10 Meaningful Ways to Start Your Kids’ School Day

7. Remember who you are. A friend of mine tells how her mom used to say this to she and her brothers every time they left the house as teenagers. Not just going to school, but out with friends for a Friday night. And to this day, she cites this as one of the most formative (and effective) things a parent ever said to her.

It works at so many levels… Remember who you are, when the booze gets passed around. Remember who you are, when some other kid is getting picked on. Remember who you are, when YOU are getting picked on… When you fail that test, when somebody says your clothes look funny, or that you aren’t cool, or any other thing that might break your spirit. Remember who you are… remember that being loved and being part of a family is more important than any of that crap. This one is so simple, but it just keeps on giving. Still.

8. Find one good thing about everybody. Adult here, still working on that one. But it is another of those practices that might change the world, if we do it right. Another interpretation of this might be “remember that everyone is a child of God.”