​Small, predictable rituals help kids reset without a big production. Don't try all five at once. Pick one and use it every day for a week. Once it feels normal, add another. When the same mini routine shows up again and again, it becomes a tool your child can reach for on their own -- at home, at school, or anywhere the day gets hard.

1. Two-Song Shake-Out

• What it is: Dance or do jumping jacks for two songs, then sip water.
• How often: Daily
• Why it helps: Burns off stress energy and makes it easier to focus again.

​2. Five-Finger Breathing

• What it is: Trace each finger while taking slow breaths in and out.
• How often: As needed
• Why it helps: Slows the body down fast after big feelings.

3. Bedtime Calm Visualization

• What it is: Guide your child to close their eyes and slowly picture a peaceful place, noticing what they'd see, hear, smell, feel, and taste there.
• How often: Nightly
• Why it helps: Eases worry loops, shifts the brain away from the day's stresses, and supports smoother sleep.

4. One Good Thing Check-In

• What it is: Share one good thing from today at dinner or bedtime.
• How often: Daily
• Why it helps: Gratitude interventions are linked with small well-being gains.

5. Create-and-Leave-It Corner

• What it is: Ten minutes of drawing, Lego, or clay, no “perfect” goal.
• How often: 3 times weekly
• Why it helps: Gives the brain a break and boosts emotional flexibility.

                            Tomorrow: How to make a habit stick.           
​  

​   Thanks go to Kurt Brown for this post and his great suggestions!
​
Kurt Brown knows that some of the best adventures happen off the beaten path. Unfortunately, those experiences are not always well-documented and, as a result, helpful information is not always easy to find. That’s why he created Travel Tip Tank. The website offers travel tips visitors won’t find anywhere else.

Self-care isn't just for adults. When kids have simple, repeatable ways to reset, they bounce back faster. They're calmer. They're easier to be with. And they start building emotional tools that carry them through hard days now and later.

Here's what that actually looks like in real life...

​​Self-care for kids is anything that helps their body and brain reset so they can handle the next thing. It is not fancy or selfish, and self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. The core pieces are simple: move, rest, fuel, connect, and calm down.

It matters because a good reset makes everyday life easier, not perfect. When kids practice quick, repeatable resets, they bounce back faster after hard moments and show up more ready to learn and play. That kind of readiness includes many skills and behaviours beyond academics.

Think of it like packing a tiny “travel kit” for their day: water, a snack, a stretch, and a quiet minute. You are not adding chores, you are building a routine that prevents meltdowns from piling up. With that mindset, you can pick quick resets that fit your child and your schedule.
​

​​

​
​Small, predictable rituals help kids reset without a big production. Don't try all five at once. Pick one and use it every day for a week. Once it feels normal, add another. When the same mini routine shows up again and again, it becomes a tool your child can reach for on their own -- at home, at school, or anywhere the day gets hard.

1. Two-Song Shake-Out

• What it is: Dance or do jumping jacks for two songs, then sip water.
• How often: Daily
• Why it helps: Burns off stress energy and makes it easier to focus again.

​2. Five-Finger Breathing

• What it is: Trace each finger while taking slow breaths in and out.
• How often: As needed
• Why it helps: Slows the body down fast after big feelings.

3. Bedtime Calm Visualization

• What it is: Guide your child to close their eyes and slowly picture a peaceful place, noticing what they'd see, hear, smell, feel, and taste there.
• How often: Nightly
• Why it helps: Eases worry loops, shifts the brain away from the day's stresses, and supports smoother sleep.

4. One Good Thing Check-In

• What it is: Share one good thing from today at dinner or bedtime.
• How often: Daily
• Why it helps: Gratitude interventions are linked with small well-being gains.

5. Create-and-Leave-It Corner

• What it is: Ten minutes of drawing, Lego, or clay, no “perfect” goal.
• How often: 3 times weekly
• Why it helps: Gives the brain a break and boosts emotional flexibility.

                            Tomorrow: How to make a habit stick.           
​  ​

   Thanks go to Kurt Brown for this post and his great suggestions!
​
Kurt Brown knows that some of the best adventures happen off the beaten path. Unfortunately, those experiences are not always well-documented and, as a result, helpful information is not always easy to find. That’s why he created Travel Tip Tank. The website offers travel tips visitors won’t find anywhere else.

Have you heard the 2026 World Cup is almost here? That it’s going to be played in the US during our 250th birthday? In Canada and Mexico too? There’s going to be more teams and matches than ever before.
​
Official play won’t start until June 11, but the preliminaries are already starting. The one that caught my eye, a commercial about an impossible dream…The US Men’s team winning the World Cup. It’s an incredible ad! An incredible dream!
​
                           And here’s how it started…

My Source: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/presspass/fox-sports-unveils-fifa-world-cup-2026-campaign-inviting-america-dream-big-summer


​

​​      Part 2: Meet the Team and US Cities Hosting the Matches

​​First up, our coach, Mauricio Roberto Pochettino. He played for the Argentine team and managed it too.

