Pray for the courage to be yourself.


10, 13, 15, 17, 21



Sesame Street has great resources on teaching finances to little ones.


4-5



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


1, 5, 10, 15, 20



Read Elizabeth Gilbert’s book on creativity. Re-read every few years!


17



Grit.


14



Resource: the website Ask, Listen and Learn has great material about how to start a conversation about the dangers of under-age drinking. asklistenlearn.org


9



Teach your pets they can trust you. Take care of them. Treat them with tenderness. Teach them how to behave. (Unless it's a cat. You can't teach cats anything.)


15



“I don’t know what I think until I write about it.” - Joan Didion


15



Change the furniture around in your dorm, apartment or bedroom every once in a while. It’s an easy way to break up a timeline like for a holiday a season or after a breakup, etc.


18



Behind every behavior is a need.


2, 3, 4, 13, 14



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


16



Give them marshmallows to suck on when they get a sore throat. Takes away the pain!


3,4,5,6



Go easy on the cologne, perfume, scented lotions, etc. People shouldn't be able to smell your perfume a mile away, only up close. Also, it's generally not appropriate for work.


17



Every time your heart breaks, your vision gets better. You appreciate beauty and recognize and respond to others’ pain better.


12, 15, 18, 21



Go as a family to local high school musical productions.


9-13



1

The most attractive man in the world is one who brings peace.


21



Watch the documentary Kelce (2023)


12



It’s very difficult to pull off sarcasm in written form. It does not translate.


15



Read The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig.


4



“Anger is a wonderful catalyst but a terrible companion.” - Brene Brown


15, 21



Harm springs from excess.


12



You’ll start dating soon. Have fun! Good luck. Prepare yourself for broken hearts. They come with the territory. (Worth it.) Talk about healthy ways to manage breakups and fear of breaking up.


13



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



Teach to use nail clippers


7



You can’t grow in faith (or character or friendships) without learning to be humble. To forgive. To listen without agenda. To allow for the possibility you may be in the wrong. Ask for help. God will give it.


16



When the child is feeling upset or out of control, that is not the time to teach a lesson. Share your calm, be a safe place for them. When they’re feeling better, THEN teach the lesson.


1, 2, 3, 4



People who have something to prove are dangerous to themselves and others. We are all worthy of love. Remember that.


11, 13, 17, 19, 21



"Surround yourself with people who trust and get YOU." - Josh Groban, High Point University 2018 commencement address. Note, I love that quote because it speaks to having a tribe, a close group of friends. But it's also important to surround yourself with people who challenge you, who may not agree with you or have the same perspective as you do.


14-19



Talk about what’s normal and what’s abnormal reactions to alcohol and drugs. Basically all kinds of feels from euphoria to paranoia to jealousy or infatuation, etc. Getting sick is normal but blacking out is not. *Anything that could interfere with breath or circulation is dangerous.


13, 15, 17



Work Hard. Do your best. Keep your word. Never get too big for your britches. Trust in God. Have no fear


15, 21