It’s your civic duty to vote (including midterms!) Be an informed voter.


16, 18



There are always blessings hidden within heartbreak: a friend you would never have met otherwise, an opportunity that would never have come up, an experience, an encounter, a promotion, etc. Always look for the blessings.


9, 11, 18, 21



Spend time with people you admire, in person and biographies, documentaries, novels and movies.


14-17, 21



Read Prefontaine.


13



Just love them. With all your might, them for who they are, and where they are. Forget about the other stuff.


15



Give him a copy of The Secret Lives of Great Composers by Elizabeth Lunday.


14



Just do the next right thing. One step at a time, you’ll get there.


13, 18, 21



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


5-15



When they’re upset just ask what they need: space, distraction, or talk about it.


12



Read “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” by Dr. Marc Weissbluth


Infant



Questions 1. How did you fail today? 2. What did you learn? 3. What do you love about yourself? 4. Name something you’re grateful for. 5. How are you in service to others? 6. Did you feel God’s presence today? 7. Are you happy in your heart? 8. What is something that scares you? 9. What do you need to feel safe and supported? 10. What’s something you like doing that makes your heart happy?


7, 8, 9, 15



Ask “What are you going to teach ME?” Let him work on something to teach.


11



Water park for fifth birthday


10



Hike Jones Run Falls at Shenandoah National Park.


11



Sometimes (oftentimes) the truth is easier to find than to face.


14, 20



Read Big Magic by Liz Gilbert. Re-read every 5-10 years.


19, 21



The kindest person in the room may not necessarily be the smartest. But the cruelest person is always the dumbest.


10, 15, 21



Invest in a laminator, a label maker and a glue gun. You’ll be glad you did!


5



“You belong in every room you enter.” - Shonda Rhymes


6-21



If they like you you’ll know. If they don’t you’ll be confused.


15, 21



Some people think the world owes THEM. They have a backwards. We are servants. How can we best serve?


12-21



Be mindful of the patterns we’re falling into as a family. Teach them to be mindful of their patterns too.


6, 8, 12, 18



It’s okay if you don’t know how (or don’t want) to move on. Start with something easier…just don’t go back.


16



Practice “doing without” (or “going without.”). Even young kids can learn the concept. Nobody get everything they want. Sometimes it’s harder than others, but it’s not the end of the world when we have to do without something we want.


4-11



Our nervous systems are just trying to keep us safe. If you were thrown into fight/flight/fawn today, give yourself some grace.


14, 21



Be generous in all things. That is my hope for you.


14, 18, 21



Floss!!! All kinds of health benefits including decreased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Plus you get to keep your teeth. It's a no-brainer.


14, 18, 21



"You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." ~ James Baldwin


14, 19



Sometimes you have to put aside how you feel about a person and objectively look at how their actions show how they feel about *you.*


16



Cotillion and other social clubs abound in our area. They usually start around 5th or 6th grade. start looking into what might be a good fit. Lay the ground work that they will attend.


1Infant-12