Mauricio announced his choices for the US roster on May 26, 2026, but he could make changes until June 2. Today is the 3rd, and I checked…no changes to the roster.

The US Men are in Group D, so we’ll play Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey.

​If you’d like to read more about the US men, click on my source link: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/usa-squad-announcement-mauricio-pochettino


​

Now for the 26-man team; many are veterans of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Our 3 Goalkeepers are Chris Brady, Matt Freese, and Matt Turner.
​

They include Georgia (Atlanta), Massachusetts (Boston), Texas (Dallas and Houston), Kansas (Kansas City), California (Los Angelos and San Francisco), New York and New Jersey (cities not listed), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), and Oregon (Seattle). 
​

And finally, here’s the Group D schedule for the US Men’s first three games:
​
June 12—USA vs Paraguay—Los Angelos Stadium

June 19—USA vs Australia—Seattle Stadium
​
June 25—Turkey vs USA—Los Angelos Stadium

Have you heard the 2026 World Cup is almost here? That it’s going to be played in the US during our 250th birthday? In Canada and Mexico too? There’s going to be more teams and matches than ever before.
​
Official play won’t start until June 11, but the preliminaries are already starting. The one that caught my eye, a commercial about an impossible dream…The US Men’s team winning the World Cup. It’s an incredible ad! An incredible dream!
​
                           And here’s how it started…

My Source: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/presspass/fox-sports-unveils-fifa-world-cup-2026-campaign-inviting-america-dream-big-summer


​

It all began with FOX Sports Marketing asking a simple question, ‘What If?’ What if the impossible happened, and the Men’s National Team won the World Cup?

The ad debuted on May 2, during a baseball game on FOX. I don’t remember when I saw it, but it’s been echoing through my head, asking me to imagine the possibilities. 


​

I searched, found, and retweeted the ad so I could share the highlights.
​

Imagine…it’s the last minute of the last game of the World Cup Championship. It’s tied, and the US has a corner kick. You hear the announcers. Then silence as you watch people across the country wait…
​
                 Then Christian Pulisic, who’s really on the team, takes the kick, and the music begins…

​

​​
The Impossible Dream, sung by the King, Elvis Presley.

As you watch, the goal goes in, and America celebrates this impossible dream…An American Men’s World Cup.

The music continues to play until Elvis reaches the climax of the song, that unreachable--

And then abruptly, as if someone yanked the needle off a record—Elvis stops.
​
The next scene, a bar where someone’s asking if the US could really win the World Cup. The answer…It could happen. 


​

​And then an old man asks do you believe in miracles?
​

​He turns, and you see the back of his jacket, with USA and two hockey sticks. That’s the moment Elvis belts out the end of the song.

And that’s when I recognized the miracle—February 22, 1980. The one in the photo from Sports Illustrated. No caption needed. Everyone who watched that game still remembers. I do!

A bunch of college kids were playing the Soviets. There was no way they could win the Olympic gold medal, till the last minute when Mike Eruzione shot the winning goal.
​
It was incredible! It lifted the whole country. It became a Hollywood movie, Miracle on Ice. You can still watch that amazing story.
​

​The World Cup won’t start officially until June 11, and the US men play on the 12. But don’t worry…you can imagine the impossible dream until then.

And if it doesn’t come true, we’ll have almost two months to enjoy our own version of that dream.
​

​

​First up, our coach, Mauricio Roberto Pochettino. He played for the Argentine team and managed it too.

Mauricio announced his choices for the US roster on May 26, 2026, but he could make changes until June 2. Today is the 3rd, and I checked…no changes to the roster.

The US Men are in Group D, so we’ll play Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey.
​
​If you’d like to read more about the US men, click on my source link: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/usa-squad-announcement-mauricio-pochettino
​

​

Now for the 26-man team; many are veterans of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Our 3 Goalkeepers are Chris Brady, Matt Freese, and Matt Turner.
​

The 10 Defenders who also protect the goal: Max Arfsten, Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman,
Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson,
Joe Scally, and Auston Trust.

The 10 Midfielders include: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie,
Cristian Roldan, Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman,
Timothy Weah, and Alejandro Zendejas. They move the ball up and down the field.
​Sometimes they score, like Christian Pulisic did in the commercial for the Impossible Dream.
​
And the 3 Forwards, who aim for the goal: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright.
Here’s to the US Men’s 2026 team! May the force be with them!


​

As for the US cities hosting World Cup matches, I only have a map of the states.
​They’re first to help you find them. The cities, in parenthesis. 

They include Georgia (Atlanta), Massachusetts (Boston), Texas (Dallas and Houston), Kansas (Kansas City), California (Los Angelos and San Francisco), New York and New Jersey (cities not listed), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), and Oregon (Seattle). 
​​

Jane was born on December 16, 1775, six months before the American Declaration of Independence.

Emy’s Link:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/jane-austen-turns-250-10-fun-facts-about-the-legendary-author/ar-AA1StzVz?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=947d779bcff0471adf87e176b4943330&ei=73

​

Now for some fun facts…
#1. Emma, inspired the 1995 movie, Clueless.

