I can still hear the graduate students’ laughter as I candidly used that line to explain how my Christian faith and queer identity informed my work as a faculty member. Looking at my curriculum vitae, it is easy to see how my positionality has shaped my research agenda, leading me to explore questions related to religion in higher education and the experiences of LGBTQ+ collegians.
Likewise, the years I spent in seminary and later as a campus minister profoundly shaped my approach to teaching and advising. Though I had long ago left the world of full-time ministry behind, I remained pastoral in my approach to student support as a faculty member. As I saw it, my responsibility was not only to nurture students intellectually but also to attend to the fullness of their humanity.
Undoubtedly, all faculty bring their beliefs and identities to their work. Yet, until recently, little was known about faculty members’ religious, spiritual, and secular (RSS) affiliations and how their worldviews shape their teaching, research, and service.
Last month, a research team led by Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew—the William Ray and Marie Adamson Flesher Professor of Educational Administration with a focus on Higher Education and Student Affairs at The Ohio State University—released findings from their national mixed-methods study, InFORM (Including Faculty on Religious, Spiritual, & Secular Mattering).
“This project is not only looking at where faculty differ; it is asking what gives their life’s work meaning.”
As Mayhew explains in the project’s overview video, “This project is not only looking at where faculty differ; it is asking what gives their life’s work meaning.”
The national study found that faculty need better preparation to engage worldview differences in the classroom; religious inclusion may offer common ground across political divides; and race and religion come together to explain faculty motivation in teaching, research, and service.
Given the central role faculty play in shaping students’ educational experiences and outcomes, the InFORM findings have implications not only for faculty themselves but also for the students they serve. Additionally, as heightened attention is directed to faculty members’ political ideologies, InFORM illuminates the commonalities that exist across worldview differences.
As Mayhew notes, “We’re all motivated to make sure that our work reaches people beyond the audience of the academic journal, making sure that our life’s work has meaning, and I think that’s what brings us together.”
For me, that is one of the study’s most striking outcomes. As someone who continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member, InFORM reminds me that my colleagues, too, are complex individuals whose work is likely motivated by their deeply held religious, spiritual, or secular commitments. Although they may not “love Jesus and like the ladies,” the study suggests that I likely have far more in common with my faculty peers than I once assumed.
The organization, which has built a substantial legacy in the adoption community over decades of service, provides grants ranging from $8,000 to $12,000 per family. These financial awards are specifically designed to cover between 20% and 30% of the total costs associated with the adoption process. The impact of these funds is substantial and well-documented within the philanthropic sector. To date, Show Hope has successfully directed more than $52 million toward adoption grants, directly impacting the lives of 10,000 children who have found permanency and love within supportive families.
For prospective parents preparing to navigate the application cycle, understanding the nuances of the submission process is critical to securing funding. To assist applicants in managing the administrative burdens that frequently accompany adoption paperwork, the organization has outlined several foundational criteria and procedural recommendations designed to streamline the review process.
A primary consideration for any applicant involves confirming the fundamental eligibility of their specific adoption pathway. Show Hope Adoption Aid grants are strictly designated for adoptions facilitated through a licensed, 501(c)(3) nonprofit placing agency. Adoptions that fall outside of this specific structural framework do not qualify for funding under the program guidelines.
Complications can also arise regarding the timing of an application for families utilizing multiple intermediaries. For prospective parents working in conjunction with an adoption consultant or navigating the early stages of engagement with multiple agencies, the organization advises holding off on submitting an application until they have achieved an official match with their designated placing agency. Conversely, families who are already formally matched with a single, qualified agency are encouraged to proceed with their submissions whenever they feel fully prepared to do so.
In addition to structural and timing requirements, alignment with the organization’s foundational ethos is a core component of the review process. Prospective applicants are strongly urged to dedicate time to thoroughly review Show Hope’s Statement of Faith before initiating the application paperwork, ensuring a mutual understanding of the values that underpin the organization’s philanthropic mission.
Administrative readiness represents another significant hurdle for many applicants, prompting the organization to emphasize the importance of early document collection. Gathering all required records ahead of time serves to minimize delays and prevents the common stress associated with last-minute document retrieval. Furthermore, in an era where data privacy is paramount, the organization provides a specific precautionary directive regarding sensitive personal information: applicants are instructed to meticulously black out social security numbers before uploading any financial or personal documents to the portal.
Attention to detail during the actual completion of the application forms remains a critical factor in how smoothly a file moves through the review pipeline. Complete and thorough responses across every section of the application prevent unnecessary requests for clarification from review committees. Once the documentation is fully compiled and the forms are completed, applicants are advised to double-check their digital workspace to ensure that all required attachments are successfully uploaded before hitting the final submission button.
Because adoption journeys are inherently dynamic and subject to unexpected shifts, maintaining open lines of communication is essential. The organization stresses the importance of prompt notification should any significant circumstances change after an application has been submitted. Keeping family files up to date ensures that the administrative team can accurately assess the application and continue serving the family with the highest level of care.
For families encountering questions or uncertainties while working through the paperwork, comprehensive resources are readily available. The organization maintains a detailed FAQ section designed to address common inquiries regarding the grant lifecycle.
Reflecting on the emotional and logistical realities of building a family through adoption, representatives acknowledge that the journey can frequently feel overwhelming and demanding. That foundational understanding inspired the creation of broader support networks, including specialized digital platforms designed to guide prospective parents through every phase of the process, from the earliest pre-adoption inquiries to post-adoption integration and family life.
Families wishing to learn more about the financial support programs or ready to begin the formal application process can find comprehensive guidelines and submission portals directly through the official Show Hope adoption aid web portal.
For years, the digital landscape inhabited by modern mothers was dominated by a singular, relentless cultural ideal: the concept of the “Yes Mom.” Across parenting blogs, Facebook status updates, and heavily curated Instagram feeds, mothers documented their efforts to banish the word "no" from their vocabulary. The philosophy was simple, spontaneous, and seemingly joyful—don’t stand in the way of a child’s whimsical request if an affirmative answer is just as easy to give.
