Read If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin. Young adult coming of age story.


14, 17



Men worry about getting laughed at or rejected by a woman. Women worry about getting killed when they reject a man. Let that sink in.


15, 21



Practice your signature


13



You’ll miss me when I’m gone, but if I did my job right you won’t need me.


21



Be kind. Be brave.


5-10



Honesty without kindness is brutality. Kindness without honesty is manipulation. (That said, when anyone asks if that outfit makes them look fat, the answer is “you look perfect.”)


20



When disciplining remember: First acknowledge the emotion, then address the behavior.


2-4, 13, 15



Ask the question “What are you doing when you feel most like yourself?”


16



Two words: Kinetic Sand.


3



People may have all kinds of different motives for doing what they do, saying what they say. To “give someone the benefit of the doubt” means that you consider what the best possible reason they may have for doing what they did and assume that was the motive. If someone has earned your trust, even if it’s that they’ve done nothing to break your trust, give them the benefit of the doubt.


11-15



Plan a neighborhood "Winter Olympics" for snow days. Create indoor and outdoor events.


8



Go out of your way to part on good terms whenever possible, in all circumstances.


18



Anger is the bodyguard of sadness.


12-15, 21



With toddlers (or teens), first acknowledge the emotion. Then deal with the behavior. Validate their feelings. Once everyone is calm, address the behavior and discuss consequences if appropriate.


2, 13, 17



You can forgive someone without speaking to them. Or you can move on without forgiving. Closure isn’t necessary to moving on. The only thing necessary is to move. Move your body, change your perspective, go on a trip, go to a new coffee shop, just move.


16, 19, 21



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


13-16



Knowing the “right choice” to make isn’t always easy. Sometimes you have to decide then go for it. Make a choice, then make it right.


17, 21



Uplift your friends and surround yourself with friends who uplift you. In person and online. Encourage each other to let your lights shine brightly. Never bully or steal someone’s joy.


11, 15, 18, 20



Encourage creativity, science and engineering: Make a craft station / work bench for projects. Fill it with all kinds of art supplies, engineering kits, tools, pegboard, etc. Stock safety equipment like goggles and make sure the area has good lighting. Lots of ideas on Pinterest, etc.


8



Listen to podcast “1912” about an incident of alarming racial injustice Forsyth County GA.


12



When setting off fireworks...Keep a hose or a bucket of water nearby. Also remember Costco is a great place to buy them!


5, 7, 9



“ A vocation is where our anger and our joy meet.” -Sarah Bessey


16



Sometimes I think the best way to take care of them is to teach them to take care of others: Littler kids, sick or disabled, those who’ve been left out.


5-7, 1Infant-12



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



No matter how smart you are or how much you know, you still don’t know everything. ALWAYS be willing to learn and to change your position when faced with new information or perspective.


15, 20



Check out Travel for Teens for summer travel programs. Let them choose from themes like service, adventure, animal rescue, etc.


14



Hold fast to what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)


10, 15, 21



Check out School of Rock (Vienna) or Bach to Rock.


9