Relationships are all about effective communication. But it’s easy to overlook just how important it is during challenging times or just when life gets busy. But that’s really when we need to communicate most.
We are all so busy trying to navigate life during the pandemic. Lack of social interaction with friends and associates can make you feel distant and isolated. In addition, work challenges, finances and trying to protect yourself and loved ones from this serious virus certainly adds another layer of stress.
During stressful times like these, it can cause negative impacts on any relationship.
My Dad has always been my mentor and hero! He has several notable career and life accomplishments, but most important to him is his role as father and grandfather. A few weeks ago, my Dad turned 80 years old and I took the lead in coordinating an amazing virtual celebration for my hero.
Neither Sean nor I got financial lessons growing up. Money just wasn’t something that was talked about much at home. So like most people we know, we’ve had to figure it out along the way. We’re going to do this differently for our kids. These 6 money lessons are the foundation we are setting for bigger talks we’ll have as they get older.
Like any parent, we want to make the road a bit easier for them. If we plant the seeds, we are hopeful that they will make sound financial decisions as they grow. We don’t want to keep them in the dark when it comes to finances and we think that age-appropriate lessons are a good way to start their financial educations.
We all know that words have power. And colors are as beautiful as words are powerful. The way we describe colors can affect how we see ourselves and others. Think about how people say things like “there are dark days ahead for him” or “it looks dark and gloomy outside”, and other common idioms that are even in religious text. To offset the stigma that dark is scary, I reframed how we talk about dark colors to our kids. I remind them often that the world is a rainbow of beautiful colors, dark ones included.
I am intentional about this because I want to promote a sense of pride and love for their brown skin. The reality is that there are many things that will try to say something contrary. If I’m reading a passage in a book and the word “dark” comes up, I always insert “beautiful” before it. I’ve done this since they were born.
All colors have beauty, its why the world is such a remarkable place. But due to the negativity that is subconsciously and consciously promoted about dark colors, dark skin, we have to be intentional to foster a sense of love and pride for themselves, just the way they are.
Culture – the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. That’s the Oxford definition. Culture for me is pride. It’s a rooted connection to my history. I feel it running through my blood, I hear it in my voice. It runs deep. Ask me where I’m from and I can tell stories all day long. My culture is an important part of me.
I am from a community rich in culture. It permeates the island. The food, the music, the celebrations. When anyone opens their mouth to speak, it screams culture! I miss home so much.
A walkable community contributes to a more enjoyable living experience. It also gives people a sense of community. From the 1940s through the 1960s, most neighborhoods, including our own, did not have something as basic as sidewalks. Cars became the primary mode of transportation. As a result, city priorities shifted from investing in sidewalks to providing automobile amenities like wider roads. Promoting a walkable community was low on the list. Therefore, there are still communities that lack basic necessities to make them walkable and pedestrian-friendly.
Sidewalks are an important part of making a community walkable and enjoyable. The lack of investment in sidewalks in and around neighborhoods all across the nation was a huge oversight.
Pets are great additions to any family. They bring with them so much happiness and that happiness is contagious. I have always had a strong connection with animals. As a child, if you asked anyone who knew me what I wanted to be, they would say a veterinarian. I was sure of it. I wanted to be a vet because I loved being around animals and they brought me so much joy as a kid.
That joy was also accompanied by emotional support since I was always getting into scuffles with my two brothers. Since they were older and stronger, I was often on the losing end of those scuffles. I’d go to the backyard and play with my dog as a place of comfort.
Pets have a pulse on what you are feeling and experiencing and they adjust their behavior accordingly. They reduce stress, bring joy, and some even encourage us to exercise. Overall, they improve quality of life.
Ever since baby girl was born, I’ve intentionally said to her “You can do anything!”. At times it has its drawbacks, like when she takes the liberty of pouring her own milk and the entire contents of the carton end up on the floor, left for me to clean. There are pros and cons to everything, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons on this one.
This idea of being and accomplishing anything is reinforced in small successes day-to-day. She may have a moment of frustration, but we work through it. When we get to the other side, a calmer toddler and her task completed, I say “See, I told you can do anything!” And boy does she light up!
Our city, like most cities throughout the United States, is seeing a rise in the number of individuals and families that can’t afford a place to live. We decided that our contribution to housing security in our community would be one of our areas of intention.
The average cost of rent in our city is over $1200 a month. That’s a far cry from the $400 rent that I paid 17 years ago when I got my first apartment.
Nurturing children to ask questions is critical for development. Not only does it promote critical thinking but it also builds confidence. And you know we are all about building confidence in our kids.
We do our best to stay away from the “because I said so” response. But I can’t lie, it’s an easy go-to in moments when you simply need their cooperation and can’t be bothered with any more questions. But if it slips out, we correct it, along with an explanation. They deserve to understand why we are asking them to do something, and they certainly can’t learn about the world around them if they don’t ask about the things they don’t know or understand.
