Put a few drops of tea tree oil in their shampoo bottle to keep lice at bay. If there’s a outbreak at school, add more. (Or spritz their hair with a tea tree oil solution.)


5-7



Marriage tip: King sized blanket on Queen size bed.


21



Make "place value cups" as a rainy day activity and way to teach big numbers. (google, youtube or pinterest)


6-7



Everyone gets crushes but if you’re having an imaginary relationship do so with an imaginary person. It’s disrespectful of someone’s dignity to obsess over them. Not to mention your own dignity!


12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21



When the poop hits the fan, that's when real discipleship begins.


15-18



Use Shutterfly or something like it to make Christmas books and birthday books each year.


Infant-21



“The beginning parts are always the scariest.” -Jackson Daily (kid reporter on Today Show.)


10, 12, 16



Difficult conversations are…difficult. If you have to deliver bad news, don’t beat around the bush but prepare them for what’s coming rather than just blurting it out. “I have some news that’s going to be difficult to hear…” Or “Is this a good time to talk?” Those are just a couple examples, but many more are available. Look it up or ask people who routinely have to give bad news.


20



"The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world." - Paul Farmer


15, 21



Birthday traditions: 1) Plant something every year. 2) Birthday interview on camera or voice recording.


5



An exercise in assumption. Have them answer “Just because I _______” doesn’t mean _________”.


10



Be thankful for opportunities to be of service. It means God is trusting you to help.


8-14



You may lose a relationship but you keep the love. It becomes a part of you. It changes you for the better.


15, 19, 21



Learn the difference between keeping secrets and keeping some things to yourself. Never kiss and tell. Err on the side of saying less rather than more.


13, 15, 19



Build a treehouse together


8



There’s a big difference between being tired and being fatigued.


19



Robin Williams was one of the best examples of how to be a good human.


15, 19, 21



Watch The Last Lecture before school starts on a pivotal year, like middle school, high school.


11, 12, 13, 14, 15



Be intentional. You don’t get to choose what they remember.


1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10



Keep going. Push yourself. The struggle makes it all the more worth it.


17, 21



It's a skill to learn how to love people the way they need to be loved. I highly recommend reading the Five Love Languages.


18, 21



Keep a pair of nail clippers in the car - much better lighting outside. Clipping tiny fingernails is terrifying!


Infant-1



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


14



Say it early and repeat it often, so that it sinks way down deep: There is nothing you could do to make me stop loving you. No mistake, no failure, no decision, nothing. There is no hole so deep that if you fell into it I wouldn’t climb down to help you out of. I love you no matter what.


7



When you meet people in an intimidating situation, like a job interview, etc. An easy trick is to imagine them as they were in kindergarten. (Don't talk to them like they'r 5 year-olds! But relate to them on a human level. We're all human - filled with talents and fears and insecurities. No matter how "important" or "unimportant" our station is.


16-21



Visit Aunt Janet in Morehead City for Seafood Festival in October


2-99



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



Highly recommend book about math and multiplication techniques:“The Best of Times” by Greg Tang.


10



Parent the way you want your children to behave. Compassion, patience. Loving.


1, 2, 3, 4