Moms need support! Homework from Heaven affirms mothers as they raise their children in the Catholic Faith. Homework from Heaven encourages mothers to be actively involved in their child's faith formation. It was designed to foster a mom's confidence, while  strengthening a mother's resolve to not only teach, but to model the love of God. It prompts mothers to grow in God's friendship and to accept the grace that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit constantly offer. Mothers, you will find that Homework from Heaven becomes a trusted companion as you carry out your God-given vocation of motherhood! So, take this book, read it, and help create the next generation of disciples that will be prepared to make this world a holier place to live.

Laurie and Mary first met in 1989 while teaching at St. Michael School in Olympia, Washington. They had a wonderful time team teaching and building what has become a dear friendship and prayer partnership. By 1993, Laurie and Mary both became pregnant within three months of each other and decided to trade in their teaching careers for motherhood. Little did they know that their greatest adventure had only begun!

Laurie Robbins attended Saint Martin’s College in Lacey, Washington where she earned her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in English and Language Arts. She went on to earn her Masters Degree in the Creative Arts through Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Laurie taught fourth grade in the Seattle Archdiocese for three years. Laurie now resides in Centralia, Washington where she is the mother of seven.

Mary Rogers attended Washington State University where she earned her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Child and Family Studies. Mary taught the second, third, and fourth grades in the Seattle Archdiocese as well as Community Service at Bellarmine Preparatory High School. Mary now resides in Tacoma, Washington where she is the mother of three.

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The Father's Wondrous Love


Mary’s Testimony:  “A Sweet Character”      
    When I was teaching second grade I encountered a little boy who, with only kindergarten and first grade under his belt, had been labeled a lost cause, and he was fulfilling this prophecy to the best of his ability. Granted he was a handful, but his underlying character was very sweet. Each time I had to discipline him for his behavior, I started with his name and then told him that I loved him, but that his behavior was unacceptable. Often I would end by saying, “You are such a good person. I know you can do better than this.” This boy who thought he was a troublemaker was now being confronted with God’s truth that he was not only good, but worthy of being loved. By June, after nine months of hearing the truth about himself, the same boy who in September had walked in with an angry heart, skipped out of class with a joyful one. He had turned around so completely, that before he left for third grade he acknowledged in writing that he loved me. That sweet boy never saw God walk into my classroom that year, but through our love for one another, he learned that God lives in both of us, and that was enough to make God’s love complete.

Reflection
    God does what is right at all times. He does not change His order of things depending upon His mood or the situation at hand. We must do the same for our children, by teaching them the difference between what is right and what is wrong. In 1 Corinthians it states, “Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in truth” (13:6). Because we love our children, we must be vigilant in our pursuit of the truth, which is, God created our children and they are good. This is what the second grade boy learned in Mary’s classroom. Hearing the truth about his goodness is what turned him around. Mary did what was right by expecting the boy’s inappropriate behavior to change, and yet vigilantly making him face God’s truth about his inner goodness.
    It is a mother’s job to foster her child’s goodness through loving acceptance of the person that God the Father created. However, the Father’s gift of free will coupled with the fact that our children will test us in order to determine what is right from what is wrong, will require a balance between affirming their goodness and correcting their choices. Scripture tells us, “Whoever abides by discipline, walks towards life, whoever ignores correction goes astray” (Proverbs 10:17). This is why a mother must differentiate between the innate goodness of her child and his or her unacceptable behavior. This is just what Mary did for the student in her classroom. Our response to our children’s testing determines whether or not our children will become happy and obedient children of God.

Heavenly Hint
“No one has ever seen God,
but as long as we love one another God remains in us
and His love comes to its perfection in us.”
1 John 4:12

Homework from Heaven:  “Discipline with Love”
    The next time you need to discipline your child, remind yourself to affirm him or her at the same time. Consider using Mary’s approach with the boy in her classroom. Remind your child of your constant love, correct the choice he or she made, including the consequence when needed, and then tell your child what a good person he or she is and that you know he or she can do better. You’ll be amazed at the results!

Prayerful Pause
Dear Father, thank You for giving us the choice to choose You.
Help us to teach our children to do the same.
Amen.