March 18, 2022
top trending topics
👨👦Head into fatherhood feeling confident & prepared with these tips.
😎 Thinking about a spring break staycation? We’ve got a few ideas!
📝 Be your child’s biggest encourager when it comes to staying motivated in their education.
🏖️ Spring break often means some independence for teens, so here are some safety tips to get through a week of travels.
💛 When nervousness takes over your child, here’s how you can comfort them.
tips & tricks for growth
talk to your kids about tough topics
Half of parenting is staying a step ahead of our kids. (The other half is stepping out of the way.) Where do you step when the tough topics come up with your kids? Sex, drugs, rock and roll?
If only it was that easy! Try current events, sexual politics, depression, and race relations. And don’t forget those frequent Big Cultural Moments when half of our country is screaming and the other half is rage-tweeting.
You can take that next step confidently & stay a step ahead with these tips:
1. Remember the Goal.
2. Remove Conversational Obstacles.
3. Relationship Capital Rules.
4. Remain A Reliable Source.
There’s no shortage of voices willing to speak into your child’s life. Media. Social media. The kids on the bus. The classroom curriculum. The entertainment industry. Consumer culture. All of them are ready to step up and shape your child’s thinking on all the tough topics. What’s your next step?
agree to disagree with loved ones
It’s nothing new to disagree with the ones you love, whether it’s about current events, religion, racism, politics, football or something else. In fact, chances are pretty good that you completely disagree on certain topics with someone you care deeply about.
Although you might be tempted to confront them and tell them they are just plain wrong, you might want to reconsider. That plan probably won’t go very well for you because it’s likely your loved one will feel attacked. Nobody wants to feel attacked, right?
Here are some tips you can use to make your conversations productive:
🗣️ Look for things you do agree on.
🗣️ Kindness and respect goes a long way when trying to discuss difficult topics.
🗣️ Avoid imagining how you think the conversation will go or how it has gone in the past.
🗣️ Be prepared to genuinely listen to their perspective.
🗣️ If it feels like the conversation is becoming heated, remember that getting louder will escalate the situation for sure. Plus, it actually makes it harder to hear what is being said.
🗣️Avoid using “You always, you never,” and “You should.”
It’s vital to remember that this is a process! If over time the conversation seems to go nowhere, you may need to set boundaries around this topic in an effort to keep from destroying the relationship.
what we’re lovin’
This week’s picks come from Chris Gregory, husband to his wife of 23 years, Jodi, Dad of 3, and the VP of Development here at First Things First. Take a peek at his recommendations for this week because they are just THAT GOOD. Check ’em out 👀:
💻 Dad vs Mom Cooking is from Myles’ You Betcha channel. If you have ever been to the midwest or known someone from the midwest this will hit home. Otherwise he is just downright funny and usually spot on.
⛰️ No matter where you fall on the Spring time change idea (no one likes it, there I said it) now is a great time to get outdoors. No matter where you live you are probably within driving distance of a State Park, so grab the kids and take them for a hike, a picnic or just a new adventure outside.
👨🍳 I have fallen in love with the @jacquespepinfoundation Instagram account. You walk away from every 3-5 minute episode saying, “I can make that.” This is one of my favorite episodes: I love Mac and Cheese, because around the 1:50 mark listen for it and when he says “gooey” you will want to try this recipe with your kids.
share the love
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