{"id":41712,"date":"2013-09-26T08:26:39","date_gmt":"2013-09-26T13:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=41712"},"modified":"2013-09-26T09:29:39","modified_gmt":"2013-09-26T14:29:39","slug":"newevangelizationparenting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/09\/newevangelizationparenting\/","title":{"rendered":"New Evangelization, Reality TV, and Parenting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"http:\/\/www.dreamstime.com\/royalty-free-stock-photos-parenthood-concept-image24681298\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Effective parenting calls for new ways of communicating the Faith to children. In essence, parents must answer the call to the New Evangelization in their own homes with their own children. \u00a0As parents, we’re called to find ways in every day life to convey the truths of the faith in ways that, perhaps, are a little unorthodox (the method<\/em> of teaching the content, not<\/em> the content being taught).<\/p>\n

As our children grow into, through, and out of their teen years, one of the most effective new ways we’ve found to do this is to use current television shows (that we all enjoy and watch as a family) to show them how the faith applies, particularly certain reality shows. As a family, we watch several of these shows together – American Idol<\/em>, Restaurant Impossible<\/em>, Dance Moms<\/em>, Duck Dynasty, The Next Food Network Star,\u00a0<\/em>The Bachelor<\/em> (or The Bachelorette<\/em>) – to name a few. DVR or TIVO allow us have them fit into our schedule around our other family commitments at appropriate times. \u00a0Of course, risks exist, as we cannot always control certain indecencies that inevitably occur in these shows. However, in addition to the teaching of the faith, it provides us an opportunity to talk about moral teachings as well – modesty, chastity, appropriate language, etc. to name a few. \u00a0Of course, we didn’t use these shows when the kids were younger. \u00a0Parents have to prayerfully discern their use of this technique. \u00a0It requires time and effort along with a willingness to be open to discussions about topics that you may not have seen coming. \u00a0It can be adventurous. \u00a0It can even be a little scary, but it also can also be quite effective for several of the following reasons:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. It’s Real\u00a0<\/strong>– We could probably disagree over and over about what is staged vs. what actually happens in reality on these shows. \u00a0However, in most of these shows, the people are not actors, and the situations are unscripted. \u00a0As such, we often are exposed to real emotions – anger, sadness, fear, joy, etc.. \u00a0This provides an opportunity to discuss, for example, what caused the anger. \u00a0It allows us to witness appropriate and inappropriate expressions of that anger. \u00a0It gives us the ability to talk about how to respond to anger. \u00a0What do we do with that emotion? \u00a0How do we use it? Do we flee? \u00a0Do we fight? \u00a0Do we do something else? \u00a0Yet, we still control the reality in a sense. \u00a0With a remote control and a DVR, we can skip through commercials, over inappropriate situations, and past unnecessary portions of the shows. \u00a0In other words, it’s reality, but we can control the dosage so to speak.<\/li>\n
  2. It’s\u00a0Relevant – <\/strong>Through these shows, we, as a family, are exposed to the culture and the things that the culture holds out as true. \u00a0We hear the new songs that our children listen to. \u00a0We learn the language of the day. \u00a0We are able to engage the culture on our own terms and on our own turf. \u00a0Like it or not, as our children grow older and incrementally move out of the house, they will be increasingly made aware that there are people who don’t hold our beliefs about God, on the Catholic Church, on marriage, on sexuality, on homosexuality, on so-called “same-sex” marriages, on abortion, on contraception … the list goes on and on. \u00a0Through watching these shows together, our children “meet” people in a controlled environment (our tv room) that hold these beliefs and even express them on these shows. \u00a0The children have learned quite a bit. \u00a0For example, they’ve learned that these people who disagree with us are actually likable in many cases. \u00a0They are caring. \u00a0They are generous. \u00a0They are even kind. \u00a0This allows us to address the fact that everyone who disagrees with us on any, or even all, of these issues is not necessarily a horrible person. \u00a0We can discuss the need to pray for them. \u00a0We can talk about the fact that we can engage in dialogue with these people when we go out into the world without expecting the worst. \u00a0They also learn some more subtle tricks of the culture. \u00a0On one show, the contestants were participating with the hope of winning money for the charity of their choice. \u00a0One of the openly “gay” contestants spoke about the charity of his choice. \u00a0It was called something like “Happy Marriages”. \u00a0One of our younger children (almost 13) heard this, put two and two together, and turned to us. \u00a0He said, “the name sounds like a good thing, but he (the contestant) said that it supports the legalization of ‘same-sex marriages’. \u00a0That’s tricky.” \u00a0That child will now always look beyond the name of an organization to see what it actually supports.<\/li>\n
  3. It’s\u00a0Relational –\u00a0<\/strong>We do this as a family. \u00a0We allow time to discuss what we watched. \u00a0In certain circumstances, we even stop the DVR in the middle of a situation to discuss what we believe and how we could or should respond when a situation like the one portrayed in the show happens. \u00a0Often times, it is best to ask an open-ended question as opposed to lecturing. \u00a0For example, we might stop the show when a person in the show says or does something that we either admire or disagree with. \u00a0At that point, we might say, “so, what do you think about that?” or “how would you deal with that situation if you were in it?” \u00a0An important point to remember on this is that you do not want to do it too frequently during a show as it can frustrate the kids. \u00a0However, once in a 30 minute show or maybe twice on an hour show should be acceptable to everyone involved. \u00a0We also think that it is important to tell the children that we are watching for the purpose of helping them enter into the culture with an awareness of what is out there and of how to respond. \u00a0We want them to be lights in the darkness. \u00a0 They need to be aware. \u00a0Finally, because we do it together, it is something that we all look forward to, even the older teenagers. \u00a0It’s important to have everyday things that all of us – parents, 13 year olds, and 18 year olds – can do together.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Obviously, particularly with regard to the shows I mentioned above, this technique is for older children. \u00a0Parents should prayerfully discern whether this technique will work for them. \u00a0It can lead to awkward situations that need to be dealt with. \u00a0However, if parents are active participants and guides in this process, it can help prepare our children to go out into the world ready to engage the culture and the people they meet with the truth and love of Jesus Christ. \u00a0That is, they will be prepared to be New Evangelists.<\/p>\n

