A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead
A few close friends who care deeply about your kids can be the difference between a small hiccup and a big mistake in their lives.
Farming FactsI come from a farming family. My great-grandfather purchased our family farm and his son, my grandfather, expanded it even more. I think it's the farming legacy of my family that instilled in me the value of long-term investments. There is an old wise farm saying that has resonated with me for years... The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is today. Said differently, don't wait to do something now that will have a long-lasting impact years down the road. Build Their TeamI had coffee with a young dad this week who has 3 daughters. We talked about their neighborhood of friends and the young boys he gets to invest in too. He's building a team of parents and protectors for his girls. I have written before about the importance of building relational insurance for your kids. Another way to think about this concept is to build a team of voices that will carry your children through the power-decade of their life and beyond. Looking back now, I'm so glad that we "planted the tree" 20 years ago of other people who could speak into the lives of our kids besides just mom & dad. The great thing, is that a team of people can look different for every family. I believe it is important that you get started now if you haven't already. Of course, you'll always want to keep an open dialogue going between you, your kids, and any team members you allow into your family. Potential Team MembersHere is a breakdown of the kinds of people we were fortunate enough to have on our "Family Team" over the years.
Skills & Values LearnedThe 20-year list is long, but here are many of the benefits I've seen in our kids that were learned from the team that surrounded them. Fun Another ancient saying that reaffirms this idea states it this way... It takes a village to raise a child. I imagine it was an old farming community somewhere that first crafted that idea. With one eye on your kids and another watching closely for the right team members, I promise that you'll be thankful for the payoff. The long-term tree-planting effort of building a team around your kids should start today if it hasn't already. See You Next Friday - Finley |
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 - 5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Spend your days as a mom or dad pouring courage into your kids. The Building of Character 🤠 My girls loved to play dress up when they were little. In our home, we have a wild room we call the "skit closet" and inside we keep a staggering amount of old play clothes. We have costumes from when my mom was a young girl, dance outfits from my sister's era, and of course plenty of Disney dresses from...
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Choose your stories wisely because those stories shape your children's futures. Counting By States As Summer travel is winding down for most families, I'm sure parents are exhausted from all the output that has been required. MealsDrivingPackingPlanningRe-PackingAdventuring Family trips often reveal one of the most under-appreciated qualities kids need from you as a parent... being clear with...
Family Friday Newsletter - 4 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Your kids need help with hard things; sometimes you do things with them and sometimes you do things for them. Between Generations Trips, Vacations, and Visits… When I was young, my family traveled across the state every summer to visit my parents hometown in the Delta. My parents were high school sweethearts and so I had two sets of grandparents in the same small Arkansas town. Every visit required...