500 Fridays Newsletter - 2.5 min read Season: The Cold Days (3 of 12) The Proximity Problem On Christmas day this year, our family had a Clark Griswold moment. We enjoyed a bit of nostalgia when I grabbed the old video camera and watched some early-stage home movies. The big kids were 2 & 3 years old. Everyone in the living room smiled, ooed, and laughed as we re-watched the chaos of our young family. When kids are little, life is full of piles: toys, clothes, and bodies too. Wrestling on the...
13 days ago • 2 min read
500 Fridays Newsletter - 2 min read Season: The Cold Days (2 of 12) One Piece At A Time One of the biggest challenges of power-decade parenting is that your life is pulled in a thousand different directions. Being intentional to build connection and character with your kids can feel like a losing effort. The ability to focus on one child at a time seems as impossible as wrangling your squirming toddler to get their diaper on. In my early parenting days, I got overwhelmed and in my own head...
20 days ago • 2 min read
500 Fridays Newsletter - 3 min read Season: The Cold Days (1 of 12) Last Name Power Scott.Nolen.Martin.Graves.Hannon.Wiseman.Matthews. These surnames likely mean nothing to you, but they meant everything to me as a young father. Every power-decade parent needs a list like this. These names were pillars for us. They represent families that I looked up to and learned from. I'm now two decades into being a dad and still learning from them. More important than what I took from them is what they...
27 days ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead "Your children need to see you and your spouse being husband & wife, not just mom & dad." Family Traditions 🎶 It's the most wonderful time of the year 🎅🏽🎄 ... but is it always?? I guess it depends on who you ask, because the holidays are an amplifier for everything. GiftsMealsParties...PressureTraditionsExpectations The most wonderful time of the year does push everything front and center, both...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2 min read Season: The Holidays (3 of 7) Please Vote! Choose your favorite MAIN TITLE for my self-published book... Family Fridays Power Decade Parenting 500 Fridays Together Families The Heart Years The Magic of Middle Years Working Subtitle ~ Stories & Strategies To Help Parents of 3-13 Year Olds Make A Decade Count Truths From Trees Sometimes there are great parenting lessons that are hidden inside other family groups. For instance, animal families have their own...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2 min read by: Finley Robinson A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead You are in a competition for the heart of your son or daughter and you have hours, days, months, and years to win it. A Parent Kids Are Thankful For A lot of preparation goes into the meals we will share next week as a family. I once was able to just show up and eat because my parents took care of everything. They bought the food, they planned the sides, and they cooked the turkey. I’m at the stage...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 3.5 min read Season: The Holidays (1 of 7) Single Sentence From A Season Ahead Weekends that generate opportunities for hands-on-your-sons and hearts-near-your-daughters always help you avoid the feeling that you haven't done enough for your kids. The Puzzle I'm not 100% sure when gender reveal parties became super popular, but I know that they weren't around at all when we were pregnant with our kids 15+ years ago. I'm honestly neutral on the concept though the...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson Single Sentence From A Season Ahead Predictable Rhythms & Wonder Moments are the simplest way to create a flourishing family. Survival Mode 🥺 Typical Parent Question: "How are you guys making it?"Typical Parent's Answer: "Honestly, we're barely surviving." I get why that's the response. I really do. When our kids were young, my wife and I found ourselves "barely surviving" all the time. We had 3 kids, four and under. Most every day...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Family Friday Newsletter - 2.5 min read by: Finley Robinson Single Sentence From A Season Ahead When you show up, even for half-credit, you still get the full effect of being a parent. The 950 Weeks As a general rule of thumb, there are 950 weeks between when your son or daughter is born and when they go to college. As of today, we are at Week 910 with our youngest 😢 The weeks below read like a long story you are in the middle of. You'll recognize some scenes and anticipate others. I share...
3 months ago • 3 min read