Jane Austen’s character, Emma Woodhouse, starred as Cher Horowitz in the movie. Both are young ladies. Emma is 21, and Cher is still in high school. Both are wealthy, and they love to make matches. Cher makes hers in high school, and Emma among her neighbors. They both have a lot to learn about themselves and about love. 


​

                     #2. Jane published her books anonymously.

​The general public in her time never knew her name. Jane first used “By a Lady.” Then later, “By the Author of Sense and Sensability.” Ladies could write letters, but they were discouraged from writing and publishing books.
Jane only got credit for her work after she died, but not by choice. Her brother Henry put a biographical note into her last two books, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. That’s how Jane’s secret was finally discovered.

  
​

​
​                       #3. Jane’s family had a coat of arms.

They used three bear paws, so this isn’t hers. They also had a family motto. The Latin version: Que Invidet Minor Est, which means, To Envy Is Inferior. 

​

​                                         #4. Jane began writing as a teen.

​From age 12-18, she filled three notebooks with stories, parodies, and short plays. Luckily they were preserved and later published. The title, Juvenilia. That’s the name of any work done by a young author or artist, and you can buy Jane’s on Amazon. 



​

#5. Jane was engaged for one day, but she never married.
​

In December of 1802 Harris Bigg-Wither, a wealthy friend of her family proposed. Jane accepted, but she called it off the next morning.
​
 
​​​

#6. Jane didn’t earn much during her lifetime. 
​

​Jane published 4 successful books and made about $800-$940 in American money back then. That’s about $54,000-$81,000 today. Then she lost money on Emma because she paid to get it published.


​

#7. Jane’s last words were to her sister Cassandra. 
​

Cassandra wrote down Jane's words. “God grant me patience, pray for me, oh, pray for me." Jane died from a painful disease. As it got worse, she wanted “nothing but death.”


​

Her fan club didn’t form until the late 1800s, and they called themselves the “Janeites.” What did they do? Debate her characters, defend Jane against critics, and visit anyplace Jane had lived during her lifetime. From London to Bath. From her birthplace to the house where she died. Someday I want to visit those places too!

​Tomorrow: the last two fun facts about Jane

#9. Jane is still one of the most translated English novelists.
​

 ​     #9. Jane is still one of the most translated English novelists.

Did you know you can buy Jane’s books in dozens of languages? Or that they have never gone out of print for over 200 years? That’s incredible! One of my books is already out of print, the one done with a hybrid publisher. Why? It didn’t make them enough money.
​

​

​
Jane is on British bills, the £10 Bank of England note. The UK doesn’t have dollar bills. They use pound notes.

Jane’s first bill was printed in 2017 to celebrate her legacy. Male authors have had this honor before, but Jane is the first female to be chosen. If you look carefully at this note or google it, you’ll see a quote from Pride and Prejudice, plus an image of Godmersham Park. Jane’s brother Edward, inherited the estate from his cousin, and many believe Jane modeled Pemberly, from P and P, from her brother’s estate.

Bonus: If you’re a Janeite like me, you might want to check out this link. It’s to an article that suggests the order to read Jane’s novels sequentially, starting with her first, Juvenilia.
​
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/how-to-read-jane-austen-s-novels-in-order/ar-AA1SseL1?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=9021e4a5cd674c628f95dc318e5047e3&ei=44

​I found a great article online from Zinnia Hay that I had to write about. Click on this link to read what she has to say.
​
 Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/are-you-a-right-brain-or-left-brain-thinker-answer-this-simple-question/ar-AA1VgrdY?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=b89b23df017e40c3eeeed1e4da2ee741&ei=10


​
​                                                                                               Part 1: How Do You Know Which Side Your Brain Prefers?

​
Try some simple questions…

1. How do you start a new job?
​
- Come up with a plan of steps to follow.
OR
- Dive in and find your way through.

​
​

If you’re a planner, you’re probably left-brained. You love lists, organization, and order. It feels safer, gives you less anxiety, and a clearer picture of how to finish the job.
​
Problem solving feels natural. You can channel emotions into solving problems or solve them with logic. You trust the process, not your gut.  


​ 

If you dive in and find your way through, you’re probably right brained. You love intuition, creating and adjusting as you go.
​
Momentum and hands-on learning feel natural. You thrive on working without rules; it frees up creativity. You trust your gut and your emotions. You have discipline but start with inspiration. You use logic to finish up the job.
​


​

Part 2: Two Clues to Your Brain
​
Now, two more simple questions…
1. How do you solve problems? 

​If you look for patterns and cause/effect, you’re probably left-brained. You love analyzing data and finding the most accurate information.
​
If you use emotions, intuition, and imagination to find answers, you’re probably right-brained. You value insights, and if you’re under pressure, you tend to pick the side you trust most. 
​

2. How do you communicate?

        Part 3: Two More Clues For Your Brain

                 And two more simple questions…
                  1. How do you make decisions?

