The opposite of depression is expression.


15



Always hold the door open for the next person.


4-14



No absolute restrictions on food but stress that some foods are “party food.” Chips, for example. (I love potato chips!)


4



If someone doesn’t want your attention or warrant your attention, don’t give it.


15



Kitchen Commandment: She who cooks the dinner shall not clean up from dinner. I don't want to raise any of you to take housework for granted. It's hard. It's unfair and not cool to expect anyone (parent, spouse, roommate, etc. )to wait on you.


7-18



NEVER sit while someone near you is working.


14-21



Never make a decision from a place of hopelessness.


14, 16, 21



“You will encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” -Maya Angelou


17



Book “30 Days of Sex Talks” comes in three volumes: Ages 3-7, 8-11 And 13 . Very highly rated. Available on Amazon.


4, 8, 12



“Beer muscles” is when guys gain a sense of indestructibility, an exaggerated sense of their own strength. Fights and aggressive behavior ensues.


15



The $@!#% never ends. Dealing with the $@!#% IS your job. If you think you’ll ever reach a “post-$@!#%” stage in your life, you’re wrong.


14, 19



Spend 20 minutes a day watching a show you like in Spanish (or whatever your target language is) with reactionary subtitles. You’ll pick it up in no time!


13, 16, 19



Check out the website Brightly for timely and age-appropriate book recommendations. All sorts of subjects and themes.


5-12



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


2, 3, 5



Check out news-for-kids websites like Dogo News and NBC Learn.


7



I wish I had heard this in my 20’s. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRtFBvGr/


20



Watch movie Sky Walk (2019) it’s about a school paper.


14, 18



Zoom out! Perspective is your friend. At certain times in our lives we have the focus turned up so high that we don’t see beyond ourselves. (Adolescence is one of those times, totally natural.) Zoom out. You’ll feel better.


13, 15, 17, 21



Don’t confuse impulsive with courageous.


10, 14, 19, 21



Say it early and repeat it often, so that it sinks way down deep: There is nothing you could do to make me stop loving you. No mistake, no failure, no decision, nothing. There is no hole so deep that if you fell into it I wouldn’t climb down to help you out of. I love you no matter what.


7



Major regret: focusing too much on being liked (or loved.) You can’t *make* anyone love you. Some people just won’t like you… that’s okay. Make yourself proud. Do YOUR thing. Spend time on what matters to you.


14, 21



Don’t stay down too long.


16, 19, 21



Anger diffuser game to help better understand coping skills when angry


8-18



Philippians 4: 11-13


12



Consent is more than the literal


13, 14, 15, 16, 21



Go as a family to local high school musical productions.


7-18



The moment you lose your cool, you’ve lost.


12,13, 14, 15, 16, 21



Here’s something I wish wasn’t true but is: Looks matter. This is true for anyone but 100x more so for a woman. Take care of yourself. Stay in good shape, eat well, wear sunscreen, dress well and be well-groomed. It shouldn’t matter but it does. (But try not to judge other people by their appearance- Often times the very best people (friends, spouses, job applicants, etc.) don’t look like movie stars. Far from it!) Yes, looks matter but I hope you value true beauty more.


12, 19



Be generous in all things. That is my hope for you.


14, 18, 21



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


14, 18, 21