If children asked to eat ice cream before dinner, the answer was yes. If they wanted to leap directly into a muddy puddle after a rainstorm, the answer was yes. If they requested an impromptu board game in the middle of a busy afternoon, the answer was yes. For veteran homeschooling mother and writer Kris Bales, who penned numerous accounts of these triumphant parenting moments herself, the concept initially felt fabulous. Implementing the strategy yielded a treasure trove of spontaneous, heartwarming memories with her children.
Yet, beneath the glossy veneer of perpetual enthusiasm, a quieter and more exhausting reality was taking root. Years later, Bales and many parents like her are stepping back to reevaluate the emotional toll of saying yes to everything. The emerging consensus among exhausted caregivers is both liberating and long overdue: it is not only acceptable to say no, but it is often an essential act of self-preservation.
Moms, particularly those balancing the around-the-clock demands of educating their children at home, frequently find themselves trapped in a cycle of chronic overextension. The pursuit of perfectionism leads to burned-out, overwhelmed women who forget a fundamental truth—that mothers are human beings, too. Human beings require rest, personal hobbies, scheduled downtime, and the mental breathing room often referred to as white space. For introverted parents who navigate the compounded intensities of managing a household, parenting, and teaching full-time, carving out this solitary margin is not a luxury; it is a psychological necessity.
This growing realization has prompted many parents to fundamentally re-examine how they allocate their time, energy, and emotional bandwidth. Among the first traditional expectations to be critically evaluated is the cultural pressure surrounding community volunteering.
Within homeschooling circles, volunteerism is frequently heralded as a cornerstone of civic responsibility and a valuable educational tool for teaching children the importance of serving others. When chosen judiciously, contributing to the community can be a deeply enriching experience. However, the landscape of volunteer opportunities can quickly transform from a noble endeavor into an exhausting obligation. Because homeschooling families are often assumed to possess an abundance of flexible free time due to their presence at home during standard business hours, they are frequently targeted to fill endless administrative and caregiving gaps.
Bales recalls the evolution of her own volunteer commitments over the years. When her children were infants, she willingly served in the church nursery on Sunday mornings. At the time, aside from one reliable senior parishioner, nursery duties fell almost exclusively to mothers with babies—a arrangement she welcomed as a quiet hour to recharge while others snuggled her children.
As the years progressed, however, the nature of those expectations shifted. Because she was a homeschooling mother, it was automatically assumed by peers and church leaders that she would be uniquely qualified to lead children’s church on Sunday mornings. Yet, after spending the entire week intensively teaching her own children, the prospect of managing a classroom on her day of rest held zero appeal. Lacking the boundary-setting tools she would acquire later in life, she initially struggled to decline. Over time, she learned the importance of graciously but firmly drawing a line, politely declining service areas that introduced acute stress into her life. Interestingly, now that her children are fully grown, she has returned to serving in the nursery with genuine enthusiasm, purely out of a desire to grant modern mothers of little ones a peaceful, worry-free hour of worship.
Beyond community volunteering, another massive fixture of the homeschooling universe that parents are increasingly learning to question is the traditional academic and social co-op.
Over a span of more than fourteen years of homeschooling, Bales and her children never participated in a conventional, organized co-op. Aside from a brief, informal nature study group shared with a single family during her children’s younger years, and a current government study group involving a handful of teenagers, structured co-op groups were absent from their educational journey. When a friend extended an invitation to join an established co-op during their very first year of homeschooling, Bales declined, recognizing the vital need to spend that foundational period simply finding their footing at home. Although alternative co-ops were occasionally discussed by the family, the children never expressed genuine interest, and they ultimately developed into well-adjusted young adults without the experience.
The perspective of many veteran parents is that co-ops can be wonderful resources if they genuinely serve a family’s logistical, social, or academic needs—particularly for specialized subjects that are difficult to replicate at home. The danger arises when families enroll out of outside pressure, fear of missing out, or unfounded guilt driven by external judgments. The prevailing wisdom among seasoned educators is clear: children are invariably better off at home with a calm, stress-free parent than they are being shuttled to a guilt-induced co-op class by an overextended, frazzled caregiver.
This philosophy of strategic refusal extends just as easily to the realm of fun outings and recreational activities. A vivid illustration of this dynamic played out recently when one of Bales’s daughters requested a shopping trip to spend her birthday money on a Saturday. Rather than giving in to reflexive parental obligation, the request was met with a firm, guilt-free refusal.
The decision was rooted in the sheer logistical exhaustion of the preceding week. The days leading up to the weekend had been a whirlwind of relentless chauffeuring and administrative management. Wednesday had been consumed by driving her daughter to the Department of Motor Vehicles to successfully test for a learner’s permit, running errands for an older sibling, transporting her to and from photography classes, grabbing drive-thru meals on the fly, and dropping her off for church worship team practice.
Thursday proved no less demanding, requiring an interminable doctor’s appointment for her oldest child, followed by rushed house cleaning, cookie baking, and the hosting of a birthday party. That evening involved navigating a frustrating traffic jam that left the partygoers half an hour late to an indoor trampoline park. Friday brought a familiar cycle of grocery shopping, rushed grocery put-aways, transporting teenagers to a government study group, delivering a forgotten item from the previous day’s festivities, and driving the children to a separate birthday celebration shared with a best friend, all interspersed with her own remaining errands.
Faced with a calendar characterized by standing traffic, endless driving, and domestic management, the prospect of spending Saturday away from home held no appeal. The refusal to leave the house on the weekend was executed without a single twinge of psychological guilt. Ultimately, no disasters occurred, and the day remained peacefully uninterrupted.
For parents navigating the relentless demands of modern family life, the overarching message remains straightforward. There is no requirement to say yes to every single demand, opportunity, or expectation that presents itself. While the archetype of the "yes mom" has its merits for spontaneous moments of joy and connection, it should never come at the expense of chronic burnout, emotional depletion, and the neglect of basic self-care.
Learning to say no—and embracing the deliberate choice to protect one’s time and energy—can paradoxically create the very space required to foster meaningful family memories. After all, building deep connections and enjoying the journey of parenthood is nearly impossible when an individual spends all of their time frantically trying to do all of the things.
Back when the dinosaurs roamed the plains, or so it felt at the time, Rachel Abugov took a course in Developmental Psychology. During her studies, she learned that each stage of human life comes with certain prescribed tasks that must be accomplished as part of personal growth and psychological maturity. According to the textbook theories of her mid-thirties self, seniors were tasked with a particularly sobering assignment: accepting and learning to live with profound loss.
