“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” - Maya Angelou


12, 15, 21



“Bullies are scared people hiding inside scary people.” -Michelle Obama


8-12



Life doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful.


20



Start explaining wants vs. needs. Continue explaining for the next 30 years. We don’t always get what we want. That’s okay. 4 year olds can begin to understand this.


4



There’s a great scene in Game of Thrones where Tyrion is trying to prepare for an impending siege of the city but he doesn’t know how to begin planning a defense. Until he starts thinking about how his enemy is most likely to attack. Defense is reactive, offensive is proactive.


19



Be respectful with regard to how you treat girls:. How you talk to them, how you talk about them, and even how you think about them.


11-14



Cut people some slack, everyone is entitled to a bad day.


17-20



Let people do what they want to do so you can see what they’d rather do.


16



Emotional pain is just like physical wound- you can choose to ignore it but it will only fester. Address the pain. Literally talk to it, and listen to it- it’s got so much to say.


11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21



There IS such a thing as coming on too strong. Err on the side of leaving them wanting more.


15, 18, 21



Don't say anything out loud that you wouldn't want repeated or overheard. Don't email / text, etc. anything that you wouldn't want forwarded.


11-15



1

“If you can’t figure something out, figure out how to figure it out.” - Paul Graham


18



Rock those babies to sleep as often as you can.


0, 1, 2



I’m going to keep from telling them how to feel.


4-18



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


19



Check out the website Brightly for timely and age-appropriate book recommendations. All sorts of subjects and themes.


5-12



Intimacy is a feeling of safety. To let yourself be seen, touched, known, without defenses.


17, 21



We’re all just so delicate. It’s just our nature. Treat others (and yourself) accordingly. Even/ especially the ones that seem to be tough as nails or sharp as wire. Try not to lose sight of that.


13, 16, 20



A simple trick to calm your nerves: Name 5 things you can hear right now.


5-15



Frustrated with school or work? It bothers you because you care or you hurt. That’s human.


14



Just show up. That’s all we can really control. Show up, (don’t run) and take it from there. You got this.


21



Put your purse, (wallet,bag, phone, or shoe) in the backseat with the baby. Unattended babies die every day and it’s my worst nightmare.


Infant-3, 21



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



Be extra careful when you’re parking or pulling out of a driveway. It’s hard to see little kids or pets.


16



ABC's of video game addiction: Autonomy, Belonging, Control. Try to find ways to developing these things in areas outside of gaming. Games are great, but not at the expense of everything else.


1Infant-13



Sweetheart you don’t have room in your life for people who don’t get you. Let your light shine…and f*@k anyone who doesn’t appreciate it.


14, 16, 18, 20



Stop before you descend too far into the pain. Let yourself be loved. Rest. Eat. Shower. Breath. Sweat. Sing.


10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21



Practice not putting stuff off. If it takes 10 seconds or less do it now. Then move up to 30 seconds or less. Keep going up to ~3 minutes. Good example is putting away laundry or emptying dishwasher, etc.


15



Healing happens when you give up the hope that the past could have been any different. xoxo


20



“If the pain was deep you will have to let it go many times.” Yung Pueblo from book Lighter


15, 18, 21