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...
8 days ago • 3 min read
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...
15 days ago • 2 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Parenting is a team sport, so make sure you surround your kids with great people. The Hard Things Pay Off Am I being too soft on them?Am I being too hard on them? I questioned my approach all the time as a dad when we were doing the daily work of raising our kids. I know I worried more that I was too hard on them when they were younger and too soft on them as they grew older. But I wanted them to...
22 days ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Knowing your child is leaving someday helps shape how you spend today with them. How Did You Do It? I get this question about once a week from young parents I talk with. Maybe it's because I don't have the 😩 look on my face as much anymore like most parents of 3-13 year olds. Maybe it's because when I talk about my kids now my face is more 🤩 than it has ever been. I had coffee with a friend this...
29 days ago • 2 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Yes, our kids were little monsters when we tried to take them to the grocery store too. Bring Them Along My wife and I have an unpopular opinion on raising kids. Ok, it's stronger than an opinion. It's more like a low-key parent conviction for us. Here it is ... Parents shouldn't default to getting a babysitter as often as they do. Our conviction was born out of a belief that a volume of time...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead If it's not uncomfortable for you both at times, then you need to show some more tough love to your kids. We Didn't "Cherish Every Season" If there's one emotion that parents don't need more of while in their power-decade season, it's shame. The feeling of pain or guilt that emerges when mom or dad realizes their family isn't measuring up. I felt it on many occasions and I reckon you have too. I...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 3 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead Teach your kids early on that special things are worth waiting for. The Daily Discouragement 😤 Let's be honest: Everyday life as a power-decade parent is tough. You provide for physical needs.You slow down for emotional needs.You create fun and memorable moments.You attempt to bring calm to the total chaos. And yet, your kids give practically zero demonstration that they are "getting it." Rare are...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead What other people say about your kids when you aren't around is the best evidence of who they are becoming, so don't be discouraged. Hot & Cold It has been a cold, snowy week in my part of the country. Translation: kids have been home from school and out of routine way too long. I've sent a lot of texts to my friends with kids in your 3-13 season, checking in on them. These cold and dark weeks...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson 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 Facts I 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...
2 months ago • 2 min read