Teresa Coda

Jan 29, 2025 | uscatholic.org | Nathaniel Hunter |Teresa Coda

I remember the first time someone referred to me as “opinionated.” While not categorically negative, the trait is hardly complimentary, and being called such startled me, partly because I didn’t think of myself that way but also because I was caught off guard. Not only did I not count “opinionated” among my characteristics, but I also considered myself aware of my strengths and limitations. Neither of these self-assessments was quite as true as I had imagined.

Oct 16, 2024 | uscatholic.org | Nathaniel Hunter |Teresa Coda

My husband and I make a great team when it comes to educating ourselves on all things related to parenting. I read the literature; he remembers the content. This actually applies to all books, not just parenting ones. I’m a quick and voracious reader, and outside of spending time with friends and family, reading is basically the only thing I do for fun. The problem is I can barely recall what I’ve read one month—let alone a few years—after finishing it.

Jul 31, 2024 | uscatholic.org | Nathaniel Hunter |Teresa Coda

One quality that I like about myself is my comfort with a high level of mystery in the universe. When my kids ask questions such as, “What happens to people when we die?” I don’t mind answering that I don’t know. I can’t say that I’ve ever been troubled by the theodicy issue; bad things happening to good people is just a part of the mystery of life.

Mar 20, 2024 | uscatholic.org | Nathaniel Hunter |Teresa Coda

“You know, it’s not meant to be a reciprocal relationship,” I told the client who was sitting across from me in my psychotherapy office. He’d been lamenting the fact that after all he has done for his children—the sacrifices made, the money spent, the time given (and all of this so much more than his parents had bestowed on him!)—his kids aren’t doing a whole lot to return the effort.

Jan 24, 2024 | uscatholic.org | Nathaniel Hunter |Teresa Coda

As a former youth minister, I’ve played a lot of getting-to-know-you-type games in my adulthood. My main takeaway from all the icebreakers is that it serves a person well in life to have at least one quirky fact about themselves. For instance, a former student once broke both her arms at the same time, resulting in full casts on each of her upper limbs for six weeks.