“It takes about 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” - Warren Buffett

12, 14, 16, 19, 21

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Learning to keep your composure and maintain a respectful tone when you’re frustrated/angry/afraid/upset, etc. is a skill. PRACTICE it.

4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Try not to confuse excess with quality. It’s okay not to have the biggest house on the block. It’s okay not to drive the fanciest car.

21

Family & Home   Finances  

Beware that when you’re first exposed to a new thing: a car, a college tour, house, etc. you will feel AMAZING and totally seduced by the shiny newness. Be cool. Remember that glitters is not gold. Things don’t need to be perfect and even if the house is it doesn’t mean life will be.

15, 18, 21

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Finances  

You’ll never regret staying calm.

12, 14, 17, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Consider the costs of inaction.

12, 15, 18, 21

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Set up a 529 plan. Virginia has a great plan if you don't want to do too much research https://www.savingforcollege.com/

birth-age 3

Finances  

Practice “going without.” Talk about how nobody gets what they want all the time. We should learn how to just choose to go without something we want. Get them in on the discussion and pick something every day to do without.

5-9

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Finances  

Open a Bank Account

8-12

Finances  

“The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get, it’s what you give.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Set up automatic payments so they are initiated on your end, so that you send out money to the bill/ company you’re paying instead of giving them access to take money out of your account.

20

Finances  

Start saving money early. Save as much as you can. There are plenty of things worth spending your money on, but be mindful about your money - Don’t p*ss it away.

15, 20

Finances  

Create.

10, 14, 17, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Have a charity lemonade stand. Pediatric cancer research, immigrant children, etc. Lots of problems...Let them be involved in part of the solution.

7-10

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Finances   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism  

Start saving for retirement with your very first paycheck. Put away the MAX, you’ll never miss it. If the company doesn’t offer 401k then we’ll open a Roth IRA.

18

Finances  

There’s always a temptation to throw money at your problem. But remember there’s nothing you can buy that will make up for what is really needed. And the stuff that accumulates while you try to fix the problem just ends up being a problem on its own.

14, 19

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Relationships & Career  

Have a yearly “review” right before school year. Raise allowance as appropriate. If they want more money, they’ll have to take on more responsibilities.

7-17

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Finances  

1

Want a good life? Treat people well. (Including yourself). Be kind and respectful.

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Team them about all the good stuff in life

5-10

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Go in the direction that your peace comes from.

14, 17, 19, 21

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

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

9

Finances  

We are all so precious. Each one of us. Let that be the lesson.

2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 17, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Micro-internships. Check out Parker Dewey for ideas.

16, 17, 18

Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Finances   Relationships & Career  

Take the family on periodic “spending fasts.” As an exercise, go a day, a weekend or a week without spending any money. Make due with what you have. Encourage participation. Tie in spending fasts with holidays, lent or in support of a cause.

7

Family & Home   Finances  

The more books you read, the better. Carve out time without screens and read every day.

8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

May you make yourself proud every day. That’s my wish for you. (I will always be proud of you.) xoxo

9, 14, 21

Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Let the best part of yourself take the lead when you’re making decisions.

10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Surround yourself with people who are genuinely trying to make the world a better place. You’ll be in good company.

12, 14, 16, 19. 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Work on developing a “no shortcuts” mode. Looking for a faster/easier/bare-minimum option isn’t always bad. People get paid a lot of money for creating efficacy. But there are times when that approach is wrong. Anything you want to grow from (relationships, school, work, wealth, health, knowledge, etc.) those things deserve your full effort, focus and dedication. Play. Definitely play! But don’t f*ck around.

12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career  

Keep going. It’s never, NEVER hopeless.

14, 16, 18, 19, 21

Family & Home   Character, Education & Self-Reliance   Sports, Health, Safety & Appearance   Arts, Literature & Self Expression   Science, Technology, Skills & General Knowledge   Fun, Adventure & Travel   Faith & Philosophy   Finances   Emotional Development & Mental Health   Nature, Animals & the Environment   Social Justice, Civics & Humanitarianism   Relationships & Career