Read "You Can’t buy a Dinosaur with a Dime" by Harriet Ziefert. Teaches kids about earning money through work, making choices, even paying taxes!


9



When you feel hopeless that’s when you know it’s time to seek help. It’s a red flag in someone’s demeanor. Notify parents if you notice this feeling of deep despair in yourself or someone you know. Help really does help.


13, 15, 17, 19, 21



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


17



Read (or listen to) A Fragile Stone together.


15



Send thank you acknowledgemnt for gifts received


1-21



1

Participate in an exchange program - either through hosting or traveling yourself & immerse yourself in the new culture


17



If it makes you happy it doesn't have to make sense to anyone else.


11, 14, 20



Talk to him about applying to Democracy Summer program started by Rep. J. Raskin.


18



Dress to people will listen to you, not look at you. (This is especially true at school and work.)


15, 18, 21



1

You don’t have to choose to be single forever to enjoy being single for now.


17, 21



Do what makes you happy. But what if you’re not sure what that might be? If you’re at a crossroads and you don’t know where you *want* to go, just go where you’re *needed.* That’s a good first step. Trust the Lord to take it from there.


18



Life isn’t a straight line, it’s so much more complex than that! Good things, bad things, boring or interesting things are all always happening. And always changing. So are you. And that’s good.


17, 21



Teen years are a whole other ballgame. Find a community and stay up with trends and news. Check out the website Raising Teens Today.


12



When someone gets upset for seemingly no reason maybe it’s not something you did or said but something you simply triggered. Try not to get defensive. Either gently remove yourself from the situation or if you want to engage with them just ask “what did I trigger?” Or “what story are you telling yourself right now?” Then, just listen.


20



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


13-17



Purpose is more important than happiness. Having a purpose (or looking for it) will save you. (And sometimes finding a *new* purpose is what you need.)


16, 21



Give them marshmallows to suck on when they get a sore throat. Takes away the pain!


3,4,5,6



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


16



The opposite of addiction is connection.


11, 14, 17, 20



Grandpa always said everything boils down to how you treat people. Always treating people with kindness and respect is the most important lesson he wanted to get across to us.


12-21



I read this quote in a blog when my oldest was little: "You will never be more needed or more loved than you are right now. You will long for the days when your kids were little." So true. These years are exhausting, but hang in there. You are their sun and moon.


2



My favorite Chinese food order is chicken Kung Pao, shrimp fried rice and beef lo mein. That way we all get a little of each meat.


16



The opposite of addiction is connection. Genuine connection can take lots of forms.


14, 17, 19, 21



Life doesn’t have to turn out like you imagined it would in order to be AMAZING.


19



Your body will go through all sorts of shapes and sizes. You’ll have times when you’re gorgeous and times when you’re awkward or frumpy. Whether you’re having a great hair day or sporting a face full of angry pimples, your looks have never and will never define your worth. (And nobody else will ever be defined by theirs.)


13, 15, 21



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


14, 18



Paradoxical Commandments by Kent Keith.


19



Invest in a laminator, a label maker and a glue gun. You’ll be glad you did!


5



People don’t abandon people they love, they abandon people they’re using.


19, 21



Think about building a career. Take low-paying or no-paying jobs that will give you the experience you need to build it. It's not all about the paycheck, especially when you're young and don't have too many bills to pay.


19-21