The Blessings of Our School Family

Jena Muhr explains how the community within her children's Catholic school validated her decision to send her children there.

March was a season for birthday parties for me with my second oldest daughter’s friends. She is 4, and many of the children in her class are reaching their big 5-year milestone—which means a lot of fun parties and gatherings for all the little ones. We attended multiple parties during the month. I was able to get to know a lot of the moms of the kids in her class. For me, it has been a great way to build community and to grow the way that I experience my daughters' school experience. And since my daughter attends a small Catholic school, I expect to see many of these faces and families in the coming years.

There have been a few things that have struck me about the moms that I met. Maybe it is that we were at a kids' party, so we talk about what we have immediately in common: our kids. What struck me the most was how much we care about our families and our children’s education.

All of the moms that I have met care deeply about their children and the relationship that their family has. It may not always be broadcasted, but the fact that they are willing to, and make a point to, attend multiple parties for their child’s friends shows a lot. When I had to ask a mom if I could bring my two other children with me because my husband was working, the siblings were welcomed with open arms. To have that level of support in others and a culture of life brought me a lot of peace in my planning and left me feeling supported.

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I grew up as a public-school kid. My husband attended parochial schools and when we started talking about our children’s education, attending Catholic school was more important to me than it was to him. Don’t get me wrong: he enjoyed and learned a lot from his Catholic education but felt that since I didn’t turn out too bad, Catholic schools may not be necessary. Although my family did not attend Catholic school, our home life centered around Sunday Mass and the keeping of our faith, which supported all of our formation.

For me, the biggest selling point for Catholic education is that what we teach our children at home is reflected in the school. I believe that that consistency is good for my kids and is helping them to grow in their faith and in their education.

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For me, the biggest selling point for Catholic education is that what we teach our children at home is reflected in the school. #CatholicMom

In speaking with the moms (and a few dads), I got the same feedback. Sending our kids to parochial school is a sacrifice in terms of family finances, but the consistency and the morals makes all the difference to the future of our families. However, this is nothing without tying everything back into the foundation of the family.

Family and faith are the most important parts of life and to see them all come together and to be reflected back to me through my 4-year-old’s friends and their parents make me feel that it is a good choice that we are making. My children are making a community for me that I am proud to be a part of.

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