Left-brained people look at facts, use known results, and apply logic to make their decisions.

Right-brained people use feeling, intuition, and their gut to decide.
​
Both kinds of people make great decisions. The next time someone makes a choice, watch how they use risk, emotion, and control. Can you guess which side of the brain they used? 

​                         2. How does stress affect your brain?
​
It brings out whichever side is dominant. When things are uncomfortable, you turn to the comfortable side of your brain. If you’re not sure which side that is, watch what you do when you’re stressed out.
 
If you’re left-brained, you apply rigid control to the situation. For right-brains, your emotions get more intense and more scattered.
​

​

​                              Part 4: Two Conclusions

​1. Most people are a blend of both brains, but one side tends to dominate. That blend can change over time depending on what you’re experiencing, like work or home life. Don’t forget stress can drive you back to the comfortable side of your brain.
​
It’s not important to call yourself a righty or lefty, but you should know which side you favor. Why? It helps you work with your brain, not against it. It can boost your creativity and ability to make decisions. The best part, it just might help you accept the person you are and the brain that drives you. 


​​

​2. My Conclusion—After writing three parts of this post, I realized I lean naturally to the left side of my brain. I’m a planner. I love lists, organization, and order. In the writing world I’m a plotter. I write with a plan. Sometimes it’s just an outline. Sometimes it’s more detailed.
 
Over the years as a wife, mother, and teacher, I developed the right side of my brain. I learned to use emotion and intuition. I even found an imagination I never thought I had, but I’ll never be a pantser. Flying by the seat of my pants feels funny.
 
For me, revision is where I find my magic. I love perfecting my words, building emotions and relationships between characters. It’s where I find my creativity, and I learn more about me as a person and as a writer.

Migraine symptoms include light and sound sensitivity, nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances, confusion, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue, and constant yawning. About 25% of migraines sufferers have auras an hour before the migraine strikes. Auras show up as blurred vision, flashes of light, wavy lines, and blind spots. 

My first migraine, and all the others, must have been auras. I remember the blurred vision, how I couldn’t read, and my hand going numb. It was scary. I was teaching. I can’t imagine having one if I’d been driving. It’s why I decided to write this post and share the link below from Stephanie Butler. She’s the Outreach Coordinator from Adam Swallow Injury Lawyers.
​
                           Link: https://www.mdaccidentlaw.com/driving-with-a-migraine-safety-guide/


​​

​                     Part 1: Migraines and the Risk for Drivers

I was surprised to read that a 2020 study said for severe migraine sufferers, 66% of them won’t drive. That’s a good statistic, but the scary one…34% do.  Here are three signs you’re having a migraine. 


​

​#1 Vision Impairment--It can happen before, during, and even after a migraine. Think blurred vision, blind spots, flashes of light, and distortions. Imagine trying to navigate roads with intersections, pedestrians, potholes, and debris. You may also have trouble judging distance and staying in your own lane. 


​

​
​2. Delayed Reaction Time--If your head aches, feels foggy or drowsy, you might take longer to spot what’s ahead and hit the brakes. A car ride could be worse than your migraine.



​

​3. Light Sensitivity--If you’re struggling to see, imagine what driving toward the sun or having light in your mirrors could do? At night think of blinking lights or headlights shining in your eyes. No matter the time, migraines can make driving more difficult and more dangerous.
 
                                                               Tomorrow: warning signs and migraine stages

​Did you know migraines come in three stages? Like pre and post migraine.

​

​Prodromes, they’re the pre-migraine stage. You might experience nonstop yawning, food cravings, and mood changes. Prodromes can begin hours, even days before a migraine hits. 

​

​Postdromes begin when migraines end. They can last up to two days, and you might experience exhaustion, confusion, trouble concentrating, and dizziness. 

​

​Warning Signs for Drivers: If you’re driving and experience any of these signs, please pull over and call a friend for help. If you get one before you leave, please delay your trip. 

​​

​
​1. Vision disturbances: Auras, blurred vision, and blind spots can hide obstacles from view. 

​​

​ 3. Dizziness: If your head is spinning, your judgement is weakened, especially for distance. 

​ 4. Nausea: Feeling queasy? Watch out! Vomiting can make you lose control of your car and your stomach…instantly.

​
5. Brain fog: If your head feels clouded, your judgement and reaction time can be too.

6. Sleepiness: When you’re tired, your reactions slow down too. You might even fall asleep at the wheel. 

7. Weakness: When your senses are weakened, your driving skills are too.

​

If you suffer from frequent migraines, these three checklists could minimize risk and maximize safety for you, your passengers, and your fellow drivers. 

​

                                     Before Driving:

1. Assess risk: Ask yourself if you have any migraine symptoms like auras, nausea, or light sensitivity. If you do, don’t drive.