At the time, the concept felt entirely alien. Abugov could not even begin to imagine what such a burden would feel like, viewing it as the worst possible fate for an older adult. Unfortunately, time has a way of turning abstract academic concepts into lived reality. Today, Abugov finds herself navigating the early, jagged stages of that exact developmental milestone, following a devastating series of family tragedies that unfolded at the start of the year.
In January, Abugov experienced the loss of her son, Kevin, who passed away at the age of 43 after a relentless battle with cancer. Just ten weeks later, she suffered the loss of her only brother, Ian. While she had previously learned how to process the passing of her parents years prior—accepting those events as part of the natural order of life—the loss of a child and a sibling shatters any predictable timeline of grief.
Before the illness took hold, Abugov and her son shared a lighthearted, humorous dynamic. They frequently joked about her eventually becoming a crotchety old lady whom he would simply have to tolerate. In response to the running joke, Kevin bought her a t-shirt featuring Sophia from The Golden Girls and routinely sent her nostalgic internet memes of the famous "Where’s the beef?" commercial lady.
Those moments of levity were eventually overtaken by a ruthless adversary. Cancer emerged like a Trojan horse, attacking her son quietly and systematically from the inside. Abugov soon found herself thrust into an exhausting crash course in oncology, learning the complex medical terminology of chemotherapy, understanding both common and rare side effects, and exhaustively searching for potential clinical trials that might offer a glimmer of hope.
The battle culminated in a sterile emergency room, where an ER doctor delivered the devastating news with blunt finality: "He’s not going to make it. He’s dying." In that fraction of a second, Abugov was tasked with an impossible duty—breaking the news to her extended family and, worst of all, making the phone call to her daughter-in-law, who was at home with a sleeping grandson, informing her that she was only hours away from becoming a widow.
Abugov never learned to come to terms with the disease that consumed her son. She maintained a fierce, unwavering hope, fervently praying that Kevin would somehow be cured and discharged from the overcast, clinical realm of treatment into the brilliant sunshine of recovery. The sun continues to rise and shine today, but her son is no longer around to experience it. She notes that it is a haunting coincidence that the exact day Kevin learned his time on Earth was severely limited was also the day a major solar eclipse darkened the sky. Although they had purchased special viewing glasses, they never had the chance to use them; they didn’t need to. Their entire world simply went pitch-dark and stayed that way.
Despite the heavy shadow of illness, there were still pockets of joy and normalcy in those final chapters. Kevin managed to play his last two live gigs with his punk rock band, and the family gathered to celebrate her grandson’s first birthday. Just two weeks before Kevin passed away, he, his wife, and Abugov went out for lunch at one of their favorite Vietnamese restaurants. Over bowls of pho, they eagerly discussed plans to see the latest Superman movie and debated which television shows were worth binge-watching next.
It felt entirely like old times, provided one deliberately ignored the context: the restaurant had been specifically chosen because it was wheelchair-accessible, and Kevin was eating very lightly because chemotherapy had severely impacted his digestive system. They masked their raw emotions, smiled across the table, and pretended that everything was fine. They even discussed when they would get together next and which restaurant they would try for their next lunch outing. Naturally, there was no next time.
In the wake of these compounded losses, Abugov has sought out various avenues of support to help her process the grief. She has participated in numerous support groups, both in-person and online, while leaning heavily on cherished family members. Among her most vital lifelines has been her local chapter of The Compassionate Friends, an organization that brings together parents who have experienced the death of a child. Even though their formal meetings only last an hour and a half each month, the connections forged there are invaluable. To Abugov, the members are true "foxhole buddies" who genuinely understand the singular, isolating landscape of child loss.
Along this difficult journey, Abugov has also acquired an unexpected companion: Grief. While not a traditional best friend, Grief shadows her as persistently as her cat, Monty, whenever she approaches the kitchen cabinet where the treats are kept. In Abugov’s mind’s eye, Grief resembles an eccentric older lady—the kind who overcompensates for lost youth by wearing purple cat-eye glasses and an abundance of leopard print, ensuring she is easily recognized.
Not all of Abugov’s emotional responses are quite so considerate or easy to categorize. Acting on the advice of her bereavement counselor, she has been working hard to properly label her complex emotions, though that remains an ongoing process. Grief frequently makes her presence known at the most unexpected times, such as when Abugov experiences a sudden emotional meltdown in the potato chip aisle at Walmart, struck by the sudden, agonizing realization that she can no longer pick up Sriracha chips because Kevin is gone.
Grief attempts to comfort her through these sudden collapses, gently whispering about accepting a "New Normal." She tells Abugov that every person eventually walks around with a metaphorical stone in their shoe—an irritation that cannot be shaken out, no matter how hard one tries. At first, Abugov’s immediate reaction was sheer disbelief, but as she began opening up and talking to others, she realized just how widely this specific kind of grief is shared among the people around her.
Initially, Abugov’s internal response to her persistent companion was defensive and hostile. "Look, Grief. I don’t wanna hang out with you! Leave me alone," she recalls thinking, usually garnished with a generous sprinkling of frustration and profanity. However, she quickly realized that she was expending an immense amount of physical and emotional energy fighting against Grief—energy that drained what little reserves she had left in her tank.
Faced with this exhaustion, Abugov pivoted toward a strategy of radical acceptance. She wondered what might happen if she simply stopped fighting, sat down on the couch right next to Grief, and allowed the companion to quietly hand her tissue after tissue while she sobbed and openly mourned the losses of her son and her brother. Could it possibly help? After all, she reasoned, she couldn’t possibly feel any worse than she already did.
To her initial surprise, the psychological experiment worked. Much like a chef’s trick of soaking raw onions in cold water to decrease their pungency, Grief began to lose her sharpest, most painful edges. Abugov wasn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for her uninvited guest, but she was resisting her presence far less intensely. Perhaps she was finally beginning to come to terms with her New Normal, or perhaps her pain was simply shifting from the sharp agony of acute grief into a more manageable, chronic state. Regardless of the exact mechanism, the pain remained, but the day-to-day experience of it had fundamentally changed.
