Recommended Resources for Parents

(Available at local or online bookstores)

 

Parenting

1.      Compass (book) and Successful Fathers (book or audio tape) by Jim Stenson:  these are a must for all parents, giving them a mission statement for raising children, with practical advice from experienced parents.

·        http://www.parentleadership.com/  contains many of Stenson’s other writings and advice

2.      Parenting Teens with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay (book or audio tape). The authors present an approach to parenting adolescents that respects their freedom but enforces real-life punishments and rewards.  It keeps parents from being the “bad guys” who are simply enforcing their own policies, and instead makes them the “coaches” who are preparing their teens for life on their own.  They also discuss ways of addressing many teen issues in light of this approach.  (Their approach to most of the issues is good; however, they minimize the role parents should play in preparing their teens for dating and choosing a wife.)  Available at local or online bookstores.

3.      Parenting Tips: These flyers/monthly emails are produced at Redfield school as a service to parents:

  • http://www.redfield.nsw.edu.au/parents/tips.html

4.      www.dove.org, www.screenit.com, or www.previewonline.org: movie reviews that inform parents about all the questionable material in current movies.

 

Theological and Moral Education

1.      The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:  a must for any household. Available online at www.vatican.va

2.      The Faith Explained by Leo Trese:  Ideal for short courses on the faith, this book covers the same 4 sections as the Catechism of the Catholic Church (the Creed, morals, Sacraments and prayer), but explains them in a way that anyone 8th grade and above can understand, with plenty of examples.

 

 

Professional Preparation

1.      Study is Hard Work by William Armstrong: Advice from an experienced high school teacher to help boys develop the good study habits that will make them more efficient in their school work and make their education more rewarding.  No matter how much success he has heretofore enjoyed in school, every boy can improve his study skills. Experienced teachers will tell you that often the most successful students are not those with the greatest native intelligence, but those who have learned to study well.

2.      Making the Most of College:  Students Speak their Minds by Richard Light, Harvard University Press:  Advice from a Harvard undergraduate counselor who interviews students about what they enjoyed most and least about their time at Harvard.  He gives good practical advice on dealing with professors, choosing classes and meeting other students.

3.      The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey / The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey:  These books are frequently read to help manage issues in professional life, but the habits also apply to busy parents and students.  Deals with issues such as:  keeping focused on the big picture, taking time for rest and cultural enjoyment, focusing on relationships rather than results, listening well, etc.

4.      Recommended book list

 

The Life and Teachings of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, Founder of Opus Dei

1.      www.josemariaescriva.info:  General information about St. Josemaría.

2.      www.escrivaworks.org:  website that contains the writings of Saint Josemaría Escrivá regarding the sanctification of work, finding God in ordinary activities, and making time for prayer.  I would especially recommend the homilies “Passionately Loving the World,” “Toward Holiness,” and “In Joseph’s Workshop,” which describe different aspects of holiness for lay people.

3.      www.opusdei.org: the official Opus Dei homepage, including news and interviews from around the world