Then Comes Baby: The Catholic Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the First Three Years of Parenthood

by Gregory K. Popcak, Lisa Popcak

Overview

Greg and Lisa Popcak—popular Catholic authors, radio hosts, and marriage and family experts—present this unique guide to caring for one's baby, self, marriage, and spiritual life in the first three years of parenthood.

In this foundational book for Catholic couples becoming first-time parents, Greg and Lisa Popcak lend readers the benefit of their twenty-five years' experience in parenting and marriage and family counseling to help them navigate the earliest years of parenthood. They recommend rituals, routines, and tips on how to manage feeding, fatigue, and finances and how also to prioritize marital bonding and faith life, suggesting that setting the pattern early will pay dividends later. The Popcaks coach parents as they adjust to their new identities and help them face the inevitable challenges of parenthood with ideas for bonding with babies and getting sufficient sleep and nutrition—all while seeing these everyday experiences through the lens of Catholic teaching on the purpose of family life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594714115
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	11/03/2014
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Gregory K. Popcak is a psychotherapist, a nationally syndicated radio host, the author of more than twenty books and programs, and the executive director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute. His articles appear in many Catholic magazines, and he serves as adjunct faculty at Franciscan University of Steubenville and Capella University.

Lisa Popcak is the vice president of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, a family-life coach, lactation consultant, and coauthor of several books. Popcak writes for many popular Catholic magazines and is a sought-after speaker on marriage, parenting, and women's spirituality.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Part 1 Becoming a Catholic Family 1

1 Getting Started: Four Things Every Catholic Family Needs to Know 3

2 Laying the Foundation: Healthy Baby, Healthy Parents, Healthy Marriage 19

3 Routines and Rituals: The Secret to Keeping a Joyful Balance 27

Part 2 Enjoying Your New Arrival: Birth to Six Months 37

4 Getting to Know You! 39

5 Keeping Mama Happy: Mom Care 79

6 Growing Closer: Marriage Care 99

7 The Spiritual Life of Your Newborn 121

Part 3 I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face: Six to Twelve Months 141

8 Time to Get Moving 143

9 Attack of the Shoulds: Mom Care 159

10 Work-Life Balance 167

11 Just the Two of Us: Marriage Care 183

Part 4 Hitting Your Stride: Twelve to Twenty-Four Months 189

12 Supporting Your Little Explorer 191

13 Healthy Toddler Discipline 205

14 Turning the Corner: Mom Care 215

15 Spiritual Care of Your Toddler: Taking Baby to Mass 227

Part 5 The Year of Wonder: Twenty-Four to Thirty-Six Months 235

16 Enjoying the Terrific Twos 237

17 When Is It Time for Your Next Baby? 251

18 Help for the Journey 259

Notes 263