As a result, Abugov spends far fewer days trapped in bed, mindlessly doomscrolling through her phone. She has always been an early riser, and she still is—though now she identifies just as strongly as a "mourning person" as she does a "morning person." Honoring her lost loved ones no longer looks like lying in bed with the lights dimmed in perpetual sorrow. Instead, it can look like hopping on a plane with her niece to attend a music festival because Kevin and Ian’s favorite bands are playing, and wearing their old t-shirts so they remain present in some tangible form.
The bottom line, as Abugov has come to understand, is that Grief is here to stay. She will remain a part of her identity for as long as she walks the Earth. And when her own time on this planet eventually comes to an end, she figures she will ask Grief to serve as a faithful shadow to everyone who loved her in return. It is undeniably a tough job, but as Abugov has learned firsthand, somebody has to do it.
Most parents share a common aspiration for their children: they want them to become readers. Yet, the distinction between children who merely possess the technical ability to read and those who actively choose to read for pleasure is significant. Cultivating a genuine, lasting love for literature remains a primary goal for educators and families alike, prompting a closer examination of the strategies commonly employed in homes and classrooms across the country.
Experts in literacy and child development point to a curious contradiction in how adults approach children’s reading habits. While the ultimate objective is to foster autonomous individuals who select books voluntarily out of personal interest, the methods frequently used to encourage this behavior often mirror the exact opposite of how adult readers actually engage with literature.
In many households and educational settings, adults assume total control over the reading ecosystem. Grown-ups routinely select all the reading material, dictate the duration of reading sessions, and mandate specific reading times. Furthermore, children are frequently subjected to intensive questioning designed to verify that they have not only read the assigned text but also fully comprehended the plot and underlying themes. To ensure accountability, these inquiries are often followed by formal writing assignments and comprehension essays.
This heavy-handed approach creates a transactional relationship with books, framing reading as a performance-based chore rather than an immersive, pleasurable experience. Under these conditions, children learn that reading is an obligation defined by external metrics, compliance, and evaluation. Consequently, a fundamental question arises regarding the long-term effectiveness of these methods: when young people are eventually freed from external mandates and no longer required to complete reading logs, answer comprehension questions, or write essays, why would they spontaneously choose to pick up a book for the sheer joy of it?
To address this disconnect, child literacy advocates are encouraging parents and educators to reframe the core question surrounding youth reading habits. Instead of continuously asking how to force or trick children into reading more books, adults are being urged to consider what real, lifelong readers actually do in their day-to-day lives. By examining the natural behaviors, motivations, and autonomy of adult readers, families can begin to mirror those organic patterns in the ways they introduce literature to the younger generation.
Lifelong readers typically enjoy a high degree of autonomy. They choose their own genres, abandon books that fail to capture their interest, read at their own pace, and discuss stories naturally without the pressure of an impending examination. They view reading as a private sanctuary, a form of entertainment, or a method of exploration, rather than an academic hurdle to clear.
By giving children more opportunities to exercise these same choices—allowing them to select their own reading material, explore topics that genuinely spark their curiosity, and experience stories without the immediate burden of analytical testing—families may create a more hospitable environment for a lasting literary habit. Rather than treating books as test material, this perspective encourages treating reading as a rewarding, self-directed pastime.
The discussion surrounding these parenting strategies and literacy approaches forms the focus of ongoing conversations within the educational community, inviting families to reevaluate their daily routines and consider how subtle shifts in perspective can profoundly influence a child’s long-term relationship with the written word.
In an increasingly modern and sterile world, health experts and researchers are raising a fundamental question about contemporary lifestyles: have we become far too hygienic for our own good?
As modern societies embrace advanced cleaning products, hand sanitizers, and hyper-sanitized indoor environments, medical professionals have noticed a parallel, concerning trend. Across the globe, rates of chronic childhood ailments—including allergies, persistent skin conditions, asthma, and complex gastrointestinal or gut problems—are steadily on the rise. This paradox has prompted scientists to re-examine the delicate balance between keeping harmful pathogens at bay and preserving the beneficial, friendly microbes that make up the human microbiome.
Microbiome research has rapidly emerged as a vital and fast-growing field of scientific interest. Researchers are only beginning to decode the intricate, hidden universe of microorganisms that live on and inside the human body. The mounting scientific consensus points to the microbiome as a major player and essential regulator of overall human health. Emerging studies consistently indicate that a diverse and thriving microbiome not only helps protect children from chronic health conditions later in life, but it also plays a crucial role in supporting mental well-being and significantly reducing the risk of developing various allergies.
However, modern domestic habits, urban living, and widespread chemical use may be inadvertently disrupting this delicate internal ecosystem. To understand how to protect children, researchers and health advocates are looking closely at how this internal ecosystem is initially formed and how daily modern habits impact its long-term development.
How is a child’s microbiome established?
Scientific understanding points to a critical window in human development: a child’s microbiome is primarily established during the first one thousand days of life. This means that the foundation of a person’s lifelong gut health is heavily dependent on their early experiences, starting from birth, through the breastfeeding stage, and continuing well into the toddler journey.
During this foundational window, any major disruptions—such as the administration of medical interventions like antibiotics—can profoundly alter the developmental trajectory of a child’s microbial landscape. When such early interruptions occur, children often require specialized, conscious support to help them build and maintain a healthy, diverse microbiome that can withstand environmental pressures.
Given these vulnerabilities, parents and caregivers are increasingly tasked with finding practical ways to foster and protect their children’s microbial health in a world that often pushes for total sterility.
Let your children get dirty
One of the most foundational shifts recommended by researchers involves a return to traditional, unstructured outdoor play. Letting children engage with the physical world by playing directly in dirt, mud, and natural soil environments serves as a powerful catalyst for promoting microbiome diversity.
Extensive observational studies have demonstrated that the diverse microbes living naturally in soil help populate and enrich the human gut microbiome, introducing a wider variety of strains that bolster immune resilience. Beyond simply providing a physical source of microbial diversity, soil has also been found to house specific, non-pathogenic bacteria that interact directly with the human nervous system. Specifically, these environmental microbes have been shown to activate the body’s serotonergic system, meaning that physical contact with natural earth can naturally prompt the body to release serotonin, often referred to as the happy hormone.
