Everyone gets crushes but if you’re having an imaginary relationship do so with an imaginary person. It’s disrespectful of someone’s dignity to obsess over them. Not to mention your own dignity!


12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21



Fall in love with a person, not a feeling.


19



Just because you love someone doesn’t mean they feel loved by you. Meet the kids where they are.


2, 9, 21



Be a safe place. Teach them to be a safe place too.


12



“Those who cannot change their mind cannot change anything.” -George Bernard Shaw...... As you live and love and learn, your views will evolve. It takes courage to grow.


16



Don’t go to sleep on a full stomach.


10, 15, 17, 19



Find an activity / sport that they enjoy and support it. Get them outside and in the fresh air.


6-16



Try house music for focus. Spotify “uplifting trance” playlists. Better than Adderall by a mile.


12, 13, 16



The kindest person in the room may not necessarily be the smartest. But the cruelest person is always the dumbest.


10, 15, 21



Consider what you value. Act accordingly.


10, 14, 17, 20



It’s not fair to resent someone for being exactly who they are.


17, 21



Partnership or pride…pick one.


21



Your great-great grandmother was a seamstress at Marshall Fields. Her husband was a firefighter in Chicago. The immigrated from County Wexford in Ireland.


10



Micro-internships. Check out Parker Dewey for ideas.


16, 17, 18



Trust yourself.


20



A mommy-friend of mine gave me some good advice: "Count the wins." So what if you didn't clean the house, you showered! So what if she's wearing 9 different colors - she dressed herself! Great advice. So remember, especially on the difficult days - and there will be many: Count the wins.


1



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


18



Enroll in a CPR course. Re-certify every year.


13



Curate a presentation on heartbreak. Talk about heartbreaks endured by people we know, fictional characters, historical figures, etc. Point is to normalize it, prepare them for it and teach them that they will come out the other side.


14, 20



You’ve been entrusted with so much. Think about how much of an honor that is, and how big a responsibility.


16, 18, 21



My mom did laundry twice a week: Tuesdays and Saturdays. She separated colors! It never piled up and we all had clean clothes. I do laundry daily, it's never done and we can't find what we need. Ask Grandma what was her secret to the science of laundry. Because it's now your job to do all your own laundry!


14



Find what you love Do what you love Be what you love Live what you love Love what you love and never look back ... Except to love.


19



The universe is cheering for you!


14, 16, 18, 20



Start saving money early. Save as much as you can. There are plenty of things worth spending your money on, but be mindful about your money - Don’t p*ss it away.


15, 20



Explore the magic of Deer Valley YMCA Camp


07-13



Just let them be who they are. Enjoy getting to know them.


1-21



There’s an art to speaking harsh truths in a delicate way. There’s an art in describing a ridiculous person or thing without being insulting. Mark Twain was a master at it. Read up!


17, 21



“Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you see with your own eyes isn’t happening.” -English teacher Read Diary of Anne Frank together.


12



“There is no such thing as a “bad kid” - just angry, hurt, tired, scared, confused, impulsive ones expressing their feelings


7, 12



“You’ll never be alone when you carry a poet in your pocket.” - John Adams Bring a book with you wherever you go.


12, 19