Bedtime prayers
From my children’s birth, until they were too big to hoist over my head, my hands outstretched, lifting them to God (think Simba in The Lion King, except I would have their bodies facing upward), I would say aloud, “God, this is my daughter, Hannah, with whom I am so proud. Bless her and keep her and let her grow up to be a woman of God.” I would do this for my son and daughters every night I was home. When they got too big to hoist, I would whisper it in their ears as they went to sleep. When I dropped them off at college, my last act was to hug them close and whisper the blessing in their ear. When I ask my kids their favorite memory, they always say: “The blessing.” Of course now they laugh and mimic me struggling to lift them over my head, arms shaking (I probably tried to do the lift too long, in hindsight). But they will always know I gave them to God first, and that it was my priority in life to see them given to Him.
Derrick M, Round Hill, VA
encouraging notes
Write your child a note of encouragement or praise. Name something they’ve done that exemplifies a behavior you admire. Tell them you’re proud of them.
Tony W, Oak Ridge, NC
Model Kindness
When I was a child, I wanted to be just like my dad because I loved him and I also liked the things he did for others. Many of his actions sprang from admirable attributes. Thanking the cashier at the grocery store, engaging the waiter at a restaurant in a conversation about the waiter’s life, taking a hostess gift to a dinner party, and countless other such acts modeled kindness and respect for others. His actions taught me that everyone matters. Setting an example in these and other ways can make a bigger impact on our children than we may ever know.
John M, Akron, OH
Prepare a kid folder
Create a folder—it can be a physical manilla folder or envelope, or a digital one, using something like the Notes folder in your iPhone, or a free note-taking app like Evernote—and start looking for interesting things to save so you can share them with your kids later. A funny Youtube video, an interesting article, a picture of a place you’d like to visit with them—things that show them you’re thinking about them when you’re apart.
Tony W, Oak Ridge, NC
Teach Small Acts of Respect
Life gives us so many teaching moments and are subtle and easy to overlook, but not for our children. They notice so many things that we filter out of our brains as being normal and uneventful. It is important that we realize their curious nature and not miss those moments. Here are some simple examples: returning someone’s grocery cart to the rack; holding a door for someone; helping an elderly person load items into their car at the store; thanking the postal carrier when they bring the mail; and being courteous to the restaurant wait staff. In short, don’t overlook the importance of how your children view how you treat others. They will notice how you are mindful and considerate of the world around you. If our children absorb these small cues as normal, imagine how they might view the larger issues in society today.
Greg K, Greensboro, NC