Side by Side: A Catholic Mother-Daughter Journal

by Lori Ubowski, Ava Ubowski, Michele Faehnle (Foreword)

Pretty and practical interactive journals are a popular and enjoyable way to reflect through writing, doodling, list-making, and more. Wouldn’t it be even more fun to share that experience with your tween daughter, and in the process share your life and faith with each other? Side by A Catholic Mother-Daughter Journal by Catholic musician Lori Ubowski and her daughter, Ava, is a unique journal that allows the two of you to communicate in a new and exciting way. Beautifully designed and rich in spiritual content, each page contains thought-provoking prompts that help you share your thoughts and faith while strengthening your connection with each other. Side by Side is a unique gift journal that celebrates and invigorates the spiritual bond of mothers and daughters by focusing on important qualities and virtues in the lives of female saints and biblical figures that are essential to healthy kindness, honesty, courage, patience, openness, appreciation, and confidence. Stories of holy mothers and daughters from Church history provide additional opportunities for the two of you to share and pray together. Each page is designed to draw your hearts closer to each other with prompts such as Write about a time you were really proud of me or What is your biggest worry right now? This vibrantly designed journal is meant especially for mothers and their preteen daughters. Whether you work through the book from front to back or pick the chapters you like best, the two of you will begin a one-of-a-kind, private adventure. There is also ample space along the margins to sketch, color, or express yourselves in other creative ways.

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2018

Reviews

[Michelle Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading and doing this journal with my oldest daughter, we started when she was 9 and ended when she was 10. It is geared for tween/pre-teen girls to use with their moms. We did really enjoy it, in a year or so some topics may have been more "fleshed out" in journaling, however, I wouldn't have changed our timing for doing it. I think this journaling really helped us to stay focused on each other during a busy season of life, even if there was sometimes less face-to-face/one-on-one time over the last year, this journaling helped us to connect regularly and discuss meaningful things "just us".
There are a variety of ways you could "use it" we personally would each write for a bit and then leave it on each others nightstand to read each others responses and journal back. We did sit to discuss a few times, but one thing I liked about this format was that most of the times we could do this style of back and forth journaling, which fits well for our current stage in life. I do think I will use this journal (a new copy) with my other daughters as they get older as well.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I first picked up this journal and completed the how-well-do-I-know-you exercises with my daughter (who's almost 11), I had to repeat the exercise with my 15-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter too!

My daughter and I continue to work through the book, which includes helpful prompts using saint stories and scripture. Even if not every question prompts an obvious answer, it requires us to think, reflect, and share.

Visually, this journal is very appealing! My daughter loves the hand drawings and splashes of color, and it's presented in a way that is light and fun.

When it's complete, my daughter will be able to treasure this shared journal for many years to come! Would make a great gift for a mother or a daughter.