Mrs. Dania C. Michael, O.P.Mrs. Dania C. Michael, O.P.

Dania Michael is the wife of CLAA headmaster, William Michael.  She studied Classics at Rutgers University and worked as an elementary private school teacher before the birth of her first child.  Since then, Mrs. Michael has homeschooled her ten children.  Mrs. Michael provides direct, daily support for homeschool families by live chat and email through the Academy website, Study Center and at office@classicalliberalarts.com.

Art for the Domestic Church

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Christ in the House of Mary and Marthaby Johannes Vermeer (c. 1655) As mothers, we live in a world of noise, motion, and need. Laundry piles up, meals must be made, children cry or call or argue. We often feel like Martha, “worried and anxious about many things” (Luke 10:41). In this painting by Johannes Vermeer, Christ’s words to Martha come to life in a moment of quiet. In this Sunday’s Mass readings, we read about a family scene featuring two sisters in their family home. This painting, depicting the Gospel account, shows Mary sitting close to the Lord, her … Continue

Reflection for the Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene

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Fra Angelico in cell 1 at the Convent of San Marco titled, “Noli Me Tangere”. July 22 — For Catholic Homeschooling Mothers July 22 is a feast day very dear to my heart. On this day in 2006, the Lord, in His mercy, brought our family home to the Catholic Church. Bill and I, who had been married in a Baptist church back in 1998, were sacramentally married in the Church. I was confirmed. Two of our children were baptized. And so, Saint Mary Magdalene became my patron saint. Her feast marks the anniversary of our family’s entry into full … Continue

Practical Advice for Managing Toddlers During the Homeschool Day

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This Month’s Focus: Keep Them Safe Creating a Peaceful and Secure Environment for Toddlers Last month, we reflected on the four guiding principles for raising toddlers in a homeschooling home: keeping them safe, teaching school readiness, teaching them to be useful, and teaching them to pray. These four principles work together to form a home where toddlers are protected, included, and gradually prepared for the life of faith and study. This month, we begin with the first: Keep Them Safe.When a toddler is safe—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—they can grow in peace. But keeping a toddler safe goes far beyond plugging … Continue

The Same Love, Differently Given: How God Uses Each Religious Order in the Life of the Church

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I am a mother of ten children, and I love each of them with all my heart. But I do not love them in exactly the same way. How could I? Each child is different—different in personality, in temperament, in strength, in need, in desire. Each was born at a different point in my life. With each, I was a different kind of mother. With my oldest son, I was young, energetic, and eager to build. Our family worked together on a farm: milking goats and cows, plowing with draft horses (yes, we had a pair of Percheron draft horses!), … Continue

Marriage as a Merciful Concession: Understanding the Vocation of Wife and Mother in Light of Holiness

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There is a quiet truth we rarely speak aloud. Marriage is good. Motherhood is good. God made both. He blesses them. They are the foundation of human society. They are honored in the Church. But they are not, in themselves, the highest form of holiness. From the beginning, the Church has taught that marriage, while sacred, is a concession. It is a holy way of helping weak men and women avoid greater sin. It gives the body a rightful place, protects souls from temptation, and creates the bonds through which children are welcomed into the world. But it is not … Continue

Hospitality and the Homeschooling Mother: Prudent Generosity in a Busy Catholic Home

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A homeschooling mother recently wrote to me after reading one of my newsletters. She said: “As much as I would love to have an ‘open door’ policy to welcome people jovially to my home with food on my stove (think like a happy Italian grandma!), I find this very difficult to manage—not only in homeschooling life but because mainly I’m an introvert. By the weekend, I am spent and all I want to do is be quiet… I want to be able to put people first, especially on Sundays, but there are only so many things I can fix and … Continue

When God Permits a Lesser Sin: Hope for Catholic Mothers Watching Their Children Go Stray

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A Mother’s Pain When Her Child Strays Every Catholic mother prays that her children will remain faithful to the teachings of the Church. She hopes they will grow in virtue, avoid sin, and walk in the truth. But often, children go astray. They may reject Church teaching, adopt sinful lifestyles, or make choices that grieve their mother’s heart. This kind of sorrow cuts deeply. It is a pain that is quiet, persistent, and difficult to share. Still, even in this sorrow, there is reason to hope. Sometimes, God allows a lesser sin in a child’s life to protect that child … Continue

Focus on the Oldest, and the Younger Will Follow: A Catholic Homeschool Mother’s Testimony

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When I look back on the past twenty-seven years of our family life, I see clearly that one of the most fruitful principles in our homeschool was something my husband taught me very early in our marriage. It was simple and quiet, but it shaped everything. He told me, “Focus on the oldest. The younger will follow him.” It may not sound like a grand strategy or a revolutionary method, but in practice, this single piece of advice has ordered our home, shaped our children, and—by God’s mercy—brought great fruit. It wasn’t an idea I read in a book or … Continue

A Simple Meal Plan for the Catholic Family

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One Mother’s Answer to the Question: “How Do I Simplify Our Meals?” I often hear from mothers asking for help setting up a simple meal plan for their families. They tell me they feel like they spend so much of the day cooking and cleaning up, which eats away at the time and attention needed for prayer, study, and homeschooling. They long for something simpler but aren’t sure where to start. This article is my first attempt at offering some help and direction in that process. In our own home, my husband and I follow a very simple structure: we … Continue

The Taming of the Shrew: Lessons for Catholic Mothers in Marriage and Parenting

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Over the course of our marriage, my husband and I have watched Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew, many times. At first, I loved it for its humor and drama. But as the years have passed, I’ve come to see it as something more—a mirror and a teacher. When we were newly married, I was not unlike Katherina: headstrong, quick with words, and fiercely independent. My husband, on the other hand, bore a striking resemblance to Petruchio. He was steady, good-humored, unshaken by my sharp edges, and full of quiet confidence. He did not give in to my moods, … Continue