Encourage your children to eat probiotic and prebiotic foods
Once a child’s microbiome has navigated the critical first thousand days and established its baseline diversity, maintaining that complex ecosystem becomes an ongoing dietary priority. Health advocates emphasize the importance of regularly incorporating wholesome prebiotics and probiotic foods into a child’s daily meals and snacks.
By consistently offering foods that naturally nourish beneficial gut flora, parents can help feed and populate the microbiome, ensuring that friendly bacteria remain robust enough to outcompete less desirable microbes.
Eat organic whenever possible
While the benefits of a balanced diet are widely acknowledged, the source and quality of the food consumed play an equally critical role in shaping internal health. Non-organic agricultural produce is frequently treated with a range of chemical interventions, including synthetic pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. These chemical agents are fundamentally designed to eliminate biological organisms, and their residues can exert a harsh effect on a child’s delicate, still-developing microbiome.
Childhood represents a uniquely vulnerable life stage during which young bodies process environmental chemicals differently and often struggle to rid themselves of the heavy metals and toxins that may coat non-organic foods. For families balancing tight household budgets, experts suggest prioritizing organic options where possible or exploring home-grown alternatives to minimize children’s exposure to agricultural chemicals.
Have sugar-free days
Managing dietary intake for children presents a well-known challenge, particularly when it comes to added sugars. Young children frequently develop strong cravings for sweet foods, creating a difficult cycle for parents to navigate.
This craving phenomenon is not merely behavioral; it is rooted in biology. Sugars actively feed the less desirable, opportunistic bacteria residing within the human gut. As these pathogenic or inflammatory microbes consume sugar, they multiply, reinforcing their dominance within the digestive tract and triggering even stronger sugar cravings in the host. To break this cycle, health professionals recommend introducing dedicated sugar-free days and gradually substituting conventional sugary sweets with nutrient-dense, sugar-free alternatives disguised as everyday treats.
Encourage children to grow their own food
Engaging children directly in the cultivation of their own food offers multifaceted health benefits. It is a widely observed phenomenon that children who participate in planting, tending, and harvesting greens are significantly more inclined to consume vegetables and fruits.
These plant-based foods provide the essential dietary fiber and nutrients required to feed and sustain beneficial gut bacteria, reinforcing the link between active outdoor engagement and internal nutritional health.
Choose gentle soaps over anti-bacterial soaps
Daily personal hygiene routines also require a balanced approach. Experts advise moving away from harsh, heavy-duty anti-bacterial soaps for everyday washing, reserving them strictly for rare, high-risk situations—such as accidental contact with biological waste or particularly contaminated surfaces.
Routine bathing does not require aggressive scrubbing with antimicrobial agents every time a child showers, as such practices frequently strip away the beneficial, protective bacteria that naturally reside on human skin. Instead, utilizing exceptionally gentle soaps helps maintain the skin’s natural barrier and microbiome integrity.
When should you see a health care practitioner?
Despite best efforts at home, parents may occasionally notice persistent signs that a child’s internal ecosystem is out of balance. Common indicators can include a pattern of recurrent colds, frequent infections, persistent skin flare-ups, chronic gut issues, or a history of repeated antibiotic use.
Because every individual’s physiological makeup is unique, identifying the precise underlying cause of a microbiome imbalance requires careful professional assessment. When families encounter these ongoing challenges, practitioners such as naturologists and clinical nutritionists can provide targeted guidance on how best to support a child’s long-term health and microbial balance.
The article was originally written by Laila Helena for the Endeavour College of Natural Health.
Few people know us as intimately as our spouses. Because of this unique closeness, partners are often the first to notice subtle shifts in behavior, mood, or physical well-being—changes that an individual might fail to recognize in themselves. According to mental health professionals, staying alert to these early warning signs is vital for catching potential mental health struggles before they escalate, allowing couples to seek timely and effective help.
Dr. Karl Benzio, a board-certified psychiatrist and co-founder of Honey Lake Clinic, a residential facility specializing in mental health, mood disorders, and addiction treatment, emphasizes that mental health declines rarely happen overnight. Instead, they often develop gradually over long periods, making them easy to miss for partners who share a daily routine.
"Hopefully the spouse is noticing the changes," Benzio explains, pointing to subtle behavioral shifts like an increased reliance on sleeping aids or an unexpected glass of wine at the end of the day. "Oftentimes a spouse might not notice changes until suddenly they realize their spouse is drinking six beers a night." Because these declines are often slow and subtle, individuals and their partners can easily normalize or overlook them until a crisis emerges.
What Do I Do If My Spouse Is Acting Strange?
Real-life experiences highlight how varied these warning signs can be across different marriages. Malik noticed that his wife, Jade, had grown strangely antagonistic toward their children and observed that her hands were constantly red and dry. After discussing the situation with a doctor, Malik connected the dots regarding her excessive hand-washing. Jade was subsequently treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and underlying self-esteem and identity issues.
In another instance, Angela grew concerned when her husband began acting uncharacteristically irritable, angry, and critical toward their children. Pushed by Angela to consult a physician, her husband finally agreed to go and ultimately disclosed an addiction to opioid pain pills.
Elsewhere, Jessica began calling her husband, Ryan, multiple times throughout the day—a stark departure from her usual routine—while exhibiting intense paranoia about their grandchildren being abducted or harmed. Recognizing that his reassurances were no longer enough to manage her excessive anxiety, Ryan sought outside intervention. Similarly, when Seth’s wife experienced a sharp escalation in depression and panic attacks that left her struggling to leave their home, he realized immediate action was necessary.
These cases underscore a fundamental reality of relationships: recognizing that something is amiss is the crucial first step toward healing, though identifying the root cause can be complex.
Understanding the Main Warning Signs in Marriage
While specifics vary depending on the individual and the circumstance, experts categorize the primary warning signs of mental health issues into five distinct areas: emotional, cognitive, physical, behavioral, and spiritual.
Emotional indicators are often the easiest to spot and include heightened levels of fear, anxiety, depression, and anger. A spouse may appear persistently worried, lonely, overwhelmed, or jealous, while also expressing deep feelings of rejection or neglect. These emotional states frequently manifest through tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, or an inability to regulate everyday feelings.
Cognitive signs involve uncharacteristic shifts in thought patterns and mental processing. An unusual surge in confidence or sharply increased self-esteem, for instance, can sometimes point toward mania or hypomania. Other cognitive red flags include severely compromised decision-making skills, chronic distraction, trouble focusing, mental confusion, and memory lapses.
