• Spring Outside and Play as a Family!
  • Let's get outside and play! CKS children shared with Christine Gibson what they like to do best outdoors with their families.
• The Flowers in Your Garden
  • Children are like flowers in your family garden, each with their own unique way of growing. Different flowers need different amounts of sunlight, water, types of fertilizer, and soil.You can make conditions favorable for your child to grow and flourish by knowing what they need to grow healthy and strong.
• How to Get Where You Want To Go
  • Therapist Stephanie Judge explains how obtaining clarity about what you really want helps you to set SMART goals. Why not start with summer vacation? The following two links provide an opportunity to get going!
    • What really matters to you? Use the Value Sort Tool to help you think about this important question.
    • Set SMART Goals for your summer...for the year, or for your life! Do as a family, with a partner, or for yourself.
• Prepare the Soil of Your Heart
  • Two Dads and friends share about the importance of preparing your heart as good soil to receive the Gospel message.

March 2023 - Theme: Mental Health

• The Power of Showing Up
  • Tina Payne Bryson shares simple, practical and encouraging words to say to help your child feel  Safe, Seen, Soothed and Secure. By the way, the book is excellent!
• Emotional Regulation
  • Identifying anger doesn't quite go deep enough when you are trying to build emotional intelligence. When we explore beneath the anger--fear, hurt, sadness-- we are better able to understand what someone needs.
• Mental Health Win: Check Grades Together
  • Scrolling through your child's grades so you can be "helpful"? Here's a suggestion to reduce both your and your child's stress about grade-checking.
• Empathy and Connection
  • This short video from Brené Brown illustrate that "Rarely can a response make something better. What makes something better is connection."

February 2023 - Theme: Love

• Valentine's Day and the Single Parent
  • This dad found a way to get away from Hallmark Madness and make the day special in a different way.
• Why Your Children Shouldn't Come Before Your Spouse
  • "In the same way that loving Jesus first will make you a better spouse, loving your spouse above your children will make you a better parent."
• Small Things Often for Valentine's Day
  • Emotional Bank Accounts need way more than just one deposit a year on Valentine’s Day. See how doing small things often can keep you connected with your partner and children all year round.
• Building a Strong Marriage: The Basics
  • Parents' relationships with one another lay the foundation for their children's health and happiness. Keep first things first, and the rest will fall in line.
• What Is Your Love Language? What About Your Family Members?
  • Find out your and your children's love languages and practice giving love to one another in the way that feels most like love to them.

January 2023 - Theme: A New Start

• It's About Him! Spiritual Resolutions
  • Two Dads and More share their plans for the new year, and offer a very helpful reminder.
• Rest to Recharge
  • Christine Gibson's hearty recommendation for a New Year's Resolution: Get More Sleep!
• Resolve to Take Care of Feelings
  • Get to know more about what feelings are, and how to pay attention to the messages they bring. Taking care of feelings is a good way to take care of your children...and to take care of yourself.
• 10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Parenting
  • It really is the little things that matter most. Pat yourself on the back for what you are already doing, and see if there is one more fun way to add a little extra love to your child's day.

December 2022 - Theme: Giving Goodness

• Wonderfully Imperfect Holidays
  • The Grinch of Perfectionism can steal your peace and Christmas joy. Take a deep breath and take in this advice from our own Christine Gibson.
• Experiences Make the Best Gifts
  • Presents are nice and fun to open, but the very best gifts are the memories we make by sharing experiences. Mother of six, Madonna Minion, shares her family's ideas and traditions of caring. Also, check out this list of other ideas.
• St. Nick's Woes
  • Even Santa can get discouraged in the craziness of consumerism. Luckily, he finds a friend who guides him to the Reason for the Season: Our Lord, Jesus. Have a happy and holy Christmas!

