Category Archives: Raising the Betts

A family podcast by Domenico Bettinelli and Melanie Bettinelli, who are raising five kids in the Boston area. They discuss marriage, homeschooling, Catholic faith, their adventures far and wide, cooking exotic dishes, exploring nature, engaging culture and more.

Coconut Soup for Epiphany

New Year, a birthday, Star Wars, Epiphany, and a Scouting event mean a busy week for the Betts as Dom and Melanie relate their Epiphany ... Read more

Merry Christmas!

The Betts wish you a Merry Christmas as Dom and Melanie relive Christmas Eve midnight Mass and Christmas Day, including several great meals, ... Read more

Christmas Eve with the Betts

Christmas is here (or almost, as we recorded) and Dom and Melanie reveal how their Advent has gone and what the plan is for Christmas Eve ... Read more

The Harsh, but Effective, Lord Cromwell

The Betts discuss an unusual game the kids play during cleanup times involving the fictional Lord Cromwell; Melanie and the kids ditch an ... Read more

St. Nick and Snow Day

The Betts get their first snow day of the season and Dom discovers he doesn't have to do all the snow clearing any more. The kids go Scouting ... Read more

Thanksgiving Misadventure

It was a great Thanksgiving for the Betts, but then Dom ended up in urgent care, while making a turkey leftovers soup. Meanwhile, Melanie wants ... Read more

Campsgiving

The Betts get ready for Thanksgiving after celebrating an early Thanksgiving dinner outdoors with the Scouts, plus Dom celebrates his baptism ... Read more

Don’t Work, Don’t Eat

As the Church year winds down, Dom and Melanie talk about the amazing Sunday Mass readings, including St. Paul's admonition to lazy ... Read more

Infiniphobia

This week, Dom and Melanie talk about Jesus saying that there is no marriage in heaven and that the idea of infinity gives Dom a feeling like ... Read more

Halloween, All Saints, and Monkey Bridges

The Betts celebrate a blustery Halloween and Dom's birthday; manage to get to the early Mass for All Saints; and then Dom takes the older girls ... Read more

You Just Became Interesting

This time, Dom and Melanie talk about the Skeleton Sea Pirates; reading Jane Austen with the older girls; granddad's visit; and a reflection on ... Read more

Asportical

This week, Dom and Melanie discuss her "asportical" outlook; Dom goes to a neighborhood reunion; cool tips for the most amazing beef stew; ... Read more

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

This week, Melanie goes to the theater; Dom goes shopping with the kids (and only loses one for a little bit); and they discuss why it's so ... Read more

Roman Eagles and Moussaka

This week, Dom and Melanie talk about the separate Masses conundrum; the classic kids' novel, Eagle of the Ninth; one of their favorite dishes, ... Read more

Nature Walking

This week, Melanie and the kids go on, not one, but two different nature walks; Dom and Melanie discuss whether chili should have beans or not; ... Read more

Apple Picking and Grandma Visiting

Grandma's here and Dom and Melanie take her and the kids to their favorite apple picking place and make sure Texas grandma gets her favorite ... Read more

Fig Tarts, Girls in Scouting, and Harry Potter

This week, Dom and Melanie talk about the girls joining a Scouts BSA Troop; two of the kids train to be altar servers; Melanie makes an amazing ... Read more

There Are Four Lights!

This week, Dom and Melanie talk about a family "lights out" policy; visiting the Museum of Fine Arts; excitement over Ben Hatke's new Mighty ... Read more

Friends from the Internet

On Labor Day weekend, Dom and Melanie welcome friends from the internet into their home; drink some shrubs; and Dom watches and reads some ... Read more

Beach Burned

The Betts were beach bound for birds, but burned. Dom and Melanie cook and eat Tex-Mex fajitas, Sicilian caponata, and a pasta sauce of their ... Read more