up.
Good Pictures Bad Pictures
Addressing pornography with tweens and up.
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Junior
A picture book for young children. I read this to all of my kids (ages 4-11 at the time) at the same time. Seriously, just a week later my older girls were unfortunately exposed to a female pornographic picture on the wall of a family member's home during a baptism party. It gave my girls the tools to talk to me about it later that night! I was so thankful!
GUY STUFF the Body Book for Boys by Dr. Cara Natterson
Basically the boy version of The Care and Keeping of You.