Watch Parts Unknown together.


14-16



Difficult conversations: Break-ups, layoffs, etc. happen. Practice delivering bad news and getting bad news.


15-21



Anger is the bodyguard of sadness.


12-15, 21



Name a few male celebrities you would feel safe with alone in a room. Keanu Reeves, Jack Black, Barack Obama, to start us off.


11, 13, 15



I’d rather you be brave than perfect. Take chances. Fail, then pick yourself up and keep going.


18



Look for examples of people who have dealt with loss without giving in to bitterness. What do they have in common?


17



“You will use up everything you got trying to give people what they want.” —- Nina Simone


17



Teach tuck to drive


15



Listen to albums. Two of my favorites came out the very same month: Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé and The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift.


12



Go as a family to local high school musical productions.


9-13



1

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



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


Infant-1



1

Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Who, Lynyard Skynard. Listen with headphones, listen alone, listen with friends. So many more good bands but if you start with these you’ll be well on your way.


15, 17, 21



Putting up the Christmas tree the weekend or next after Thanksgiving, then watching Polar Express in the glow of the lights. Maybe the smell of gingerbread cookies baking too.


5-9



Ask him to memorize and recite William Ernest Henley poem “Invictus” as a Christmas present for me.


15



Choosing to take the easy way out will create a life that’s difficult, disappointing and dull. Don’t shy away from hard work. Mind, body, spirit, relationships, community engagement, serving others - all of these things require a ton of effort on your part. But the more you choose to invest your time and energy into what is important to you, the more your life will take shape. Take the easy way out and you’ll see things start to disintegrate. Hard work makes you who you are.


13, 16, 21



change the wifi password often. Hold it hostage until chores are done. Work first, play later.


9-14



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


15



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


6-7



Build something beautiful.


13, 21



You can waste your time trying to get people to like you, or you can be yourself- follow your own interests, learn what you think about issues and events, music and faith and conscious- and just trust. Trust that the truer you are to yourself the happier you’ll be. Trust that you’ll have better friendships and relationships when you’re around people you don’t have to pretend around or perform for. Trust.


10, 14, 17, 21



Play up your strengths. What are your strengths? What are you really good at or love doing?


13, 17, 21



It’s okay to feel jealous. Totally normal, totally human. Just never act on jealousy.


12, 14, 16, 19, 21



Follow your dreams…not your boyfriend’s.


16



“Enthusiasm is the answer to everything.” - Rodrigo’s father


15, 21



Use timers to motivate and structure. "Better have your jammies on and teeth brushed by the time the timer goes off!" Using a simple timer helps things not drag on and on.


2-5



Mindset for a breakup: “I’d rather adjust to your absence than be continually frustrated by your presence.” Can work with romantic partners, jobs, habits...anything you’re hanging on to that you know you should let go of.


19



“If we could see our prayers we would never stop praying.” - Bunmi Laditan, by way of her angel.


11, 17



End of August by Robert Frost is one of my favorite poems.


20



Happiness comes from giving and helping, not buying and having.


14, 19