10 Meaningful Ways to Start Your Kids’ School Day

9. Listen… Weird is good. Sit by the weird kid. BE the weird kid. In my distant memory of being a teenager, I recall the certain liberation of embracing one’s weirdness. And surrounding one’s self with like-minded weird people. I was a dance, theater and music nerd. The choir nerds and band geeks were some of the happiest kids around because we were all weird and we had each other. I don’t want to over-play the mob mentality, because groups like these come with their own liabilities… But there is a certain measure of self-confidence and, dare I say, happiness, in finding your people–and then learning not to over-think your place in the larger social order of things. It’s a jungle out there. Sit by the weird kid. Be the weird kid. Embrace the weird. We should all be so lucky. And finally, when all else fails,

10. Just don’t be an asshole. Listen, this one in your back pocket is all you need some days. I would not say this to my 5-year-old, or my 7-year-old. But I would for sure say it to a mouthy 8th grader who is starting to roll her eyes at me; who is starting to think he’s too cool to be seen with me. I know that day is coming…it isn’t a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when.’ My hope is that, even when they are not especially pleasant to be around at home, they will still be kind and generous and well-rounded, out there in the world. They will still talk to the new kid, sit by the weird kid, and stick up for the bullied kid…all while being respectful of their teachers. I don’t think this is too much to ask.

I figure if I effectively drill 1 thru 9 while they are young and still like me… then maybe the rest will take care of itself. There may be seasons when “don’t be an asshole” is about the best we can hope for. But in the meantime, we can aim a little higher, and dig a little deeper–with the simplest daily reminders to be who we are.