2. Take preventative medications: Take doctor-prescribed medicine before driving.

3. Pack a migraine survival kit: This includes medication, water, snacks, sunglasses, earplugs, and an icepack.

4. Tell passengers: Pick a designated driver, just in case. Teach your kids how to stay calm and call for help.

5. Plan your route: Use GPS to pick a low-stress route that gives you safe places to stop when needed.

6.  Have someone on call: Have family or a friend ready to pick you up in case a migraine strikes while you’re driving. 

7. Know your triggers: Plan ahead to avoid things like bright sunlight. If possible, pick the best time for you to travel.


​

                                  When Driving:

​1. Be self-aware: Track your symptoms, especially if triggers pop up.

​2. Stay hydrated and fed: Sip water and snack when you feel hungry.

3. Minimize bright sunlight: Use your visor and sunglasses to minimize bright light, even on a cloudy day.

4. Minimize driving stress: Allow yourself extra time to get there and avoid peak traffic.

5. Minimize stimulation: Keep the radio on low, food smells too. The temperature should be comfortable, and conversations kept to a minimum.

6. Pull over: If you feel any warning signs, pull over as soon as you can.

7. Take medication: Once you stop, take your medicine and rest until you feel better.

8. Call for help: If your migraine doesn’t get better, let your designated driver take over, or ask your on-call person to pick you up. 


​​

                                     After Driving:

1. Take care of yourself: Rest and rehydrate. Eat if you can, and don’t drive until you’re better.

2. Write down details: Keep a migraine journal with your symptoms, triggers, and responses to medication. It can help you learn to manage them. ​

3. Evaluate your actions: Did your plan work? How could you improve it for the next time? 

4. See your doctor: If your migraines don’t get better, talk to him/her about what you’re doing.

5. Check out alternative transportation: If migraines still affect your driving, look for safe alternatives, like public transportation, carpooling, or uber.  
​

​Part 4: Where to Get Help

One of the best things to try…SEEDS. Not the plant kind. The acronym kind that’s recommended by the American Migraine Foundation.

S…Sleep--Make sure you get your beauty rest and follow good sleep practices.
E…Exercise--Do gentle activity 3-5 days a week for 30-50 minutes.
E…Eat--Eat small healthy meals more frequently. Don’t fast or stop eating.
D…Diary--Keep one with details about your migraines. Look for patterns to discuss with your doctor.
S…Stress--Keep it under control using mindfulness and relaxation techniques. 

​
​

Primary Care Doctors: This is a great starting place if/when you suffer your first migraine. They can recommend medicines and strategies to try. They can also tell you if it’s safe to drive.
​
If your doctor can help you, perfect! If not, he/she can recommend a migraine specialist or neurologist. They’re doctors who specialize in migraines. They follow clinical trials and have the latest information to share. 

Migraine Support Groups: One of the best ways to survive is with a support group. When I was still teaching, my colleagues supported me through issues like migraines. It helps to realize you’re not alone, and you get great, practical advice. Click on my original source to connect to the groups below. You can Google them too.

1. Move Against Migraines is a Facebook support group that’s connected to the American Migraine Foundation. You’ll find advice and inspiration.

2. Mayo Clinic Headache & Migraine is a community of caregivers and people like you. It’s moderated by the Mayo Clinic Connect.

3. Living Positively with Chronic Pain is an online group from Bethesda, Maryland. It has over 700 members.

Migraine Advocacy and Education: These four groups are dedicated to raising awareness and getting resources to migraine sufferers and the general public.

1. The American Migraine Foundation raises money for research, education, and awareness for doctors and their patients.

2. Miles for Migraines hosts events to raise money for a cure, education, and support for those living with migraines.

3. Migraine.com is an online community that shares what it’s like to live with migraines while supporting each other.

4. National Headache Foundation offers education for patients and doctors. They can help you start a headache diary and share news about clinical trials. They also support veterans who suffer from migraines. 

​

​ In Conclusion: Driving with migraines is dangerous. Impaired vision, light sensitivity, visual disturbances, and intense pain can take your focus off the road and slow your reaction time. Being unable to drive feels like you’re losing your independence. But with the right support and treatment, you can reclaim it and navigate migraines no matter where you are.

​Busy parents want confident kids. But pushing leadership can sound like raising a tiny CEO. That's the tension: parents need to build early childhood skills without turning parenting into pressure. The good news is that child leadership development doesn't start on a stage or a team roster. It starts in ordinary moments where kids practice voice, responsibility, and teamwork. The habits begin at home.


​

Part 1: What Leadership Looks Like in Kids
​​

​Leadership in children is not bossiness or barking orders. It is the ability to speak up, listen, and help a group move forward with kindness. Parents shape these traits by what they model and what they allow.
​

Kids who practice leadership build confidence, patience, and teamwork. These carry into school and friendships. They also matter on rough mornings and tricky social moments.
​
Picture a family hike where one child holds the map but still checks in about the pace. That is leadership: guiding, adjusting, and keeping the group together.

​With that picture in mind, simple at-home moves start feeling obvious and doable.


​

​Think of leadership like a weekend road trip. You don't need fancy gear. You just need a few solid items in your bag and the willingness to let your kid take some turns navigating. Here are six easy "packable" moves that build real leadership without turning your home into a boot camp.
​
You don't have to tackle all six at once. Think of these as a weekly rotation. Pick one move, try it for a few days, and let it settle before adding another. Busy parents who start with just one see real results without the overwhelm.

