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Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today's Tough Moral Issues
A generation ago, Christian parents didn’t have to worry about how to explain transgenderism to their nine-year-old, or help their teenager deal with mockery at school for believing in traditional marriage. But today, as our culture’s moral center continues to fly apart and with every form of deviance publicly aired and celebrated, we have no choice but to equip our kids to understand and to own the truth about such issues. In Made This How to Prepare Kids to Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues, Leila Miller and Trent Horn give parents (guardians and teachers, too!) crucial tools and techniques to form children with the understanding they need—appropriate to their age and maturity level—to meet the world’s challenges. Their secret lies in an approach that begins not with the Bible or Church teaching but with the natural law. In kid-friendly ways, Miller (Primal Loss) and Horn (Persuasive Pro-Life) help you communicate how the right way to live is rooted in the way we’re made. God’s design for human nature is a blueprint or owner’s manual for moral living that any child can grasp through reason and apply to modern controversies over sex, marriage, life… and the quest for human fulfillment. Topics covered • Sex Outside of Marriage • Same-Sex Marriage • Divorce • Contraception • Abortion • Reproductive Technologies • Modesty • Pornography • Transgenderism • Homosexuality Silence can no longer be an option. If we’re not teaching our children how to understand tough moral issues, then the world will.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2018
375 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Leila Miller
13 books23 followersLeila Miller is a wife and mother of eight children who has a penchant for writing and a passion for teaching the Catholic Faith in simple ways. This summa cum laude Boston College graduate also enjoys debating secularists, and in her spare time she fancies herself a bit of a Catholic matchmaker. She manages two blogs that accommodate those hobbies well: Little Catholic Bubble, and the invite-only Catholic Moms Matchmaking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 30, 2019
This is a very practical and accessible guide to Church teachings on moral issues dealing with sexuality. Topics covered range from sex outside of marriage to pornography to trangender identity, and much more. Each issue has its own chapter with a general overview section of the teachings, advice for talking to little kids, and then one for older kids (after puberty). The authors both have a lot of practical experience at this as parents themselves and the tips are very clear, practical, and useful.
As an informed Catholic, I found it good as a reminder of just what the Church's teachings are based on, which can be all too easy to forget when one is bombarded by secular culture's opposite messages. I also appreciated the continual touchstone of natural law included. And I especially appreciated continual reminders that we must pray for and love the people who we may encounter who aren't living by these teachings.
It's a quick read and very easy to dip into a section if the need arises. Right now, I kept my 5-year-old goddaughter in mind when reading since I don't have any other children in my life. However, this is a book I'll be recommending to Catholic parents and teachers of children of all ages.
As an informed Catholic, I found it good as a reminder of just what the Church's teachings are based on, which can be all too easy to forget when one is bombarded by secular culture's opposite messages. I also appreciated the continual touchstone of natural law included. And I especially appreciated continual reminders that we must pray for and love the people who we may encounter who aren't living by these teachings.
It's a quick read and very easy to dip into a section if the need arises. Right now, I kept my 5-year-old goddaughter in mind when reading since I don't have any other children in my life. However, this is a book I'll be recommending to Catholic parents and teachers of children of all ages.
February 24, 2019
I really like the approach this book takes regarding these issues. A natural law approach with a concentration partly on ends. I especially liked how there are different responses for the age of the child. Caveats are also mentioned regarding when it is appropriate to answer some questions taking in consideration the child's personality.
May 1, 2021
This is the most balanced teaching on the topic I came across. There is a difference between abstinence and chastity between that is good and bad. We can have good intentions and teach fear but forget to teach beauty and the good.
This book equipped parents both young and old on how to talk about sexuality in a beautiful and meaningful way.
This book equipped parents both young and old on how to talk about sexuality in a beautiful and meaningful way.
November 12, 2018
I found this timely, encouraging, and practical. I liked the consistent format of the chapters. It was not particularly pleasant to confront so many evils on the page, especially some that have become so commonplace. I appreciate the authors’ candor and determination to remain faithful to the natural order of things and reason.
May 21, 2019
This book should be mandatory reading for anyone who desires to raise their children with strong Christian morals. This book tackles the tough moral issues our children will face: same-sex marriage, divorce, contraception, abortion, reproductive technologies, modesty, pornography, transgender identity, and homosexuality. I really appreciate how well this book is organized. For each of the issues there is a brief section on what the Catholic church actually teaches about the topic. Then there is a section on how to discuss the topic with little kiddos, and then with teenagers.
This is not simply a "here's what the Catholic Church" teaches on these topics. The book begins by an excellent explanation of the natural law. The natural law argument will help us teach our children how to think, and therefore how to approach these issues.
