Soothe a newborn: Swaddle , shushing noise, swing, side/stomach position, suck on a binkie. Read The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp (or watch the video.) It' a life-saver.


Infant



take advantage of the bike trail. Bike places as a family.


11



Think about building a career. Take low-paying or no-paying jobs that will give you the experience you need to build it. It's not all about the paycheck, especially when you're young and don't have too many bills to pay.


19-21



Be mindful of privilege. Discuss the concept, point it out where you see it.


11-18



Check out Travel for Teens for summer travel programs. Let them choose from themes like service, adventure, animal rescue, etc.


14



“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” - Winston Churchill


16, 21



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


18



Puberty is like putting a 12 year old in the pilot seat of a fighter jet. A total sh*t show at first, then better but still erratic and dramatic until they really get a feel for the speed and the pressure, the gauges, etc. They’ll learn when to question or to trust their instincts. Tell him that he’ll fly this jet for the rest of his life and it will always be dangerous because it’s an effing jet, but he will learn how to fly it expertly. He’ll do good, have fun, accomplish missions and refuel.


12



Try out Petra Lingua online language courses for kids. (Ages 3-10)


4



Marriage vows won’t “fix” anything about a relationship. They won’t change how a person communicates. Never start out a relationship with the hope or expectation that your partner will change (or if they are hoping you will change.)It’s not fair to either of you. Everyone deserves to be loved for who they are, not who they could be.


21



Best take on parenting: “My kid is never gonna not feel safe with me.”


1, 5, 10, 15



Read Prefontaine.


13



Your emotional energy is sacred, and there’s nothing wrong with treating it that way. If connection is what you’re looking for, save your emotional energy for those who will cherish it and share their own. - Yung Pueblo from his book “Lighter”


12, 14, 17, 21



Two big things. Control yourself, not others. Learn to react less.


12, 16, 19, 21



A simple trick to calm your nerves: Name 5 things you can hear right now.


5-15



Drill on stuff that will be valuable throughout their lifetime: Vocabulary, geography, addition and subtraction.


10, 12, 14, 20



Letting go hurts. There's no two ways about it. You just gotta feel it and get through it. Cry. Sweat it out. Sing, run, write, or just scrub floors. You will get through it, and you will be stronger and more compassionate.


14



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


4-5



When someone introduces themselves as transgender, it’s no big deal. Simply say “nice to meet you” or “cool.” Then politely ask “What are your pronouns?” And then you know how they prefer to be addressed.


13



When it comes to conflict- what is your part in things?


15, 21



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


16, 21



Summer Olympics for neighborhood kids. Create events in all kinds of sports, games and skills. Mix it up so the littler ones and the less athletically inclined have something they can succeed at too.


8-12



An exercise in assumption. Have them answer “Just because I _______” doesn’t mean _________”.


10



Hydrolaunch Water Rocket outdoor sprinkler toy. Summer fun plus a little science lesson. On Amazon


5



Life doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful.


20



Don’t let someone have to tell you twice that they don’t want you. Nothing good comes from hanging on after that.


15, 21



The moment you lose your cool, you’ve lost.


12,13, 14, 15, 16, 21



A man is not a financial plan.


17



Keep going. Push yourself. The struggle makes it all the more worth it.


17, 21



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


21