     1. Be the Tour Guide First (Lead by Example): ​

​Pick one visible leadership behavior to model this week. Stay calm when plans change, apologize quickly, or finish a task you started. Say it out loud: "I'm frustrated, so I'm taking a breath before I answer." Kids learn that leadership is self-control and follow-through. You teach it before any big talk.


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​Give your child one job they can own end-to-end for seven days. Packing their school bag, feeding a pet, or setting out tomorrow's clothes all work. Your role is the safety net, not the pilot. Let them try, notice what went wrong, and fix it. Independence builds "I can handle this" confidence.


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​Choose one small goal with a clear finish line. Reading three pages or putting toys in one bin before bed both count. Make it visible: write it on a sticky note and let your kid check it off. The win is learning to plan and stick with something.


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​Once this week, do a two-person task that requires coordination. Cook a simple snack, build a puzzle, or clean one room together. Assign roles: "You're in charge of supplies, I'm in charge of timing," then switch halfway. Cooperation teaches that leaders listen, share credit, and adjust.


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​     5. Use the "Own It + Fix It" Rule (Responsibility & Accountability):
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​When something goes sideways, skip the lecture. Ask two questions: "What happened?" and "What's your plan to fix it?" Help them choose one repair action. This turns mistakes into leadership reps: taking responsibility without shame.


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​6. Offer Two Good Routes (Decision-Making Skills):

Give controlled choices daily. "Homework before or after snack?" or "Which two veggies should we buy?" Add one judgment question: "What might happen if you pick that?" This builds real decision-making while keeping the boundaries safe.
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Q: How can parents lead by example to inspire leadership in their children?


A: Let your child see you stay steady under stress. Narrate your plan, name your feeling, then take one small action. Apologize quickly when you snap, because repair teaches real authority.

​Q: How does goal-setting help children build confidence?
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A: Goals turn "I don't know" into a map. Define one clear target, the next step, and when you will check in. Celebrate progress even after setbacks so uncertainty doesn't hijack motivation.


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Q: What strategies help teach cooperation and conflict resolution at home?

​
A: Use a simple rule: one speaker, one listener, then swap and summarize. If emotions run hot, pause five minutes and return to "What do we need?" It shifts kids from scoring points to solving problems.

Q: How can I balance parenting and personal growth without burning out?

​
A: Start by finding a study rhythm that fits your real life. That might mean a few nights a week or one consistent hour after bedtime. Online degree programs make this easier than ever. Whether you're exploring healthcare degrees online or fields like early childhood education, flexible programs are built around real schedules. 

More than half of all college students took at least one class online in 2022, largely because flexible learning meets people where they are. Build a routine that works for you, and carve out two small moments each week where your child leads something. Both of you grow at the same time.


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​Raising a confident kid does not require a system. It requires showing up consistently and letting them take the wheel more than feels comfortable. Keep offering real choices and treating mistakes as practice. Pick one small adventure this week where they lead start to finish: a meal, an outing, a little project. That handoff, repeated over time, builds more than confidence. It builds the kind of kid who knows they can figure things out.


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​                                                                   Thanks go to Kurt Brown for this post and these great suggestions!
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At 18, only eighteen months later, Alysa returned to skating. She missed it but needed control of things like music and costumes. After taking time off to be a teenager, to make her own choices, Alysa was ready to challenge herself again. At 20, she won Olympic Gold, her way.

I admire someone so young, so talented, making choices based on experience. Mistakes happen whenever we try something new. It’s part of the process. It’s part of being human for all of us, and for Alysa too.


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Alysa’s Past

This is China’s Tiananmen Square on June 2, 1989.
Alysa wasn’t born until 2005, so this is her father Arthur's story.

Arthur joined the pro-democracy movement. He organized college students in protests and hunger strikes that spread across Beijing during May of 1989. By June 5, the Chinese government forced its military to crush all protest. They even used tanks on their own citizens.  Arthur escaped China by coming to the United States as a political refugee. 


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​​ Would you believe Arthur and Alysa had spies watching them back in November of 2021? China wanted her to skate for them during the Beijing Olympics, and they tried spying to make it happen.
​

They used their “naturalization project” to convince athletes and their families to compete for China. When a man called asking for the Liu’s passport numbers, Arthur hung up and contacted the FBI. He knew US Figure Skating never made those kinds of calls.

The FBI took the case seriously, met with Alysa, and gave her more security during the Games. Alysa was happy with seventh place. A month later in March she came in third and won a bronze medal at the World Championships. Funny, in April Alysa retired. Now I understand more of her story.
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1. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/father-of-american-figure-skating-hero-alysa-liu-confirms-our-suspicions/ar-AA1X4YTX?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=41c847f084a74d08fdc300b777ab2911&ei=16
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2. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/sporting/a70022994/who-is-alysa-liu-dad-arthur/
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3. https://www.britannica.com/event/Tiananmen-Square-incident


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                                                         Alysa, Donna, Jimmy, and MacArthur Park

The first photo was taken after Alysa won her gold medal thanks to “MacArthur Park” and Donna Summer. The second is Donna in a recording studio, but she was probably singing a different tune in 1977. “MacArthur Park” came out a year later.

