I’m cool with “C”s. Do good work but don’t put too much pressure yourself.


14



Look into Rustic Pathways to see the world and do some good.


15



Book “8 Candles and a Tree” about celebrating interfaith holidays.


7



vaccinate! Science is good.


0, 1, 2, 3, 5



Not all babies are born healthy. There’s grief over that, a painful letting go of hopes and expectations, but eventually parents begin to dream different dreams for their baby. You have it within you to love deeply


21



So you want to be a writer- then write. Anything. Play around with it. Journal. Fiction, non-fiction, biography, obits, blogs, plays, tv pilots, whatever. You will probably suck at it. Keep writing. Write more and more. You will get better, you’ll find your flow. This w


16, 21



Changed behavior is the only real apology.


15



We are all incurably human.


5, 15, 21



Read JAMA article by Brooke Peterson Gabster.


18



Stupid is as stupid does - it’s not something you “are” it’s something you do.


4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 19, 21



Your job is to help your kids find themselves, not to implant an agenda of your own.


1, 5, 10, 15, 20



People always say “Be yourself.” That’s good advice but really what does it mean? I think it’s easier to explain what it DOESN’T mean: When you’re being yourself you’re not pretending to be interested in something or someone you’re not. You’re not doing something just to please someone else (or just to tick them off.) You’re not wearing anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. You’re not pretending to have fun when you’re not having fun. You’re not trying to impress anyone. You’re not trying to fade into the background. You’re not trying to change anything about yourself or someone else. I think that’s a good start. What does “being yourself” mean to you?


11-14, 18, 21



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


16



When someone hurts us or REALLY pisses us off... We have to pray for them. It’s hard to stay mad at someone you’re praying for.


8-18



Pretty much everything boils down to looking for love, its many forms. Look in good (creative) places. Avoid looking for love in bad (destructive) places.


15, 17, 19, 21



Check in on your friends. Even the ones that seem fine.


14-21



Read “Raising a Screen Smart Kid” by Julianna Miner before you consider giving him a phone.


10



“How we learn to hold what hurts shapes so much of who we are. What we choose to do with our pain defines us more than most things.“ -Chani Nicholas


11, 14, 17



Family trip to a NASCAR race..


6



Numbing doesn’t work. Let it hurt, let it heal, then it lets itself go.


15,21



Check out the Wolf Trap Children's summer theater.


4-11



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



Do something that feeds your soul every day. Experience or create joy, even if just a small spark of it.


17



Surprise! You’re not perfect. No one is. Do your best, but don’t expect perfection from yourself or any other human, young or old. Have compassion...We’re all in this together and we need each other to be kind and encouraging.


17, 21



Geocaching


5-11



Girls: does he put in the effort even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable for him?


16, 20, 21



To quote Harvard professor Adam Grant: “Argue like you’re right and listen like you’re wrong.”


15



“Those who cannot change their mind cannot change anything.” -George Bernard Shaw...... As you live and love and learn, your views will evolve. It takes courage to grow.


16



Practice road-rage roll playing. People are NUTS! It's hard to imagine how you'll react when someone gets aggressive with you. Let's practice staying calm when someone is shouting and in your face.


15-17