A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Highest LeverageIf you had 45 minutes to sit across the lunch table with anyone today, who would you choose?
I have found there is something special about Friday lunch plans. It's the hinge between our weekly rhythm and weekend plans. There is a different spirit and air about Friday lunch. When our kids were in elementary school, my wife and I decided we were going to go all in on Friday lunch with our kids. It was a way to slingshot our time together as a family over the weekend. I had the privilege of working a 1/2 day most Fridays when our kids were in that season and we made frequent visits to their school for lunch. We'd make a sheet of bagel bites, grab some grapes, and show up with it in our basket. I recognize that not all parents can do this. If you can though, I believe if you show up semi-often, you'll understand why it's such a significant family building opportunity. Sure it involves sticky floors and lots of noise but it could be your highest leverage lunch all week. I use that word on purpose. To have leverage means that you get outsized results from the effort you put forth. Consider this... 45 minutes spent in your child's school lunchroom has an amazing amount of built-in leverage for you as a parent. 9 Reasons We Visited School Lunches
Frequent school lunch with your kids isn't for everyone. I remember an older dad suggested it to me when I was in your stage of family and I'm so thankful he did. We tried it and eventually adopted it as a value and habit for our home. Yes it is awkward and you'll get plenty of strange looks, but the payoff is huge! It became a tradition for us to eat lunch with our kids most Family Fridays and to this day I've never regretted it one time. In fact, I may need to go buy my college kids lunch right now, for old-time's sake. See you next Friday - Finley PS. When you read an email that connects with your family or season, would you mind forwarding it to a few friends who are also in their power-decade of parenting? I'd love to continue to share these short stories and lessons we learned with other parents like yourself. Thanks! |
Helping propel moms & dads of 3 to 13 year-olds to invest in their power-decade of parenting. Father of 3 teenagers and pastor of 20 years turned digital writer.
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Twenty years ago, as a young father, I copied down these 6 Power Phrases that every kid needs to hear from their parent. Downhill vs Uphill Somewhere around the time when each of my kids turned 5, my wife and I blocked off a few hours on a sunny weekend and attempted to teach our kids how to ride a bike. We went to a part of the Razorback Greenway near our house and I ran alongside them while...
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead One of the greatest joys you experience as a parent is seeing the moments that you love eventually embraced by your kids. The Half-Whole Family-isms are special and unique trademarks that exist in each home. They show up as sayings, traditions, meals, and practices. People outside the family don't easily understand them but everyone inside gets it. Mine eats Pig Sandwiches.We have reunions at...
Family Friday Newsletter - 2 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead A family-focused operating system helps create meaningful experiences, fun traditions, and deep connections. Your Best At Their Worst For my oldest it was 3rd.For my youngest it was 6th.For my middle child, it was 5th. Personally, I think my middle had it the worst. Given enough time at school, one year is always going to stand out from the rest as the worst year for each of your kids. The problem...