The week Alysa skated to “MacArthur Park,” it only had 12,000 listeners a day. It leaped to 139,000 by Sunday, just three days after her gold medal. That’s a 505% surge. Not bad for a song recorded 50 years ago!

​So how did Alysa stumble across such an old song? Her coach and choreographer picked it, and Alysa loved it right away. “MacArthur Park” took her all the way to the gold medal at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championship.
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With the Olympics looming in 2026, Alysa needed a new program. This time she chose music from Lady Gaga. But when she tried it out in two competitions, she got mixed results. Alysa decided to return to “MacArthur Park” and give the choreography a few new twists. Watching Alysa skate to music she loved in that gold-spangled costume was magic! Everyone, including the Olympic judges agreed.


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Meet Jimmy Webb, the man who wrote “MacArthur Park.” Before Alysa skated, he was nervous, then amazed to watch her give his old song new life. Afterwards Jimmy posted on Instagram how proud he was to be part of her inspiration.
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And what inspired Jimmy? The real MacArthur Park in Los Angelos! That’s where he met his girlfriend for lunch. Where they watched old men play checkers by the trees. 

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When they broke up, Jimmy poured his anguish into a song. And into a cake that he never made, let alone left out in the rain. His song is definitely quirky. That’s probably what inspired Donna Summer to record it, and Alysa Liu to keep it for her 2026 gold medal performance.

                                                                          Tomorrow: What’s ahead for Alysa Liu
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​1. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/alysa-liu-s-olympic-gold-skate-sends-donna-summer-streams-soaring/ar-AA1WUBUa?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=a1263ef2288d4eed8f237a08a620e423&ei=14
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2. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/macarthur-park-writer-jimmy-webb-finds-joy-in-alysa-liu-s-viral-skate/ar-AA1XaNNB?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=fb59e1885e36403f92178d3557799296&ei=5


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​After winning the gold medal, her first big decision was to pull out of the World Championships. Alysa wanted to perform; this would be the last time she’d see some of her fellow competitors. Her last chance to say goodbye. 

But Alysa was honest with herself. With only a few weeks to train, she might not give her best performance. She’d already worked hard on the Lady Gaga program for the US Championships, but that only got her second place. That’s when Alysa and her team decided to switch back to MacArthur Park for the Olympics, and they had one month to get ready.
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After two months of constant pushing, I can see why Alysa needed a break. Time to breathe. To take opportunities that might never come again. Have you seen her at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party or the iHeartRadio Music awards? That’s where she gave Taylor Swift six awards. I’m glad Alysa’s having fun. At age 20, she deserves it!


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​​ I don’t need a crystal ball to know taking care of herself will be a priority in Alysa’s future. It’s been seven years since she became the youngest US Champion. She’s learned from experience when to listen to herself. and when to listen to others.

In March Alysa took a break from skating and competition to rest up and try new things. When she returns next year, I think she’ll follow her post-retirement path. She’ll make decisions in her own interest. They won’t be perfect, but she’ll make them her way.
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1.https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/alysa-liu-withdraws-from-world-championships-shares-regrets-and-future-plans/ar-AA1YMl09?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=c894a3a2240246d8a449aab000a89bef&ei=14
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​2. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/olympics/alysa-liu-mindset-career-march-2026/

I wanted to write about it then, but I was in the middle of another post. When the Olympics ended, I found some great articles I decided to write about. Here are the two source links for this post:
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1. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/it-was-a-sensational-olympics-for-the-us-by-nearly-every-measure-but-one-stood-out/ar-AA1WSZgX?ocid=winp2f
2. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/the-seven-best-team-usa-moments-of-the-winter-olympics-ranked/ar-AA1WS1HS?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=eb6c992

Part 1: The Seven Best Moments (Source #2), Plus My Comments
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#7. How the US Women’s Hockey Team Won Gold

The first line from the article said it wasn’t a surprise. I disagree. The US won the first six games by wide margins. They even beat Canada 5-0 in an earlier match. Canada has won 5 of the last 7 gold medal matches; the US, only 2. So after losing, I knew Canada would be out for blood, and gold.

They were! With 2 minutes left, Canada led, 1-0. That’s when Hilary Knight scored the tying goal. I missed the game but watched the overtime. That’s when Megan Keller scored the gold medal winning goal. It was an incredible moment…watching the thrill of victory for the Americans, and the agony of defeat for the Canadians.


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On the 2nd day of the Games, Jesse fell during the skiathlon and bruised her lower ribs. She pulled herself up, pushed through the pain, and still finished 8th in the event.