Physical changes often serve as vital clues. Significant disruptions in sleep patterns, energy levels, or appetite can signal an underlying mental health concern. Additionally, frequent physical complaints such as persistent heartburn, tension headaches, muscle tightness, teeth grinding, jaw pain, and occasional rapid heartbeats frequently accompany psychological distress.
Behavioral shifts represent changes in established routines and habits. These can include a withdrawal from social activities, neglect of professional or household responsibilities, an unexplained increase in screen time that interferes with daily life, or a noticeable decline in personal hygiene and self-care. More severe behavioral signs may involve self-harm, such as skin-picking or hair-pulling, talking about disposing of personal possessions, or expressions of suicidal ideation.
Spiritual signs often surface as an overwhelming sense of helplessness, hopelessness, or profound guilt, alongside a compromise in personal values. A spouse may lose interest in spiritual practices like prayer, scripture reading, or attending church services, and their general outlook on life may shift from positive and grateful to deeply beaten down and negative.
What Triggers Mental Health Declines?
While mental health challenges develop over time, specific life events can accelerate a decline. Benzio notes that individuals may function relatively well until they experience a major life disruption—such as a job loss, financial distress, the loss of a loved one, a loss of daily structure, or a formal medical diagnosis—that causes their coping mechanisms to crumble.
Circumstances can also unearth repressed emotions from past trauma. For example, a woman who experienced childhood sexual abuse at age eight may successfully bury the memory for decades, only to experience severe anxiety, fear, and insomnia when her own daughter reaches that same age. With no external threat present, she might find herself overwhelmed by irrational worries about her child’s safety. When past trauma drives present-day mental health struggles, identifying and addressing the core issue often requires professional guidance.
Practical Ways to Help a Struggling Spouse
When a partner recognizes signs of distress, approaching the situation requires both sensitivity and intentionality. Experts recommend starting with a gentle, loving conversation after asking for uninterrupted time to talk. Reassuring a spouse of unwavering commitment and love establishes a secure foundation before addressing difficult observations.
Benzio suggests framing the conversation around shared life goals and mutual care, explicitly reminding the partner of their immense value and the desire to see them thrive. Following this expression of love, partners can clearly present the specific changes they have observed without resorting to accusations.
Asking open-ended questions is another critical strategy. Instead of making assumptions, partners should inquire how the other person is feeling, what thoughts are running through their mind, and whether they can identify any potential catalysts for the changes. Acting as a supportive investigator helps foster open communication.
When an issue proves too complex to navigate independently, bringing in an outside perspective is essential. Whether consulting a trusted pastor, a mentor, a therapist, or another supportive couple, external guidance can provide a clear path forward. Benzio also emphasizes the importance of a thorough medical examination and lab work to rule out any underlying physiological causes.
The Role of Medications and Professional Care
When psychiatric medications are prescribed, understanding their function is vital. Benzio describes medications as an important tool that can help regulate brain chemistry, reduce debilitating symptoms like severe anxiety and depression, and enable individuals to think more clearly and sleep better.
However, he clarifies that medications act primarily as supportive measures rather than ultimate cures. By lowering symptoms from overwhelming levels to manageable ones, medication can help individuals make sounder decisions, engage more fully in therapeutic work, and reconnect with their faith. In some cases, if caught early enough, individuals may eventually reduce or discontinue their medication under medical supervision, though treating psychological and spiritual dimensions requires ongoing personal and relational effort.
Ultimately, maintaining mental health in a marriage requires ongoing communication and a team-oriented mindset. By establishing regular check-ins to discuss emotional and psychological well-being, couples can break down the stigma surrounding mental health, catch warning signs early, and navigate life’s challenges together as a unified front.
As September begins, Catholic families and educators looking to incorporate the liturgical year into their daily routines have a new resource available. Catholic Icing has announced the release of a free September Saint of the Day Calendar printable, designed to help children and adults keep the saints front and center throughout the month.
The printable set, which was originally featured in the September 2023 edition of the Catholic Icing Monthly Membership, is being made available free of charge to subscribers. Created in collaboration with Angie from Real Life at Home, the monthly membership resources are crafted by creators who aim to provide both beautiful and functional materials to help families live out the liturgical year at home or in the classroom.
The September calendar set features two standard 8.5 x 11-inch pages incorporating a Litany of Saints for September, with a dedicated saint or blessed listed for every day of the month. To accommodate different preferences, the printable includes two distinct font choices. Families can easily frame the pages for a home altar or prayer table, post them on the refrigerator, or display them in classrooms to spark daily conversations about church history and holy figures.
September holds a rich calendar of significant feast days and devotions within the Catholic tradition. The month features major celebrations such as the Feast of Saint Michael and the All Archangels, known as Michaelmas, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the feast day of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Additionally, the entire month of September is traditionally dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, offering numerous opportunities for focused prayer, craft projects, and family devotions.
For parents and educators navigating how to introduce these celebrations to children, the release coincides with a broader collection of online resources. Catholic Icing offers detailed guides on how to approach saint feast days by examining the lives of holy men and women to select engaging, age-appropriate activities, foods, and crafts. These resources are designed to reduce the common feeling of overwhelm that many families experience when attempting to practice liturgical living at home.
The Catholic Icing Monthly Membership platform was established to address the challenges parents face when trying to incorporate liturgical traditions into busy schedules. Many families report feeling that they lack the time, organization, or starting point to consistently celebrate church seasons, sometimes leaving seasonal decorations up long after a liturgical period has passed. The subscription service aims to solve this by delivering curated monthly packets before each month begins. These packets typically include home altar displays, themed recipes with matching printables, children’s activity pages, coloring sheets, and saint-themed crafts.
While the monthly membership content varies from year to year and rotates continuously, the decision to release selected calendar sets for free offers a gateway for families who want to test out liturgical organization without an immediate financial commitment. The free September Saint of the Day Calendar is available to those who sign up for the platform’s weekly newsletter, which delivers ongoing feast day ideas and liturgical resources directly to subscribers’ inboxes.
