If you’re raising Catholic kids in today’s culture, here’s the hard truth: Silence is a recipe for disaster.
On a recent episode of the Being Human podcast, Dr. Greg spoke with Raquel Rose, a Catholic entrepreneur, former school counselor, and a once-scared college student who almost made a life-altering mistake. Her story isn’t just powerful—it’s instructive. It’s a roadmap for every parent who wants to raise faithful kids in a world working overtime to lead them away from God.
Here are five key lessons she offers to Catholic parents today:
1. Say the Words Your Kids Are Afraid to Ask For
“I wish my parents had just said, ‘If you ever get pregnant, come to us. We’ll love you. We’ll figure it out.’ They never said that—so I was left to wonder.” —Raquel
Don’t assume your kids know they can come to you if they mess up. They don’t—unless you tell them. Say the words clearly and often:
- “If you’re in trouble, come to me.”
- “If you’ve made a mistake, I will still love you.”
- “Nothing you say will make me stop being your parent.”
The devil works best in the silence of assumptions. Fill that silence with love.
2. Keep the Door Open—Even If They Slam It Shut
“Don’t be discouraged when your child shuts you down the first—or tenth—time. Just keep positioning yourself to be available.”
Your job isn’t to get the conversation “right.” It’s to keep offering the conversation.
Say:
- “I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”
- “I love you enough to keep asking.”
Rejection doesn’t mean failure. It means some things, often the most important, take time.
3. Don’t Wait for the World to Fill in the Blanks
“When we don’t say it explicitly, our kids go looking elsewhere. That’s how I got attacked—by not knowing where my parents stood.”
Your child is going to see or hear something inappropriate. Don’t wait until that happens to start prepping them. Talk now. Give them the categories and clarity before the world gives them confusion.
Use phrases like:
- “If you ever see something online that makes you uncomfortable…”
- “If a friend shows you something you know isn’t right…”
- “If you ever feel pressure to… come to me.”
Name it before the culture does.
4. Use Tools to Make the Conversations Easier
Not every kid wants to talk face-to-face. Raquel suggests this:
“Keep a journal that you pass back and forth. It gives kids a softer, safer way to share—and gives parents space to respond without reacting.”
This is especially helpful for:
- Big confessions
- Questions about sexuality
- Struggles with friends or mental health
And if you’re raising little ones? The same principle applies here too. Instead of a journal, she suggest you make the faith tactile. Raquel built her entire business, The Little Rose Shop, on this idea:
“I wanted faith to be part of my daughter’s everyday life. So I made toys, swaddles, and books that naturally spark conversations about Jesus, saints, and prayer.”
Catechesis starts at the kitchen table—and sometimes in the toy bin.
5. Don’t Aim for Perfection. Aim for Connection.
You’re not raising a theology major. You’re raising a soul.
“I became a single mom at 21. And it was through that brokenness that I finally let God in. My parents weren’t perfect. But once the truth was out, they showed me love. That changed everything.”
You’re going to miss some moments. But you don’t have to miss this one.
Start the conversation. Say the hard thing. Open the door again. Keep showing up with love.
You’re the parent. That’s your job.
Bottom Line: Faith won’t grow in silence. And in a fallen world, parenting means getting loud about love, mercy, and truth—early and often