Super good-looking people often don’t develop good people skills because they’ve been able to get by on their looks. Listen! Beauty fades. Get curious about people who don’t necessarily catch your eye right away.


16, 19, 21



Talk about how to speak up for themselves and others.


1Infant-12, 16, 21



I don’t want you to do drugs. It could hurt or $@!#% you. If you get caught doing drugs it could hurt your academic record


12, 15, 18



Time is of the essence


16



If your car is overheating turn on the heat full blast. It draws heat off the engine.


16



The more you move, the happier you are.


10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21



Fact: when you drink to excess you are significantly more likely to cause harm to someone or be harmed yourself. Being drunk means surrendering your ability to keep yourself and others safe.


12, 15, 18



Don’t waste your life’s purpose worrying about what other people think about you.


12, 15, 21



“When it comes to consequences, don’t speak what you won’t serve.” Meaning don’t threaten any punishment you’re not willing to enforce. This is helpful in terms of teaching the child a lesson and also an important lesson in not shooting yourself in the foot. (I took away your tv one day you were home on a snow day. Bad idea. That punishment was against my own interest! I got no work done.


2



Stay put, don’t wonder if lost when we hike.


2, 3, 5



You’re getting stronger by the day. Use your strength to protect, never to intimidate. Abusers and bullies are cowards and just the worst of men.


14, 17, 21



American Sign Language course


15



Grit.


14



Check your ego. Often.


17, 21



No matter how successful you become you’re still expected to act with integrity and respect.


14, 18, 21



Set up a dog agility course in the backyard. Use household items or toys, etc and lots of dog treats for training.


8



There is a cost and a duty to everything we own. Rachel Maddow


16



For a bad cut / gash, use a rolled up washcloth or hand towel to apply pressure until you can get to an ER. If you have to drive yourself or need your hands free, secure the towel in place with duct tape.


18



Talk about de-escalation techniques.


15



Never make a decision from a place of hopelessness.


14, 16, 21



Do something that feeds your soul every day. Experience or create joy, even if just a small spark of it.


17



I’d rather you be brave than perfect. Take chances. Fail, then pick yourself up and keep going.


18



Alcoholism and gambling addiction run in our family. Be very, very careful around booze and gambling.


14,16, 18, 21



Pray for the courage to be yourself.


10, 13, 15, 17, 21



Read A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold (mother of Columbine shooter.)


12



Monty Python movies.


12-15



Staying calm is 90% of the battle. Practice.


13, 15, 18, 21



When driving in the car with your kids, ask them to count motorcycles, cyclists, pedestrians. Prize to the highest count! This will train them to be on the lookout for them.


10



Just because I forgive you, it doesn’t mean I trust you. Trust has to be earned.


15, 18, 21



Go for walks together as a family before or after dinner. Sometimes we go for distance, sometimes we call them "safaris" and look for as many living creatures as we can find.


4