Made This Way

Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today's Tough Moral Issues by Leila Miller & Trent Horn 

220 pages 

NonFiction - Parenting & Catholic Theology

Everyone wants their children to be innocent and happy. But what do you do when the world exposes them to things YEARS before they should have to deal with it? You know you can't let the world's morality lessons stand, but how do you talk to your children in an age-appropriate way? This book places a premium on protecting children's innocence, but also gives you the tools to address difficult issues if they arise. Every Catholic family should have this book in their home, just in case!

This accessible and practical book addresses: Premarital Sex, Same-Sex Marriage, Divorce, Contraception, Abortion, Reproductive Technologies, Modesty, Pornography, Transgender Identities and Homosexuality from a faithful Roman Catholic perspective. Rational non-Catholics who still acknowledge natural law will also find it helpful as most modern resources reflect modern 'morals'. Each chapter addresses a specific issue and is broken down into 3 sections: explaining the issue and Church teaching for the adult reader, how to talk about the issue with a little (prepubescent) child *if you have to* and how to talk about the issue with a big (teen) child.

The book crystallizes simple truths that have been lost in society and makes it easier to identify disorder commonly accepted in modern life. On a side note, I found this to be a refreshing read after watching modern romantic comedies. It reoriented me by providing a healthy dose of gentle but firm Truth, and reminded me WHY certain things were neither harmless nor good.

Read from cover to cover, it is a breathtaking view of Catholic teaching. But you can also just look at a specific chapter when/if that issues arises in your child's life. It is a great "oh, shoot!" book to have accessible when your child comes home from kindergarten and says excitedly "Guess what?! Two girls can get married!". Or they visit story time at the public library and are told a confusingly happy story about a boy transitioning into a girl. Crazy stuff is happening these days and parental authority is being flouted left and right. At least this book is a resource to try and help you deal with it in a positive way.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Every Catholic family should have it on their shelf. It is also a good resource for school teachers and others who work with young children.