You have the school message open, dinner unfinished and a form you meant to return yesterday. Your child is stuck on homework but insists everything is fine. You may recognize the feeling: asking for help can seem harder than carrying the problem.

Today, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the Church celebrates Saints Simon and Jude, apostles. Their feast offers a small opening for a conversation at home: you do not have to understand everything, or manage everything alone, to belong.

Jude had a question, too

In his October 11, 2006 audience about Simon and Jude, Pope Benedict XVI recalled a question Jude asked Jesus at the Last Supper. Jude wanted to understand why Jesus would reveal himself to his disciples rather than to the world. An apostle, sitting with Jesus, still had something he did not understand.

That is a useful place to begin with your child. You do not need an elaborate lesson about the apostles. Try this: “Jude asked Jesus a question. What is something you wish you could ask someone today?”

Leave room for an ordinary answer. It might concern a math assignment, a friendship or why your family cannot buy something right now. You do not have to turn every answer into a teaching moment. You can simply listen.

Give your child words to borrow

Instead of telling your child only to “speak up,” offer a sentence they can actually use. Practice together when nothing urgent is happening.

• “I understand the first part. Can you explain the next part?”
• “I want to try, but I need someone beside me.”
• “I don’t know how to ask this.”
• “Can we talk somewhere private?”

You can take turns pretending to be the teacher, coach or trusted adult. Keep it brief. This is not another assignment your child needs to get right.

You can also make your own requests visible without handing adult worries to your child. “I’m asking someone to explain this form” is enough. You do not need to share the overdue balance or the whole conversation.

Let prayer be honest, not a bargain

The Catechism acknowledges the difficulty of praying when a request seems unheard. It asks whether we approach God as an instrument to use or as a Father. Catholic prayer is not a promise that the right words will produce the result we want.

For your family, that means you can pray plainly without promising an outcome. You might say: “Jesus, this is hard. Help us tell the truth about what we need. Help us recognize someone who can help.”

If your child asks why a problem remains after prayer, you can answer honestly: “I don’t know why this hasn’t changed. We can keep praying, and we can keep asking for help.” You do not need to defend God with an explanation you do not have.

Make receiving help part of family life

You may want your child to be generous. Make room for receiving, too. Consider the message in these ordinary sentences: “Our neighbor helped us today.” “Someone showed me how to do that.” “I’m glad we asked.”

Try not to attach a confession of failure to every thank-you. You can appreciate assistance without calling yourself disorganized, helpless or a bad parent.

Keep your child’s privacy in mind as well. Asking for help does not mean telling the whole parish, team or family group chat. Let your child know what you plan to share and with whom whenever you reasonably can.

In Corpus Christi, a first question can be practical

If groceries are the concern, the Coastal Bend Food Bank says you can call with your ZIP code for a referral to a nearby partner agency. Its Find Food page explains that individual pantries determine eligibility under applicable income guidelines. Call 361-887-6291 and ask where to begin, then confirm the pantry’s hours and requirements before traveling.

If paperwork is the barrier, the food bank also offers application and renewal assistance for programs including SNAP, Medicaid and CHIP. Its social services page provides an online request form and describes phone and in-person assistance. Asking a navigator to explain a form is a practical request, not a personal failure.

You do not need to make that call in front of your child. The family lesson can be as simple as: “There are people whose work is helping families find the next step.”

You can begin with one question

Ignite Fit, Ignite His Glory’s free family fitness and nutrition program for children in Nueces County, is another place to begin a conversation. We are Catholic in faith and open to everyone. Faith is never a condition of help, and you do not need polished answers before reaching out. Season One dates will be announced soon.

Your next step: open Ignite His Glory’s Contact page, choose “Register a child,” and send your question about Ignite Fit. Start with what you need to know.