Don’t ask for anything until you’ve done what has been asked of you.


5



Be mindful of avoiding the “race to nowhere.” No sense in stressing over school and work. We get one life!! LIVE it! Work hard at what you love. There will be seasons of busting your butt, and that’s good. Just make sure it’s in pursuit of something you’re passionate about. And I hope you take seasons of rest, too. Time to recharge, reflect and decide what’s next for you.


14, 16, 18, 21



Make “good trouble” as Rep. John Lewis said. Justice is won, not given.


14, 19



Typically, brains aren’t mature until about age 25. ADHD brains take longer


17, 21



When COVID started my first thought was “Holy sh*t Trump is going to cancel the 2020 election because of pandemic.” Thank God I was wrong.


15



Cotillion and other social clubs abound in our area. They usually start around 5th or 6th grade. start looking into what might be a good fit. Lay the ground work that they will attend.


1Infant-12



Teach them about shaken baby syndrome.


13



Talk about how to act respectfully and be inclusive of children with disabilities and facial deformities, etc.


5-10



Sometimes hookups don’t go well. The vibe is off for whatever reason. Stop. It’s okay to say “actually, let’s just call it a night.” Trust your gut. Be kind but never apologize for saying no-thanks.


15, 20



You can’t be a good parent if you’re a miserable person. Take care of yourself. Make the changes necessary to get in a good place. Ask for help. The happier you are, the happier they will be.


1, 10, 15



Fire drills. Practice what to do, where to go if the house is on fire. Have an escape plan.


5-10



Surround yourself with people and ideas that inspire you and captivate you. Life is too short for destructive relationships.


13, 18



Jam is an incredible resource of fun learning activities and projects in a safe online environment. Ages 6-16.


6



Grandpa used to keep a hundred dollar bill stashed discreetly in his wallet “for emergencies.”


17



Avoid love bombing.


15, 17, 21



Read up about the National Parks. Pick one to plan a trip to.


9



Consent is more than the literal


13, 14, 15, 16, 21



Commonly misspelled words - find tricks for remembering. Example desert vs dessert. “Dessert” has an extra “s” for sugar. Search for mnemonics.


11



Anger diffuser game to help better understand coping skills when angry


8-18



Pray for the courage to be yourself.


10, 13, 15, 17, 21



“The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw Listen to audio or read together


14



Go to movie Star Wars


12



To paraphrase Ted Lasso, it’s the people who think they’ve got it all figured out who delight in judging people and events. It’s better to be open minded, ask questions. Be curious, not judgmental.


15, 21



Read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit together


11



Healing takes time. You can't rush it. Whether it's your body, your mind or your heart that's hurting... you just have to let it heal in its own time. What you CAN do is to take good care of yourself: eat, rest, stay close to loved ones. Do things that bring you joy. Revel in the smallest steps forward. You'll heal, things will get better. Trust. Love. Serve. Live.


20



No matter how late you are, don’t speed or drive unsafely. It’s not worth someone’s life or limbs.


18-18, 21



Always hold the door open for the next person.


4-14



1

The Buddhists say “life is suffering.” I think struggle might be a better word. Struggle is unavoidable, and it would do us good to stop expecting otherwise. And yes, everybody experiences pain and loss, etc. but I don’t believe we should expect our lives to be full of suffering.


17, 21



Let’s talk about hungry kids. What can we do to help? Donate? Volunteer? Start a Little Free Pantry?


7-12