Faith Adds Depth to Family Life: Consider Taking Your Kids to Church by Dawn Lantero

My husband and I take our children to mass. It is a non-negotiable. We have decided that spending one hour a week thinking of something other than themselves is a message we want to share with our four children. We don't negotiate or make excuses due to busy schedules. We just figure out a time that will work and we go to mass, as a family.

This has resulted in countless memorable moments for our family. We have worshipped at many places on vacations – from the mountains in Colorado to a small Hawaiian chapel on Christmas Eve. This practice has given our children a firm spiritual foundation and opened the door to many deep discussions that would not have happened if we failed to go to church together.

We don't know if they will continue to attend services as they head into adulthood, but at least we know that we sowed the seeds of faith in them – and who knows how that will impact their future lives. But I know I'll never regret facilitating their spiritual growth and exposing them to ideas of morality, peace, social justice and love.