One of my biggest takeaways is to ask the questions: "What is this thing, and what is it used for?" When we can answer those questions, the natural law answers easily follow and help us understand these moral issues. "Just as we would not harm our car's mechanical nature by putting molasses in the tank - which is made for gas -we should not harm our human nature by acting immorally; that is, in ways that contradict its designs." This book teaches the truth in love and charity. It encourages and equips us to do the same.
This is not simply a "here's what the Catholic Church" teaches on these topics. The book begins by an excellent explanation of the natural law. The natural law argument will help us teach our children how to think, and therefore how to approach these issues.
One of my biggest takeaways is to ask the questions: "What is this thing, and what is it used for?" When we can answer those questions, the natural law answers easily follow and help us understand these moral issues. "Just as we would not harm our car's mechanical nature by putting molasses in the tank - which is made for gas -we should not harm our human nature by acting immorally; that is, in ways that contradict its designs." This book teaches the truth in love and charity. It encourages and equips us to do the same.
April 7, 2019
This book was so good! Such an important read for Christian parents concerned with the moral state of our world we are raising our children in.
Each moral “dilemma” is separated into conversations by age range - little kids and big kids. Concrete examples are given of how to discuss with each specific age. This book beautifully blends why each subject is morally and theologically wrong with everyday language we can use to teach and guide our children.
The writing is strongly Catholic in that it cites a lot of its moral basis on what the Church says about abortion, pornography, homosexuality, etc but it is definitely for any Christian that adheres to Natural Law and needs a guide on how to traverse the moral issues we are faced with today. Highly recommended!
Each moral “dilemma” is separated into conversations by age range - little kids and big kids. Concrete examples are given of how to discuss with each specific age. This book beautifully blends why each subject is morally and theologically wrong with everyday language we can use to teach and guide our children.
The writing is strongly Catholic in that it cites a lot of its moral basis on what the Church says about abortion, pornography, homosexuality, etc but it is definitely for any Christian that adheres to Natural Law and needs a guide on how to traverse the moral issues we are faced with today. Highly recommended!
May 30, 2020
I was hoping this book was going to provide something more than just an explanation of what the Catholic church teaches on moral issues. Unfortunately, thought it attempts to give parents scripts for talking about various topics with their big and little kids, these sound more like dialogue from an after school special than anything a real human being might say to a real child. Sections of the book might be useful to read in advance of any discussions I might plan to have with my kids in order to make sure I understand the church's teaching, but I still feel like I'm on my own when it comes to putting this information into kid-friendly terms.
April 17, 2021
Best book I’ve read this year. Leila Miller does an excellent job breaking down extremely difficult moral issues in a way that is easy to understand and helpful for molding children and young adults into morally righteous children of God.
The book contains ways parents (and others) can discuss tough moral issues with their children at different age levels. Well worth the read, even if you aren’t a parent, as a good refresher on the Church’s moral teachings.
The book contains ways parents (and others) can discuss tough moral issues with their children at different age levels. Well worth the read, even if you aren’t a parent, as a good refresher on the Church’s moral teachings.
December 30, 2024
Hard to rate this one, but definitely a good read for Christian parents trying to raise Christian children in an increasingly anti-Christian world
February 21, 2021
A good book that will have to be returned to when my kids are older. The analogies were very helpful and really helped illustrate why the Church teaches what She teaches.
December 11, 2018
This book is so good. It will speak to your absolute core if you are a faithful Catholic. Even if you are non-religious but subscribe to natural law (which simply cannot be denied) this book lays out some important issues. Clear, concise, excellent examples & illustrations of the realities & challenges we face written in a no nonsense, unrelenting yet loving & understanding way. I would highly recommend this book to every single man & woman or combination thereof. Highly relevant, extremely well written, layman's terms, addresses some hard core issues directly. Such an important book of truth.
May 22, 2019
This is an excellent guide for teaching your children fundamental truths about how we should behave and why. It's also a handy refresher for parents themselves.
Especially now, all parents of young children should have this book at their fingertips (after reading it first). It can profoundly bless their children's lives forever.
Especially now, all parents of young children should have this book at their fingertips (after reading it first). It can profoundly bless their children's lives forever.
January 17, 2021
"Human beings are not merely minds or souls that inhabit bodies. Our bodies are an essential part of our identity and what we do with them matters."
I really liked the clear, compassionate apologetics based on reason and natural law (not the laws of nature). Some of the advice for little kids is stiff and awkward, but I found the advice for big kids very helpful.
Note: This book took me way too long to finish. My bible study read it in 2019 and I started it with them, but had to stop going to the meetings shortly afterwards. It was worth finishing and is an excellent resource that I'll be keeping on my shelf.
I really liked the clear, compassionate apologetics based on reason and natural law (not the laws of nature). Some of the advice for little kids is stiff and awkward, but I found the advice for big kids very helpful.