Despite rib pain and trouble breathing, Jesse kept skiing. She refused to listen to the doctors. They said it could get worse. even cause long-term problems, but this was her last Olympics. Jesse competed in multiple events, including the individual sprints. This time she only made it to the quarterfinals.
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In her last race, Jesse took on the women’s 10 km freestyle. That’s about 6-1/4 miles. Imagine skiing each one struggling to breathe, with aching ribs, but Jesse pushed to the finish. Then like everyone else, she collapsed, exhausted.  Jessie fought the pain, earning herself 3rd place and the bronze medal.  

 
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                                 #5. On His Last Olympic Run,  Alex Ferreira Wins His First Gold Medal
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This is Alex’s fourth Olympics. He’s already won bronze and silver, but Milan was his last chance to win gold in the halfpipe. He sat in fifth place after two runs. With one last try, he’d be lucky to medal. Winning gold—seemed out of reach.

Then Alex laid down his best run ever…GOLD! How?
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He repeated the words he always says before take-off. “I am greatness, and this is my moment. I can feel it in my bone marrow.” This time Alex must have thrown his heart, his body, and his soul into that jump. It worked!

                                               #4. Elana Meyers Taylor Wins Gold—For Her Deaf Toddler Boys
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At 41, Elana was entering her fifth Olympics in bobsled. She’s won five medals, but never gold. This time she did, by .04 or 4/100 of a second. That’s fast!

How fast?! I tried starting my stopwatch and stopping it right away. The best I could do was .4 or 4/10 of a second. Too slow! At that rate I wouldn’t have medaled or been in the top ten. Try it! See how you do!

Not only did Elana take home the gold, she’s now the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history. Impressive, but that’s not what really matters to her.
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Elana said, “Parenting my two sons with disabilities has done everything for me.” Winning medals doesn’t matter—being a mom does. The best part of winning, hugging and celebrating her golden moment with them, in real time.  


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​Have you ever fallen in front of the WHOLE world? Me, thankfully no. Corrinne Stoddard has…. a staggering 4 times during the Milan Olympics.

After choking and falling so many times, Corrine wrote on Instagram how embarrassed she felt about handling her own expectations. NBC sports announcer Ted Robinson said anyone who’s raced short track has lived through falls, and what’s even worse—fear of them.

Redemption came in her last race, the 1500 meter. Corinne not only stayed on her feet—she won bronze. Long before the Milan games, Corrine talked about her struggle with anxiety and insomnia. I’m so glad she had that last race, beat her fears, and medaled.
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                                                                                 Tomorrow: the top two events
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                                                                                                                      #2. Alysa Liu Skates the Program of Her Life 
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Imagine taking two years off because you burned out from skating; then coming back and winning the gold medal! That’s exactly what Alysa Liu did. It’s an impossible dream, but she made it look easy!

Alysa is as unique as her hair. It’s fun, and that’s what she was missing. At age 13 she became the youngest World Champion skater ever, and 7 years later she quit. She couldn’t take the rigid structure— having a coach dictate her life. Teens hate that.
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Alysa lost sight of why she started skating. I’m glad she found her way back again and skated for herself, and for us too! Her performance, pure joy!

#1. How the US Men’s Hockey Team Won Gold
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The men haven’t been dominant like the women’s team. They haven’t won gold since the Miracle on Ice game in 1980. I watched, and so did everyone in the country. It was a HUGE moment, American college kids beating the practically professional Soviet team.
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The 2026 game was on the last day of the Olympics, on the anniversary of the Miracle. I missed everything but overtime. Both teams, Canadian and American, skated like their national pride depended on it. Play was fast and furious!

I didn’t see Jack Hughes shoot the winning goal, or lose two teeth, but I saw the response. Every American player threw their stick up in joy. Then they all crashed into a Plexiglas wall. Thank goodness it stayed up! Then the camera turned toward the Canadians who just realized their medal would be silver.

If you’d like to see images of Team USA, click the link below. There’s a photo that makes me tear up. Scan down and find two toddlers. Their father, Johnny Gaudreau, played with many on this squad, but two years ago he and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver. Johnny’s teammates didn’t forget. They hung his jersey in the Olympic locker room, and it’s in the photo alongside his toddlers. It was an incredible game for Team USA and an incredible photo for Johnny’s teammates and the Gaudreau family. 

Link https://www.si.com/winter-olympics/team-usa-gold-medal-mens-hockey-win-sports-illustrated-best-photos


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Another Source with a Different Opinion on the #1 Moment
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Source #1 said this “was a sensational Olympics for the US by nearly every measure. But one stood out.” Can you tell it wasn’t the men’s hockey team, and that it was Alysa Liu?

They said it was an indelible moment, that Alysa broke the mold of what an ‘ice princess’ should be when she showed no sign of fear. She floated across the ice to “MacArthur Park”, looking as if every single moment was pure joy.
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Alysa proved that sports don’t have to be stressful or serious. MacArthur Park is a little silly but lots of fun. Like Alysa. I don’t know how she handled the pressure, but she inspired everyone with her skating. And by the choices she made to get here. To this Olympics and her first gold medal.