Read If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin. Young adult coming of age story.


14, 17



Action is the antidote to anxiety.


12, 14, 17, 21



Let people do what they want to do so you can see what they’d rather do.


16



Sioux Nation quote: No one heals himself by wounding another.


16



Slip and Slide party!


8



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


6-21



People will speak or act in all kinds of unpleasant ways. Stay calm and kind.


14-21



It's a skill to learn how to love people the way they need to be loved. I highly recommend reading the Five Love Languages.


18, 21



Change always brings feelings of unease. It’s easy to confuse that feeling of unease with the feeling that something must be wrong. Give yourself time to adjust before deciding if a new thing is bad..


14, 18, 21



Forget perfection. Nothing is perfect. No relationship, job, house, or day is perfect. Let go of expectations, be open to the mess.


18



“ A vocation is where our anger and our joy meet.” -Sarah Bessey


16



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


16, 18



Let them borrow your calm. Little ones (grownups too) sometimes just need to freak out a bit. Stay there. Be near. Don’t judge or even help. Just be there, and stay calm. Your loving energy is all they need as they work through it themselves. Keep them safe but other than that don’t help or advise unless they ask.


2-6, 17, 21



Read biographies. So much to learn and discover by reading about the lives of great men and women. Ducksters.com is a great resource. Amazon and The Learning Well also have great lists. Just Google "biographies for kids."


5-15



Sometimes the job will require you to do menial tasks. Do them enthusiastically because nothing is “beneath you.” If the good Lord can wash people’s feet, you can make coffee at the office. Get over yourself.


16, 21



Discuss the concept that “It’s not always about you.” Some days need to be about supporting someone else in their joy - or sorrow. Your needs take a backseat.


11, 14, 17



1

Kindness is magic.


11, 15, 21



Do what makes you happy. But what if you’re not sure what that might be? If you’re at a crossroads and you don’t know where you *want* to go, just go where you’re *needed.* That’s a good first step. Trust the Lord to take it from there.


18



Do the work. No short-cuts.


14



Share Brene Brown's short video on Empathy vs. Sympathy: Be the bear, not the goat. Fantastic 3 minute video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw&feature=youtu.be


12, 14, 18, 21



Marry your hero.


21



Be thankful for opportunities to be of service. It means God is trusting you to help.


8-14



Summers in Ireland and UK Drama camps? I could work from there while he did his thing.


12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17



Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem.


2-5



“All the best things in life live on the other side of fear.” - Will Smith’s grandmother.


20



Con-men (or women) appear perfect. They are good-looking, kind, flattering, etc. Most people are good. But be careful of those who seem to be too good.


15



Turn off main water line when you leave on vacation.


21



“If you can’t figure something out, figure out how to figure it out.” - Paul Graham


18



We can learn, we can evolve. Let yourself be moved by the spirit. More beauty, more service, more humanity, deeper (or questioned) faith, more love. Always more love. That’s the best I can hope for: that you live a life full of love.


21



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


Infant