Note: This book took me way too long to finish. My bible study read it in 2019 and I started it with them, but had to stop going to the meetings shortly afterwards. It was worth finishing and is an excellent resource that I'll be keeping on my shelf.
February 14, 2025
Fantastic book that tackles many of the hot button moral issues of today. I really appreciated how this book was broken down: it starts by introducing the moral issue, then going over what the Church teaches about it, followed by how to talk to young children about it, then how to talk to older kids about it. It's a very practical book, as well as being relatively simple and concise. One of the best aspects is that Horn and Miller go into the philosophical reasonings of each moral issue and deal with them with logic and reason, and it's very easy for any lay person to understand. This one gets a super easy recommendation.
November 4, 2022
I loved this book. I didn’t realize it was written by a Catholic until I started it. That didn’t bother me in the least, as I have many Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ, but as an evangelical Christian, there were a few parts I didn’t 100% agree with (contraception being the main one).
In this book, the author goes through the following subjects and writes on what the Catholic Church teaches on them (most of which would align with what Protestant and Evangelical Christians believe), how to talk to little kids about these issues, and how to talk to older kids about these issues:
-Sex Before Marriage
-Homosexual Marriage
-Divorce
-Abortion
-Pornography
-Modesty
-Contraception
-Reproductive Technologies
-Transgenderism
-Homosexuality
This is a timely read for today’s Christian parent, and I definitely recommend it.
In this book, the author goes through the following subjects and writes on what the Catholic Church teaches on them (most of which would align with what Protestant and Evangelical Christians believe), how to talk to little kids about these issues, and how to talk to older kids about these issues:
-Sex Before Marriage
-Homosexual Marriage
-Divorce
-Abortion
-Pornography
-Modesty
-Contraception
-Reproductive Technologies
-Transgenderism
-Homosexuality
This is a timely read for today’s Christian parent, and I definitely recommend it.
January 21, 2019
Great, especially the chapters on pornography.
August 19, 2022
Very good training for parents who are just not sure what to say to our children when issues of culture come up against God's truth. This book is like a coach.
December 3, 2019
Fantastic. Can help parents of children any age to understand and embrace the tough moral issues of the 21st century.
May 3, 2019
This book's content is good and simple to read and digest. The book also includes footnotes for readers who want to delve into the details. By design, there are three chapters on each topic. One chapter on: "What the Church Teaches", "Advice for Little Kids", and "Advice for Big Kids". This has one key advantage, this is an excellent reference book! If you want to have a book where you can skim the table of contents and quickly locate some advice on talking about homosexuality with your children (or nieces/nephews, or any little kids that you have the responsibility/potential to instruct), then this book should be on your shelf.
The only reason I did not give this book four stars (If 3.9 was an option, it would have gotten that), is due to how this book reads. Having three chapters on every topic is nice for reference purposes, but rereading the same information from a different angle makes the book seem like it takes forever to finish a topic. It is possible that you could skip a few of the chapters; however, I am not used to buying a book and only reading one-third of its chapters.
All of that being said, this is a good book, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book that gives the concrete basics (in three different flavors), on important and controversial topics.
The only reason I did not give this book four stars (If 3.9 was an option, it would have gotten that), is due to how this book reads. Having three chapters on every topic is nice for reference purposes, but rereading the same information from a different angle makes the book seem like it takes forever to finish a topic. It is possible that you could skip a few of the chapters; however, I am not used to buying a book and only reading one-third of its chapters.
All of that being said, this is a good book, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book that gives the concrete basics (in three different flavors), on important and controversial topics.
December 26, 2018
This is a phenomenal book and resource for any adult (especially parents) involved in care and education of children. Each situation is discussed in light of moral/Christian teaching and natural law and then a section discusses how to address the topic with young children and finally how to discuss it with older children (after puberty). Topics include sex outside of marriage, same-sex marriage, divorce, contraception, abortion, reproductive technologies, modesty, pornography, transgender identity and homosexuality. This book does a great job of describing how to discuss these tough topics in a loving yet truthful and age approproaite manner. It is a must read for any parent!
St. Basil's quote in the book sums up so much in regard to the situations discussed in this book: "As the pilot of a vessel is tried in a storm; as a wrestler is tried in the ring; the soldier in the battle, and the hero in adversity, so is the Christian tried in temptation."
Another quote from the author in the final chapter states, "Every turtle, rock, and tree - in fact, every created thing - gives glory to God by being what it, by nature, is. By being the way it was made." This simple yet profound truth is so important to remember and teach to our children.
St. Basil's quote in the book sums up so much in regard to the situations discussed in this book: "As the pilot of a vessel is tried in a storm; as a wrestler is tried in the ring; the soldier in the battle, and the hero in adversity, so is the Christian tried in temptation."
