Begin colon cancer screening at 40. We have a family history on both sides.


21



Sit down together and write house rules on anger. We don’t hit or bite. Do we yell and slam doors? Name-call? Say “I don’t love you” ? Bad words? What’s appropriate anger and what’s unacceptable?


4-6



Anyone who asks you to violate your values doesn’t deserve your allegiance.


16, 21



Forget perfection. Nothing is perfect. No relationship, job, house, or day is perfect. Let go of expectations, be open to the mess.


18



You can get into big trouble (with school and the law) even by fake / joke threats of violence (bomb threat, etc.) No jokes or pranks that have anything to do with violence.


11



Look into Space Camp for next year


8



Read The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig.


4



Never take friendships for granted. Show up. Reach out. Be there when they need you. Friends are gifts; tend to those relationships with love.


15, 20



Spend time with people you admire, in person and biographies, documentaries, novels and movies.


14-17, 21



Theme: Dignity


11



Whether it’s a kid at school or a politician on tv, beware of someone who tries to blame the world’s problems on a minority or some other group of people who are different. It’s a cheap tactic to get people riled up and afraid.


13



They’re gonna be pretty mean to you for a few years. Love them, if only to spite them! (ha ha)


11. 12, 13



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


18-18, 21



Never any point in arguing with drunks or fools.


17



Remember when you’re faced with bullies, jerks and people who say bad things , follow advice from the Obama's: "When they go low we go high."


1Infant-14



Come and go in peace.


12, 15, 21



If you ever borrow someone’s car, return it with a full tank of gas.


20



Read Admiral William McRaven’s autobiography Sea Stories.


17



Give baby a banana before bed and they’ll sleep through the night. (Obviously once they’re on solid food.)


1



To quote Harvard professor Adam Grant: “Argue like you’re right and listen like you’re wrong.”


15



If it’s the right thing, if something needs to be done… Make yourself do it. You’re never going to “feel like it.” Practice daily with things big and / or small without complaining.


9, 12, 15, 21



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


17



Look for examples of people who have dealt with loss without giving in to bitterness. What do they have in common?


17



In the wise words of Taylor Swift, you don’t have to forgive or forget in order to move on. You can just…move on.


15, 21



“You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are.” -Mr. Rogers


15



Make sure you always have Uber gift cards on hand for friends, emergencies or whatever.


15-18



“Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good.”


10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21



If you get comfortable telling little lies it will be easier to tell big lies. Tell the truth, even on small matters. (Except if your friends ask if they look fat. Then it’s okay to lie!)


13, 18, 21