I was raised by a Catholic dad and a Presbyterian mom. This, in and of itself, wouldn’t have been a huge problem had my mother directed all my questions to a priest or a faithful Catholic, but instead, she answered my questions from her own beliefs. I don’t blame my mom for all of this because my dad, who lived right there in the same house, didn’t monitor this very much. Or maybe he didn’t know about it. I often think if his mom, my grandma, hadn’t influenced me as much as she did, saying rosaries with me and teaching me about the saints (she had those little cards) I’d probably be agnostic right now, so thank God for her influence. I have been thinking about my grandma and about Mary all day, as this is the Assumption day, and my dear departed grandma’s birthday. I thank God that I wasn’t denied a relationship with Mary, as my grandma sowed the seeds of a relationship for me. I look to Mary every time I feel I am failing or even just struggling as a mom. I will be honest with you readers, I don’t say the rosary daily, but I know I should. I think of all the times I made mistakes that were either threats to my Christianity, or my safety, or others safety, and I can’t help but believe that all those rosaries my Grandma said for us daily had to have helped me! I love my own mom, but she is simply unable to be a model of Catholic parenting for me. I have other people I can turn to, but when I know I need to be straightened out, I turn the most holy mother of all.