Numbing doesn’t work. Let it hurt, let it heal, then it lets itself go.


15,21



The problems with pornography: When you’re young and have yet formed a basis for healthy and mutually satisfying sexual relationships, your brain doesn’t know what to do with that input. It becomes part of your brain, imprinted as normal or the way sex should be. When you’re older, the brain can see something that’s outrageous and recognize it and discard it. Also it’s incredibly misogynistic, will do horrible things for the way you see women. While some is fairly harmless and totally normal, even too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Too much of a bad thing is disastrous.


11, 12, 13, 14, 15



The most important things I can teach you is how to love and be loved


14, 19, 21



You will never be good enough for the wrong person. This truth is profound and one I wish I learned a lot earlier in my life. Stop tripping over yourself to please someone who doesn’t get you.


21



Whether it’s a kid at school or a politician on tv, beware of someone who tries to blame the world’s problems on a minority or some other group of people who are different. It’s a cheap tactic to get people riled up and afraid.


13



Reinforce this at every opportunity: “You matter.” Kids respond to this message deeply, whether it comes from a positive source (parents/teacher/coach) or people who are only trying to exploit them.


2-18



Just because I forgive you, it doesn’t mean I trust you. Trust has to be earned.


15, 18, 21



Make sure you always have Uber gift cards on hand for friends, emergencies or whatever.


15-18



Always hold the door open for the next person.


4-14



1

Look up crowd cow for meat delivery.


10



Train for a mini-triathlon together as a family this year.


12



“You will encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” -Maya Angelou


17



“People are in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Pain comes when we try to put them in the wrong category.” - random therapist I never met.


16



Check out O.School Originals for sex-ed resources.


14



Toddler not interested in food? Hand them a random kitchen gadget to play with while you’re feeding them dinner, they’ll eat more if distracted.


1,2



“It’s best if we don’t speak for a while.” Practice it


19, 21



Talk about how to act respectfully and be inclusive of children with disabilities and facial deformities, etc.


5-10



Floss!!! All kinds of health benefits including decreased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Plus you get to keep your teeth. It's a no-brainer.


14, 18, 21



Focus on the lesson not the pain.


14, 21



Begin colon cancer screening at 40. We have a family history on both sides.


21



Never allow anyone to tell you who you are.


17



Give them the book Starfish by Lisa Fipps.


12, 14



Grandpa used to keep a hundred dollar bill stashed discreetly in his wallet “for emergencies.”


17



Give him a copy of The Secret Lives of Great Composers by Elizabeth Lunday.


14



Look into Kano (make your own computer)


7-11



All behavior is communication.


2-6



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



Practice a neutral expression: Interested but not excited. A “poker face” is a good skill to know and will come in handy a lot!


13, 16, 18, 21



The Golden Rule is wrong. At least when it comes to relationships and especially when it comes to parenting. Instead of treating someone how you’d want to be treated, treat them how THEY’D want to be treated.__ Learn what THEY need to feel safe and loved, how THEY express big feelings like fear, anxiety, anger and frustration.___ Instead of assuming the friend/partner/child /coworker wants to be treated how you’d want to be, take the time to learn about them. Then when someone you love is in distress you can respond to them in the way they need. ___(Lesson learned from reading The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Great book. A little preachy but push past that. )


1, 13, 19



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


15



1