They know we love them; but do our children sense that we like them? And how does that relate to their formation?
In the intense season of togetherness that is summer break, headmaster Alvaro de Vicente recommends four practices to help us live more in the present and enjoy our children—even when the anxieties of life come knocking.
Chapters:
00:02:17 Distinction between loving and liking
00:06:49 Four tools for cultivating “like”:
00:08:02 1. Express triple-gratitude
00:10:45 2. Spend unnecessary time
00:15:25 3. Find the humor
00:17:15 4. Pray for the grace
00:18:38 Why liking them matters
00:22:59 Living in the present: an antidote to anxiety
00:29:12 The “four tools” for teachers
00:35:42 Whether humor belongs in bad situations
00:41:14 Don’t take the bad too personally
00:46:03 Emotional stabilizers: marriage, friendship, prayer
Links:
I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on St. Thérèse de Lisieux by Fr. Jean C. J. D’Elbée
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War by Douglas Brunt
Also on the Forum:
Reframing Our Desire to Be Liked featuring Alvaro de Vicente
Seeing Our Boys with Loving Eyes: Not Projects but Persons featuring Tom Royals
Featured opportunities:
Convivium for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2025)