Plan out first concert.


11



Keep screen time to a minimum.


2-8



The thing about hiding is you’re always worried you’ll be see, caught, or found out. It takes a toll. I hope you never hide from who you are, or feel like you have to fake it to be liked. I will always accept you as you are, and I hope to raise you so you accept yourself (and others) as well.


14,17



Give yourself a break from thinking about yourself.


13, 16, 21



There will be many times in your life you feel powerless. What makes you feel powerful? For me, it's a good run, listening to good music with the volume on high. Prayer reminds me I'm connected to God, who is powerful beyond all measure.


14-17



Go to Montgomery County Fair


5-14



Your brain seeks novelty. Try new things as long as you live. Take risks (but not safety risks!)


20



Work on controlling temper. Read books about how to reach this at a young age and keep updating the conversation as he grows. He needs to be able to control his temper.


4-7



Some relationships (or jobs) are f*cked, and cannot be unf*cked. Release them and move on.


21



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


14-21



Purchase the card game CBT 123 on Amazon. (Cognitive Behavior Therapy teaches kids the connection between Thoughts/ feelings/ behavior)


7



Which line of poetry would you get tattooed?


17



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


6-21



Educate yourself. You can't solve a problem if you don't understand it.


14-21



Be willing to say “I don’t know” if you don’t know! Don’t just make stuff up.


15, 20



Soap and water go a long way towards fixing many problems.


12, 19



Just for the record, I didn’t vote for Trump. I want my great-grandchildren to know that.


18



1

“The next generation never learns anything from the previous one until it’s brought home like a hammer.” - Harry Truman


13, 16, 21



There’s a great scene in Game of Thrones where Tyrion is trying to prepare for an impending siege of the city but he doesn’t know how to begin planning a defense. Until he starts thinking about how his enemy is most likely to attack. Defense is reactive, offensive is proactive.


19



Shelter, water, Fire, food. (Outdoor survival priorities.)


12, 17



If you can afford to send flowers when a baby is born or when someone dies, do so.


21



Explain the concept: "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."


6



"The only way to work through sh*tty feelings is to walk through sh*tty feelings." - Psychologist Kristen Howe Hard lesson, but big truth.


15



I get it. It’s exhausting when they’re little. But you will never be so needed or so loved as you are during these years.


2, 3, 4



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


15



Life isn’t a straight line, it’s so much more complex than that! Good things, bad things, boring or interesting things are all always happening. And always changing. So are you. And that’s good.


17, 21



There’s one thing I’ve noticed that makes the difference between an adult and someone who is over 18: That person’s proclivity for reading. Books make you smarter, yes but they also make you kinder, funnier, more empathetic and more tolerant of opposing viewpoints. Travel has a similar effect but is a lot more expensive! If you want to be a genuine grownup, read (or listen to) everything you can get your hands on.


10, 14, 16, 20



Life is hard. But it's not so hard you can't figure it out. You're going to be fine. xoxo


11-21



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


17