Beyond the monthly printables and free calendar downloads, the creator has also developed comprehensive physical and digital planning tools for long-term use. Among these is "Weaving the Faith," a dedicated liturgical living ebook and binder system designed to help families organize their resources year after year. The binder serves as a centralized hub for Catholic households to archive printables, manage feast day celebrations, track sacrament anniversaries, and maintain home altars.
The release of the September calendar highlights a growing movement among Catholic households seeking practical, aesthetic ways to pass down the faith to the next generation. By breaking down the liturgical calendar into manageable, daily recognitions, these printables provide a simple mechanism for keeping church traditions alive in everyday domestic and educational environments.
While many viewers tune in to season three of Netflix’s hit romantic comedy series “Nobody Wants This” for the undeniable chemistry of its central couple, Rabbi Noah Roklov and Joanne, a growing segment of the audience is showing up for an entirely different reason: Noah’s mother, Bina.
Portrayed by veteran stage and screen actress Tovah Feldshuh, Bina Roklov has evolved from a traditional overbearing television trope into a gloriously unapologetic, scene-stealing force of nature. With her razor-sharp one-liners, unmistakable disapproving glares, and a larger-than-life personality that commands every room she enters, Bina anchors the familial friction of the series with decades of seasoned comedic and dramatic timing.
Feldshuh’s performance builds on a legendary career that spans decades across theater, film, and television. Having famously originated the role of Yentl on Broadway in 1975—nearly a decade before Barbra Streisand brought the character to the cinematic screen—Feldshuh brings a rich theatrical pedigree to the Netflix series. Her extensive resume includes critically acclaimed portrayals such as Golda Meir in “Golda’s Balcony,” as well as memorable turns as distinct Jewish mothers in independent cinema and television, including “Kissing Jessica Stein” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”
In “Nobody Wants This,” Bina is introduced as a Soviet Jewish immigrant with a commanding presence and a thick Russian accent. Married to Ilan, played by Paul Ben-Victor, and mother to Noah, played by Adam Brody, and Sasha, played by Timothy Simons, Bina operates as the emotional and cultural anchor of the Roklov family. While the series leaves much of Bina’s early immigration history unsaid, Feldshuh infuses the character with the visible weight of generational Jewish experiences and deeply rooted family traditions.
Throughout the first three seasons, Bina has delivered some of the most memorable moments in the series, balancing sharp comedic delivery with surprising emotional depth.
1. The Definitive First Impression: "A shiksa"
Some characters require an entire television episode to establish their core motivations and personality traits. Feldshuh managed to accomplish the feat with just two words in the pilot episode of the series.
When Joanne, portrayed by Kristen Bell, unexpectedly arrives at the synagogue as Rabbi Noah’s new non-Jewish love interest, the family is immediately thrown into a state of quiet panic. When Noah’s sister-in-law Esther, played by Jackie Tohn, asks who the unfamiliar woman is, Bina delivers her immediate, unfiltered assessment: "A shiksa."
The impact of the moment lies entirely in Feldshuh’s delivery. Without missing a beat, she manages to convey an entire psychological and emotional spectrum ranging from acute shock and immediate suspicion to profound maternal disapproval, setting the antagonistic tone for her relationship with Joanne from the very start.
2. The Secret Prosciutto Incident
The complex dynamic between Bina and Joanne reaches a pivotal comedic peak in the first season’s ninth episode, titled “My Girl Bina.” Joanne arrives at Bina’s home bearing a high-end charcuterie board that prominently features prosciutto, a dry-cured Italian ham. For Bina, who maintains a strict kosher household, the presence of pork in her home is nothing short of a culinary and religious catastrophe.
With dramatic flair, Bina declares the entire platter tainted and sentences it directly to the trash bin. However, the power dynamic shifts dramatically when Joanne later catches Bina secretly snacking on the very same forbidden meat she had publicly condemned.
The confrontation temporarily gives Joanne the upper hand over a woman who has made her disdain crystal clear. Yet, by the end of the episode, Bina reclaims her signature composure. Wearing a disarming smile, she looks at Joanne and admits that she likes her significantly more than she initially anticipated, before leaning in to deliver the ultimate caveat: she will never allow her to end up with her son.
3. The Unrivaled Basketball Entrance
Feldshuh’s comedic timing extends far beyond dialogue, often stealing scenes entirely through physical comedy and cinematic framing. In the second season, Bina delivers what is arguably the most iconic entrance of the entire run during a family basketball game.
When Bina arrives at Noah and Sasha’s charity basketball game for their team, the "Matzah Ballers," she does so with a cinematic flair that stops the event in its tracks. Wearing oversized dark sunglasses and a sharply popped collar, she walks onto the court with an unapologetic swagger set to Fergie’s track “London Bridge.”
The reactions of her adult sons—two grown men who visibly cower under the weight of their mother’s mere presence—elevate the sequence into a masterclass in character introduction. Bina does not need to utter a single word to assert complete dominance over the basketball court and the audience alike.
4. The Authority of the Hamotzi
Bina’s role as a traditional matriarch is perhaps best showcased during a Shabbat dinner sequence in the Roklov household during the second season. Dressed in a bold, immaculate outfit with every hair precisely in place, Bina takes total command of the traditional rituals.
She leads the Hamotzi blessing with soaring enthusiasm, her voice rising above the chatter of the crowded dining room in a sing-song cadence that echoes the atmosphere of a traditional Hebrew school. She is the first to offer wishes of a peaceful Shabbat, systematically tearing apart pieces of freshly baked challah to pass down the table.
In the same breath, she seamlessly directs Joanne to her designated seat and issues a strict reminder regarding the house rule prohibiting cellular devices at the dinner table. The sequence captures Bina in her element, embodying the archetype of the undisputed Jewish matriarch with a natural ease that reflects Feldshuh’s own upbringing in Scarsdale, New York, where Friday night Shabbat dinners were a cornerstone of family life.
5. The Rebbetzin Makeover
As the series progresses into its third season, the relationship between Bina and Joanne undergoes a surprising evolution. Facing concerns about how her public image might impact Noah’s career advancement within the religious community, Joanne recognizes that there is only one person capable of engineering a rehabilitation strategy: Bina.
Upon arriving at Bina’s stately home, viewers are granted a rare, vulnerable glimpse of the matriarch before she has fully donned her public armor. Wearing a simple champagne-colored satin blouse and applying her own makeup without her signature elaborate brooches, Bina appears momentarily unguarded.
