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.

Give Thanks

The Betts are back together! Melanie updates on her recovery from surgery, Dom relates how he's keeping the household together, they discuss ... Read more

Meet Isabella

While Melanie recovers from minor surgery, Dom welcomes their eldest daughter Isabella to the show to find out more about one of these Betts ... Read more

A Light in the Darkness

The Betts make lemonade from the lemons of a cancelled camping trip; make tasty smoked fish dip from freezer scraps; enjoy a English poet's ... Read more

Snowy Halloween

This year's Halloween trick was an unexpected snowstorm. The Betts also discuss subdued trick-or-treating, the new season of the Mandalorian, ... Read more

Preparing for Halloween 2020

The Betts get ready for a Halloween unlike any previous, wondering how trick or treating will happen; give some food tips that make leftover ... Read more

Sr. Karla’s Final Vows

This week, the Betts (virtually) celebrate the final profession of vows of their friend, Sr. Karla; rejoice at a child's return to Mass after ... Read more

What’s In Your Lasagna?

The Betts discuss their DNA and genealogy; golden spider silk and an arachnid visitor; what's in a proper lasagna; a sticky chicken recipe; why ... Read more

An Important Update from StarQuest’s Dom Bettinelli

An important thank you message and update from StarQuest's Dom Bettinelli. Read more

Homeschool is NOT the Ideal?

The Betts address a claim that Catholic school is the ideal form of education for all and that homeschool should only be for necessity. Plus, ... Read more

In the Pumpkin Patch

This week, the Betts spend some time in a pumpkin patch, teach some scouts camp cooking techniques, make a broccoli, potato & cheese soup; ... Read more

Workers in the Vineyard

The Betts say farewell to a nephew off to serve in the Army; finish Lord of the Rings; make Vietnamese meatballs; have a charcoal ash tip; get ... Read more

Soup Season

Fall weather has come to New England and that means it's soup season. Dom and Melanie Bettinelli talk about their favorite season, some new ... Read more

Feeding Our Kids

Figuring how to overcome allergies and food aversions to make sure your kids eat healthy is a struggle for many parents. Dom and Melanie ... Read more

Crossover

The Betts take a hike, crossover in Scouts, dig into the family tree, make enchiladas, watch Umbrella Academy, and talk about the ... Read more

Unbraced

This week, the Betts continue re-entry from vacation with appointments and school prep; free the first child from braces ... finally; remember ... Read more

Lake Vacation

The Betts have gone on a quarantined, socially distanced vacation to a beautiful lake house in Maine. They discuss getting away, the kids ... Read more

Superabundance

The Betts celebrate Melanie's birthday and have some home-baked cake; try Nashville Hot Chicken potato chips; discuss the book The Cooking ... Read more

Old Ironsides’ Flag

The Betts re-discover buried treasure in forgotten corners of their house and then discuss Sunday's Gospel on the kingdom of heaven as buried ... Read more

Dungeons and Dragons and Dryers

The Betts introduce the kids to D&D to great joy; replace their dead dryer but what the installers do causes big problems; embark on a spicy ... Read more

Birthday Ben

The Betts celebrate a birthday, mourn the death of a dryer, watch a bunch of movies, read a friend's new book, and discuss unfortunate ... Read more