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Family Friday Newsletter - 1.5 min read by Finley Robinson

Twelve to Eighteen ... and beyond

I'm currently on a senior trip with my son and his best friends from high school. It is one of the great joys I've experienced as a dad to see my son have great friends.

It has been one of my deepest desires and prayers as a parent that my kids would have trusted friends. Sometimes your kids find them in middle school and they have years together, like my son.

Other times they arrive in high school or college. Occasionally, like me, it's even later in life.

We found as parents, that the more we talked about and facilitated like-minded friendships the better for our kids.

Small tip, big win... Start teaching your kids how to be a good friend when they are young. Do it at ages 5, 7, 10 and then onward.

The best place to practice "friendship" early on is with their siblings.

In fact, we did everything we could to make sure our kids were friends.

Yes, brothers and sisters have many fights, especially given their proximity during the summer months.

They do have a built-in opportunity to gain a lifelong friend, even though some days you believe they will hate each other forever.

They also gain experience for the future when it comes time to have peer friendships when you help them practice it at home.

So, slow down and take the time to talk with them about being a good friend. Their future friendships will flourish because of it.

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Sissy Speaks Truth

​Sissy Goff​

"As we’re moving into summer, just a friendly reminder that it’s the correction AND connection that builds character in kids.

Teaching is not enough. Discipline certainly isn’t.

When we only correct, teach, and discipline, kids stop listening to us…and then they stop trusting us.

One of my favorite quotes is from Donald Miller who said, “No one will listen to you unless they sense that you like them.”

Your kids long to feel enjoyed by you! They want to be liked by you as well as loved.

When we enjoy them, it helps them believe that they are more enjoyable as people.

It creates more confidence in them and connection between us…even that one child who feels a little harder to enjoy.

So, in the chaos of May and in the summer season to come, let’s remember to enjoy all of the kiddos we love. Remind them by our words and by our actions that we really do like them!

... If that feels harder with one child in particular right now, you can:

• Pray God would remind you of the things you do like in him or her.
• Begin to journal or spend time thinking through their unique gifts.
• Look for ways to verbally affirm what they do well and see your attitude soften over time.

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