When Joanne formally asks for her assistance in navigating the complexities of the religious community, Bina responds not with hostility, but with the focused intensity of a professional taking on a masterclass assignment. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she delivers the definitive line of the episode: "Let me make you into a rebbetzin."
6. The Hamster Guilt Trip
Even in moments of emotional manipulation, Feldshuh ensures that Bina remains endlessly entertaining. Standing near the family’s backyard basketball court in the eighth episode of season three, Bina reflects nostalgically on Noah’s childhood hamster—an animal that, true to family form, possessed a traditional Hebrew name.
Bina recounts how the hamster accompanied young Noah everywhere, and how, upon its eventual passing, she thoughtfully buried it near the court so it could forever watch Noah play. The anecdote begins as a remarkably tender maternal memory, designed specifically to tug at Noah’s heartstrings and secure his alignment in an ongoing family dispute.
It is a testament to Feldshuh’s performance that even when Bina is weaponizing the memory of a childhood rodent to guilt-trip her adult son, the audience cannot help but admire her tactical brilliance.
As “Nobody Wants This” continues to captivate streaming audiences, the persistent demand for more screen time centered around Bina Roklov highlights the enduring appeal of well-crafted, unapologetic character acting. Whether answering long-standing questions about her immigration from the Soviet Union, her early life with Ilan, or the parenting strategies that shaped two vastly different sons, Feldshuh’s portrayal has firmly established Bina as an unforgettable cornerstone of contemporary television comedy.
SUMMARY:Explore how American Muslims are navigating an increasingly hostile political climate, marked by school textbook controversies in Texas and high-profile rhetoric from political figures, by responding with steadfast character, historical perspective, and community resilience.
For millions of Muslims worldwide, the Prophet Muhammad occupies a place of profound reverence—a love that transcends ordinary affection. It is a foundational aspect of their faith, reflected in the traditional practice of following his name immediately with the invocation, "May Allah send peace and blessings upon him." Because of this deep devotion, recent political developments targeting both the Prophet and Islamic identity have sparked widespread pain and concern within American Muslim communities.
The climate of rising political rhetoric has manifest across multiple fronts in recent months. Most notably, educational authorities in Texas approved school curricula that critics and community advocates point out slander the Prophet Muhammad by labeling him as "brutal." This institutional curriculum challenge arrives alongside a broader backdrop where Islamophobic tropes and rhetoric are increasingly mainstreamed by political figures seeking to mobilize voter bases ahead of midterm elections.
The intersection of political rhetoric and identity came into sharp focus on Friday, October 16, 2026. During a campaign rally held inside an airport hangar in Dalton, Georgia, former President Donald Trump targeted Abdul Rahman El-Sayed, a Senate candidate from Michigan. Addressing the crowd, the former president referred to El-Sayed as "Mohammad," before declaring, "I’m the president. I can call you whatever the hell I want."
Expanding on the remark, he told the audience, "If you’re in doubt about somebody’s name from the Middle East, just say ‘Mohammad.’ You have about a 65% chance." Mimicking a greeting, he added, "Hello, Mohammad," and asserted, "I’ve done it for years now. I’ve never been wrong."
These incidents raise pressing questions for American Muslims about how to process public mockery, political posturing, and systemic bias while maintaining civic engagement and personal dignity.
First, check your own heart
History offers profound reassurance for those troubled by contemporary disrespect. The name Muhammad was frequently mocked during the Prophet’s own lifetime. The leaders of Makkah, driven by intense opposition to his message, refused to utter his actual name, instead twisting it into "Mudhammam," a derogatory term meaning "the one who is blamed."
According to accounts recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet’s response to this persistent mockery was characterized by remarkable calm and perspective. He remarked to his companions, "Doesn’t it astonish you how Allah protects me from the abuse and curses of Quraish? They abuse Mudhammam and curse Mudhammam, whereas I am Muhammad." The insults failed to reach him because they were directed at a distortion, leaving his actual identity untouched.
Contemporary believers are encouraged to carry that same steady disposition. Political jokes and campaign rally rhetoric cannot diminish a name honored by over a billion people daily in their prayers. Islamic tradition provides a moral compass for reacting to insults and societal rudeness, pointing to the guidance found in the Quran, specifically in Surah Al-Furqan, which describes the true servants of the Most Compassionate as those who "walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them improperly, they only respond with Salam."
The greatest American named Muhammad
Amid contemporary political discourse, historians and community leaders point to a powerful American precedent that redefines the cultural resonance of the name Muhammad: the legacy of Muhammad Ali.
In 1964, a charismatic young heavyweight boxing champion from Louisville, Kentucky, originally known as Cassius Clay, announced to the world that he had embraced Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. At the time, the decision was met with widespread resistance. Many members of the public, media figures, and sports establishments refused to use his new name, sometimes mocking it deliberately in a manner echoing modern political taunts.
Ali refused to compromise his identity or his faith. He retained his name, defended his convictions, and ultimately transformed into one of the most celebrated and beloved athletic figures on the planet. Decades later, in 1996, a massive crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, stood in thunderous applause as Ali, battling Parkinson’s syndrome, raised the Olympic torch to light the flame, signaling the opening of the Centennial Olympic Games. The moment stands as a powerful historical reminder that the state of Georgia once cheered wholeheartedly for an American bearing the name Muhammad as he carried a symbol of unity for the entire world.
The cultural footprint of that legacy continues to unfold. A major new biographical series chronicling his life, titled "The Greatest," is set to premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, November 4, 2026—the day immediately following the midterm elections. The first season follows his journey from winning Olympic gold in 1960 to claiming the heavyweight title in 1964, the pivotal year he adopted the name Muhammad. Cultural advocates suggest that engaging with such artistic works alongside neighbors and friends of other faiths provides a natural bridge for meaningful dialogue about heritage, identity, and American history.
A last word
Efforts to trivialize or mock the name Muhammad—whether through political campaign rhetoric or institutional curriculum decisions—ultimately seek to evoke a sense of smallness and alienation among American Muslims. However, community leaders emphasize that individuals do not need to internalize this marginalization. Instead, living out the values of honesty, kindness, courage, and genuine service to local neighborhoods remains the most effective response, offering a testament of character that no political joke or rhetorical jab can diminish.