November 2022 - Theme: Gratitude

• Gratitude as an Antidote to Anxiety
  • Did you know you can retrain your brain? Christine Gibson shares the idea of training your brain to move from "What could go wrong?" (anxiety) to "What is already good?" (gratitude).
• Two CTK Dads Talk About Gratitude
  • CTK Staff Damon and Casey share some of their gratitude practices and talk about why gratitude is so important.
• Feeling Grumpy?
  • If you've ever had a grumpy day, you will be able to relate to this post. Lesley shares her experience of finding one surprising effect of making a gratitude list.
• Pick One! Start a New Gratitude Practice This Thanksgiving!
  • If you'd like to try something new, or just get excited about a tradition you already have, this article has some creative ideas. Don't try to do all of them! Just Pick One!

• Empathy Is the App - TED Talk by Devorah Heitner
  • Anxiety causes parents to wait to "catch" kids doing something. Take charge of that anxiety by having real conversations with your child and learn to navigate the digital landscape with them. Limits and agreements are your best tools.
• School Counselor Technology Rant
  • It's no joke! Children's health and safety are at risk because of electronic use.  Listen to Christine Gibson share her experience and advice and make a plan for your family.
• Two Quick Tips to Limit Screen Time
  • Short on time and overwhelmed by the topic? These two ideas are a great way to get started. Lesley shares two easy ways to limit screen time.
• How to Turn Kids' Phones Off at Night (or anytime, really)
  • This is a health and safety issue, and you are in charge. Put phones to bed for your peace of mind. This article from Common Sense Media offers helpful guidance.

September 2022 - Theme: Bless This Mess With Less Stress! -
                               Self-Regulation and Stress Management

• After School Restraint Collapse-Video
  • Your kids hold it together until they are with you. Then they melt down! Lesley explains why, ways to decompress, and ideas to prevent this common phenomenon.
• After School Restraint Collapse - Article
• Stop - Breathe - Smile
  • Lesley shares the story of one mom's method of returning to the present moment by using a note written in dry erase marker as a bell of mindfulness.
• The Benefit of Regulating Your Own Emotions - by Dr. Laura Markham
  • Our kids learn to calm down and regulate themselves from us...which means we need to learn how to regulate ourselves by learning how to manage our own intense emotions. If you can cut your yelling in half, that's a great improvement! Go for the small wins.
• Over-Scheduled and Stressed Out
  • Christine cautions us about over-scheduling and shares a book called Seraphina Does Everything!
• Self-Regulation and the Hand Model of the Brain
  • Ever flip your lid? Who hasn't? Learn why this happens and why it is important for us to try to "go first" and model self-regulation by practicing it.

August 2022 - Themes: Introductions to ROCI and Back-to-School

• Welcome! and Introduction to ROCI "ROCKY" - The Raising Our Children Initiative
  • Lesley Iwinski describes ROCI and invites the engagement of all parents, teachers, grandparents and other adults who love children to be part of creating the community of information and support we need.
• ROCI - A Brand New Parish Endeavor to Support Parents
  • A quick-look guide to the Raising Our Chlidren Initiative.
• ROCI Invitation from Oktoberfest 2022
  • A quick visit from Outreach Ministry Director Damon Sexton and Deacon Paul Root at the Oktoberfest booth for ROCI.
• Deacon Paul Root and Mike Allen share what they are learning about ROCI
• Back to School Jitters
  • Christine Gibson, CKS Counselor shares ideas and a book to get off to a good start this year.
• "What Ifs" Rap
  • Link to a youTube Video for children on decreasing anxiety.
• Three Questions Parents Should Ask Before Helping
  • Katherine Stone, PhD offers information on how to be supportive and give children ownership of their work and challenges, rather than being (well-intentioned) overly helpful.
• Have a Meal With Your Family!
  • This article explains why family dinners are so important...even once or twice a week.
• Quiet Time
  • An essential re-set and re-charge for everyone. This article has information and ideas of ways to establish Quiet Time as part of your family's routines.