Author: Mary Ruth Hackett

It’s not often that a pop-infused animated film becomes a springboard for deep spiritual conversations—but KPop Demon Hunters does exactly that. Topping streaming charts and dominating the Billboard Top 10, this unlikely cultural phenomenon introduces demons, virtue, and sacrificial love to a generation more familiar with dance challenges than discernment. As a parent and educational…

Three Simple Truths for Navigating the Transitions of Family Life The 40-something-mom dragged her small rolling case and big shoulder bag as she plodded along to the gate, boarding pass in hand. Her white t-shirt read in red block letters “FRAGILE: Just dropped a child off at college”. As I watched her trudge down the…

After struggling to find a good booklist for my middle school kiddos – I created one. They say Necessity is the Mother of Invention. And as much as I love wandering the stacks of the library, it really helped to enter those stacks with a good booklist in hand for my middle school kiddos. I…

As we prepared to leave, a friend asked me if this was a family vacation or a family pilgrimage, and I responded that it depended on who was being asked. I have always made a distinction between vacations and family trips, but family pilgrimage?  Was that even possible?  Before leaving, I asked the Lord to…

Why good-cop-bad-cop works and what to do when it doesn’t My oldest had a curious way of never alienating himself from both his father and me at the same time. As a scientist, it fascinated me and as a mother it made me laugh.  I used to say he always wanted to make sure someone…

Boredom seems to be more common than sunburns in the summer. I remember clearly telling my children that boredom is not an illness. It is okay to let your kids be bored! There are actual benefits of boredom. Balance is key.  If you want to help them continue to grow in divergent thinking, creativity, and…

It is easy to be swept up in caring for others but you can serve your family without losing yourself. Families are busy and the demands on parents are constant. Sometimes the needs of others seem to steal the hours away from us. It doesn’t have to be that way. Do you need to reclaim…

My first few Mother’s Day were a little rough.   They were a time ripe with expectation about the glorious gifts, the showering of affection and the tranquility that would no doubt befall our home.   Those were days of disappointment.  It wasn’t because people weren’t trying… rather it was because I wanted to be…

This is a throwback post from the old blog on Mother’s Day. It is one of my most popular and great for anyone thinking they are having the worst Mother’s Day. I hope it makes you laugh a little too. Post from 2014: “Some people complain that their husbands nit-pick them.   Personally, right about…

“My child, from your youth, choose discipline, and when you have gray hair you will find wisdom” (Sirach 6:18). Discipline precedes wisdom. It must. Do you want to have children who grow to be wise as adults? Then you must follow the template laid out in Sirach and adopt a biblical approach to parenting.  “If…