Another quote from the author in the final chapter states, "Every turtle, rock, and tree - in fact, every created thing - gives glory to God by being what it, by nature, is. By being the way it was made." This simple yet profound truth is so important to remember and teach to our children.
January 24, 2019
Made This Way is a practical and engaging book to help parents navigate the tough issues of today’s cultures. I love the format of the book. Each chapter is it own topic such as divorce, same sex marriage, or pornography. Each chapter is broken down into three sections: what the church teaches, advice for little kids, advice for big kids. The information is clear and concise. It quotes church documents, Saints, and church fathers but the arguments are built upon natural law, making them appealing to anyone. The advice for little and big kids is very practical and straightforward. I highly recommend this book for all parents or even teenagers who are trying to strengthen their own understanding of moral topics relevant to today. This book was written with a Catholic foundation but it will appeal to all.
March 9, 2019
Even though the book was written to guide parents when speaking with their children about sexual morality, it also guides those who want to talk about the difficult issues with people outside Catholicism. By using the concept of natural law, even those who aren't Christians can see the Catholic position as reasonable.
Today, many people make decisions based on feelings rather than whether something could be right or wrong. To help make that determination it's good to ask the questions, "what is the nature of a thing?" or "what is it made for?"
Keeping those questions in mind, we can know the true purpose of marriage or sex and why divorce is harmful to children. The problem is that many don't want to know the answers even though their lives are adrift. This book helps you speak clearly and concisely to those who want to hear.
Today, many people make decisions based on feelings rather than whether something could be right or wrong. To help make that determination it's good to ask the questions, "what is the nature of a thing?" or "what is it made for?"
Keeping those questions in mind, we can know the true purpose of marriage or sex and why divorce is harmful to children. The problem is that many don't want to know the answers even though their lives are adrift. This book helps you speak clearly and concisely to those who want to hear.
January 22, 2019
Made This Way is a practical, easy-to-read guide for understanding and talking to children and teens about the most controversial moral issues of our day.
Using plain language, the natural law, Church teaching, and common sense, the authors establish simple talking points for laying the foundation for children's understanding and acceptance of the Church's (unpopular, but correct) stances on topics such as contraception, transgender identity, homosexuality, and more.
Even is you "know" all the right answers, this book offers useful suggestions in communicating them in an effective way. A great resource for parents and anyone charged with communicating Catholic teaching to young people.
Using plain language, the natural law, Church teaching, and common sense, the authors establish simple talking points for laying the foundation for children's understanding and acceptance of the Church's (unpopular, but correct) stances on topics such as contraception, transgender identity, homosexuality, and more.
Even is you "know" all the right answers, this book offers useful suggestions in communicating them in an effective way. A great resource for parents and anyone charged with communicating Catholic teaching to young people.
March 3, 2019
As a Catholic, I wish I'd been able to read this as a teenager, again before I married, again as a newlywed, again as a young mother, again as the mother of a pre-teen daughter, and again as the mother of a teenage/young adult daughter. Not all Catholics are reared in a strong foundation of the faith, and mine was uneven and wobbly. The author explains things in ways I had not previously heard but could've accepted and been guided by at various stages of my own life and my daughter's. This book would be great help in rearing sons, too.
March 30, 2019
This book does a fine job of clarifying and explaining the church’s teaching on some of the tougher moral issues that are so prevalent today. I think that any parent, young person that is discerning marriage, teacher, or anyone that desire to work with the youth should give this a read. Sometimes we remain silent on morality because we do not know what we should actually believe. We must fervently defends our Lord and back up the teachings of the Church with truth through love and compassion.
February 23, 2019
Straightforward, intuitive formation based on natural order
Easy to read and understand; informative and instructive; supportive and encouraging. A wonderful example of putting faith into action through teaching the principals and application of natural moral law and why it matters to our social ethos.
Easy to read and understand; informative and instructive; supportive and encouraging. A wonderful example of putting faith into action through teaching the principals and application of natural moral law and why it matters to our social ethos.
March 19, 2019
Really enjoyed this book, and was often challenged with how I carry out the truth in grace and love. The chapters were laid out in a clear and easy to follow sequence. She gives the truth in each chapter and good tips on how to teach your children to embrace the truth while honoring the dignity of each individual, no matter what choices they make in their lives.
February 17, 2019
Excellent introduction to natural law that gives parents the ability to reasonably articulate moral issues to their kids, but also to adults who don’t understand why the Church teaches what it teaches.
May 30, 2019
A Must Read for Catholic Parents
Great advice for talking to little ones and teens about these difficult topics. I enjoyed the emphasis on having a joyful marriage as an example of living according to the Truth.
Great advice for talking to little ones and teens about these difficult topics. I enjoyed the emphasis on having a joyful marriage as an example of living according to the Truth.
February 5, 2019
Fantastic book! Really recommend it to all responsible parents.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews