“Dress braver than you feel. Act braver than you feel.” - Ray


17



The more you move, the happier you are.


10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21



Your brain seeks novelty. Try new things as long as you live. Take risks (but not safety risks!)


20



Practice making yourself do something you don’t feel like doing. Practice and it gets easier


10, 12, 15, 18, 21



“Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you see with your own eyes isn’t happening.” -English teacher Read Diary of Anne Frank together.


12



A mommy-friend of mine gave me some good advice: "Count the wins." So what if you didn't clean the house, you showered! So what if she's wearing 9 different colors - she dressed herself! Great advice. So remember, especially on the difficult days - and there will be many: Count the wins.


1



They’re very teachable at this age. When behavior is bad, send to their room for a brief “time-out.” Then go get them by sitting and putting him/her on your lap. Talk (1-3 sentences) about why we don’t behave that way and how I expect you to behave instead. Then hugs and kisses. If the offense is really bad, introduce consequences (which have to be immediate, they wont understand missing out on something hours from now, won’t make the connection.)


3



Summer concerts at Wolftrap- get good seats so they can really get a sense of the experience.


13-16



Your very existence is a miracle. Countless cosmic events and generations of ancestors had to come together in precisely the right way at precisely the right time for you to be here now. It’s an honor to be who you are. Act accordingly.


13, 15, 18, 20, 21



Don’t play hard to get. Be hard to earn.


16, 21



Before speaking (or texting) ask yourself three questions: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? If not all three, don’t speak. (PS “kind” isn’t the same as good news. You can deliver bad news with kindness.)


11, 14, 20



College: you’re gonna do great! You’re also probably gonna want to quit at some point during your first year. Totally normal. If you decide college isn’t for you or now isn’t the right time, okay. But give it a year if you can. You’ll thank yourself later.


17



I get it. It’s exhausting when they’re little. But you will never be so needed or so loved as you are during these years.


2, 3, 4



My mom used to proudly describe herself as an “Irish Catholic Democrat.” I think my dad voted for Reagan once but other than that we’re all pretty liberal.


18



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


6



“A recipe for being mistaken: 1. Dislike someone who's often right. 2. Never agree with someone you dislike.” ——- Paul Graham


16



Have them practice making trade offs based on their financial priorities. For example: Pedicure or movie?


9



Ask: What are you responsible for?


15-18



“You can miss a person every day and still be glad that they’re no longer in your life.” — Oprah Winfrey


19



Practice real-life mental math: Calculate time / age: If someone was born in 1994 how old are they today? Make change in your head: Cost is 14.27, how much change do you have if you give the cashier 20 bucks? Calculate percentages: tips, tax brackets, sales!!


12, 14, 20



When you’re tired, the next best thing to sleep is a shower.


16



Be open to the possibility that you might be wrong.


12, 14, 17, 21



Book recommendation: “Star Fish” by Lisa Fipps.


11



Geocaching


5-11



Notre Dame Lullabies by the O’Neil Brothers is my favorite album ever. I used to play it at your bedtime when u were a baby and even sometimes when you were a kid. It reminds me of the happiest time of my life, when you came into it. Play it for me when I’m old and gray, okay?


21



Sioux Nation quote: No one heals himself by wounding another.


16



Kindness + Confidence = secret to success and “popularity.”


10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21



Read blog post from Parent's Corner: The Letter Your Teenager Can't Write You By Gretchen Schmelzer June 23, 2015


13-17



“Success is liking who you are, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” - Maya Angelou


13, 15, 21