    Do you have any tv shows that you watch as a family and use to teach your children?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Effective parenting calls for new ways of communicating the Faith to children. In essence, parents must answer the call to the New Evangelization in their own homes with their own children. \u00a0As parents, we’re called to find ways in every day life to convey the truths of the faith in ways that, perhaps, are a… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[671],"tags":[51,62,2001,257,720,165,2002],"class_list":{"0":"post-41712","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-column","7":"tag-catholicism","8":"tag-evangelization","9":"tag-mystery-of-parenthood","10":"tag-new-evangelization","11":"tag-parenthood","12":"tag-parenting","13":"tag-reality-tv","14":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43618,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood\/","url_meta":{"origin":41712,"position":0},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"January 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Parents are called to evangelize their children - to be evangelical parents. \u00a0Yet, all too frequently many of us fail to answer the call to share the \"Good News\" with them because we never preach the Gospel to our children. \u00a0We leave that to the priest in the Sunday homily\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":124040,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/06\/a-response-to-what-sucks-about-the-catholic-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":41712,"position":1},"title":"A Response to “What Sucks about the Catholic Church”","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"June 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Every spring brings the Church a batch of shiny new Catholics, and every year I see the same list of complaints. No, not the ones about people \"taking your pew.\" The ones about the niggling weaknesses in the Church. Many adults who enter the Catholic Church, especially those who were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A Response to \"What Sucks about the Catholic Church,\" at AustinCNM.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/acnmreponsetowhatsucks-550x394.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/acnmreponsetowhatsucks-550x394.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/acnmreponsetowhatsucks-550x394.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45272,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/04\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-non-judgmental-warmth-welcome\/","url_meta":{"origin":41712,"position":2},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood: A Non-Judgmental Warmth and Welcome","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"April 10, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Judge not, that you be not judged\u00a0(Matthew 7:1) The last attitude of evangelism laid out by Pope Francis is a non-judgmental warmth and welcome. \u00a0As parents, our children need to know that we love them regardless of what they do. \u00a0They need to know that they can come to us\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ACNM"","block_context":{"text":"ACNM","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":190019,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/01\/street-evangelization-in-austin\/","url_meta":{"origin":41712,"position":3},"title":"Street Evangelization in Austin","author":"Robert Lindberg","date":"January 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, I attended training for street evangelization. At the end of the training class, we went out into downtown Austin to put this into practice. This experience reminds me of a middle school dance. It all started with spending the day learning to dance. We went through the mechanics and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Social Justice"","block_context":{"text":"Social Justice","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/social-justice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo by Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sixth_Street_Austin-550x413.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sixth_Street_Austin-550x413.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sixth_Street_Austin-550x413.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43762,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/02\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-approachability-part-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":41712,"position":4},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood: Approachability – Part 2","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"February 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In order to answer our parental vocation to evangelize our children, Pope Francis says we must be approachable to our kids. \u00a0We must develop and cultivate an attitude of approachability. \u00a0As a parent, you want your children coming to you to ask difficult questions, right?! \u00a0After all, if they don't\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":44094,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-readiness-dialogue-part-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":41712,"position":5},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood: Readiness for Dialogue – Part 3","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"March 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The second attitude of Evangelical Parenthood lies in a readiness for dialogue. \u00a0All too often, as a parent, we can be \"preachy\". \u00a0That is, we desire to control any conversation to the extent that there may be a difference of opinion or lack of time. \u00a0We, some of us more\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41712"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41712\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}