1. Show up to the school play/sports/performance
2. Get to their activities on time
3. Family dinner, at the table
4. A hug
5. A kiss
6. Snuggle on the couch
7. Be consistent
8. Say no and mean it
9. Admit when you are wrong
10. Turn off Facebook alerts
11. Say I am proud of you
12. Point out what they did right, not what they did wrong
13. Ask, โDo you want my advice?โ
14. When they say, โNoโ just listen.
15. Unless it is dangerous just bite your lip and listen
16. Talk about sex
17. Talk about drugs
18. Talk about media use
19. Listen to their music in the car
20. Share your music with them
21. Donโt compare your childhood experience to theirs
22. Share your stories
23. Spend time as a family
24. Spend time with them one on one
25. Help them with their homework, or get a tutor to.
26. Say, โI believe in you.โ
27. Explain your expectations clearly
28. Put a happy note in their lunch
29. Be respectful to the other parent(s)
30. Listen, listen, listen
31. Be home
32. Leave your room and spend time in the kitchen/family room
33. Treat each child as an individual
34. Put down the cell phone
35. Say, โI love you.โ
Contact Bridget Richard,ย LISW-S, at 330-331-5800 for your family's counseling needs. ย www.lamplightcounseling.net