Okay - this stuff is really old - November 1997

Notes on our Family's Mission and Goals:

What do we want our family to be like?

laugh a lot together
talk a lot together
eat dinner together
love life and all God's creation
love learning - learn together (parents too)
ask lots of questions
develop our own traditions
draw from the best ideas and qualities of each of our families
live our Faith - live Life in Christ

"The first and last point of reference of this catechesis will always be Jesus Christ himself, who is 'the way, and the truth, and the life.' It is by looking to him in faith that Christ's faithful can hope that he himself fulfills his promises in them, and that, by loving him with the same love with which he has loved them, they may perform works in keeping with their dignity:
I ask you to consider that our Lord Jesus Christ is your true head, and that you are one of his members. He belongs to you as the head belongs to its members; all that is his is yours: his spirit, his heart, his body and soul, and all his faculties. You must make use of all these as of your own, to serve, praise, love, and glorify God. You belong to him, as members belong to their head. And so he longs for you to use all that is in you, as if it were his own, for the service and glory of the Father.
For to me, to live is Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1698)

be active in various ways
say daily prayers together
be loyal when speaking of those not present

What do we want our home to be like?

comfortable, friendly and inviting - not too formal
organized and well-managed
the kind of place our children's friends would want to visit
full of children, laughter and good smells
obviously Catholic without flaunting it
"where charity and love prevail"
a center of learning for our children

What kind of parents do we want to be?

consistent
good examples in: loyalty, integrity, patience, charity

kind, but firm
affectionate
respectful of our children "in the best sense"

Ideas for good parenting...

Have one-on-one time regularly with each child
need to talk to each other about the kids frequently to ensure consistency - particularly in the area of discipline

What sort of education do we want to give our children?

1. one full of wonder and excitement
2. well-rounded
3. intertwined with our faith
4. one that will allow and encourage them to discover things on their own
5. give them space to learn without too many interruptions
6. liberal "in the best sense"
7. introduce and help them develop a taste for the best in art, music and literature
8. respect and encourage questions
9. we don't want to merely teach them things, but help them learn how to learn and think
10. strong on the basics - rooted in really understanding the concepts, not just drilling and memorizing
11. enable them to develop self-discipline

Ideas for giving them a good education...

Stay away from: sappy books; pre-digested ones that make ideas for you instead of making you think; twaddle; ugly materials (in addition to the obvious)

What do we want our children to be like?

i.e. things we want to encourage/develop in our children)

1. "be Catholic with the full consent of their faculties"
2. respectful of adults
3. love truth and beauty
4. anticipate what needs to be done and act on it
5. ability to finish what they start
6. not be dragged down by poor self-image nor puffed-up with pride
7. not lukewarm
8. healthy attitudes about money and belongings
9. positive attitudes in general

How do we want to handle our finances?

1. Donate to charity
2. live within our means
3. pay something extra on the mortgage each month
4. have some savings set aside for emergencies
5. avoid credit cards

Traditions and other things to imitate from our own families:

1. "yogi" (this is the Lawless family name for "time-out" in a corner
2. Christmas important, but moderation in presents
3. service activities - choir, politics, pro-life, etc.
4. athletics
5. "Half-a-Birthday" party for each baby
6. affection
7. working on projects together (home repair, etc.)
8. read books aloud (lots!)
9. Baby Jesus Birthday Cake
10. eat dinner together as often as possible
11. make birthdays special (e.g. pick out favorite food for dinner)

Skills we want our children to acquire:

1. Make and follow reasoned arguments
2. Basic principles of logic
3. Writing skills - essays, letters, stories, explanations, etc.
4. Research/Reference/Library Skills
5. Reading Comprehension
6. Good handwriting and typing skills
7. Critical Reading/Thinking
8. Fundamental Speaking Skills/Comfort
9. Musical Experience - Instrument and Singing
10. Cooking and Cleaning
11. Shopping/Consumer
12. Manners/Etiquette
13. Modesty
14. Dealing with Clothes
15. Hygiene and Deportment
16. Very Basic (at least to cover emergencies) Skills/Understanding of Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Car Maintenace, Computer, etc.