Have fun at parties! Mingle, dance, participate in the good energy. But if there’s drinking to excess, someone needs to be lifeguard. Young people don’t know how dangerous alcohol can be. And sadly, someone needs to be bodyguard. Men often try to take advantage of intoxicated women.


14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19



Three things you cannot change: The past, the truth, someone else.


18



Check out the Wolf Trap Children's summer theater.


4-11



If you ever borrow someone’s car, return it with a full tank of gas.


20



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


15



“Pick a problem - any problem,and do something about it. Because to somebody who is hurting, ‘something’ is everything.” -Oprah Winfrey


12-16



Watch Abby Wambach's 2018 Barnard commencement address together.


16



When you’re tired, the next best thing to sleep is a shower.


16



Read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit together


11



You an learn just about anything on Google or YouTube! Spend some time exploring together and caution about how to search safely.


9



People don’t abandon people they love, they abandon people they’re using.


19, 21



Police officers and members of the military put their lives on the line to protect us. Be respectful of them and thank them for their service.


9



My favorite actor was Robin Williams.


19



Plan out first concert.


11



Try not to say insulting or hurtful things, but NEVER write them. (Texts, notes, emails, etc.)


11



Actions have consequences- so does inaction. Avoiding a problem or decision is not an effective solution.


18



Treat your subordinates as if you’ll be working for them someday.


21



If you’re going to be wrong about someone, let it be because you believed the best of them. (Give people the benefit of the doubt.) put it this way— I’d rather be wrong about my husband being a moral person who would never cheat, then come to find out he had done, than I would like to be wrong about him being a horrible person only to find out later he was faithful all along.


20, 21



College: you’re gonna do great! You’re also probably gonna want to quit at some point during your first year. Totally normal. If you decide college isn’t for you or now isn’t the right time, okay. But give it a year if you can. You’ll thank yourself later.


17



SAT Prep https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/opinion/how-i-learned-to-take-the-sat-like-a-rich-kid.html


16



Anyone who asks you to violate your values doesn’t deserve your allegiance.


16, 21



Every “yes” to something is a “no” to something else. Take your time processing the choices - write in your journal, sweat it out, listen to music, talk to someone you trust, read books from experts. Once you’re clear about what you’re giving up, let it go and don’t look back. (Remember there’s no advice that’s right more than 99% of the time. Always trust your gut. Just remember an impulse isn’t the same thing as a gut check.)


15, 16, 19, 21



Practice making yourself do something you don’t feel like doing. Practice and it gets easier


10, 12, 15, 18, 21



Failed? Lift yourself up, or live there. You know the work you need to do, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, etc. So do it. Do the work. The only bitterness in failure comes from not having the guts to get back up again.


12, 16, 18, 20, 21



Give books. Inscribe them. Just a line or two can turn a good book into a treasure. Great for any occasion.


17



People are insecure. Be mindful of fragile egos (we all have them to a degree.) Avoid implying that people aren't doing a good job.


20



Be weird. Be happy. Be you. xoxo


12



Work towards your goal. If you screw-up, fix it. The worst thing you could do is give up just because you made a mistake. Nobody’s perfect. Keep going!


14, 19



Put him in charge of figuring the tip out when we’re out at a restaurant. Calculate 15% or 20% etc. Also emphasize that the difference between a good tip and a great tip is usually just a few dollars but it makes a difference to the recipient. Be generous with people who are in service professions.


12-14



Bring Christmas cookies to local fire station and police station. (Annually)


7-14