Family Friday Newsletter - 3.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead The most comforting advice my pediatrician father ever gave me as a dad was this ... "there is a w-i-d-e range of normal with kids." The Last Day I originally wrote and shared this when my son was finishing his senior year of high school. Even though that moment has passed, I'm convinced the lessons we learned are as relevant as ever. Today is a significant Friday. To be honest, it only felt real...
8 days ago • 4 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 3.5 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead A volume of time with mom and dad will unlock great things for your kids. "Figure It Out" Our kids heard me say this in our home more times than I can count. It was used less when they were little, but with each year they grew older, they heard it more and more. I know they grew tired of it, and I'm certain I said it with the wrong tone many, many times. That doesn't mean it wasn't one of the...
15 days ago • 3 min read
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...
22 days ago • 3 min read
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...
29 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...
about 1 month 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...
about 1 month 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...
about 2 months 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 2 months 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...
2 months ago • 2 min read