Adventures in Parenting

I bet that for most of us, if not all, our family is what will mean the most to us at our death bed. We would say, “Oh, I wish I had told them how much they mean to me.”

Have no regrets!

Our task today on Day 16 of our 30 Days to Better Parenting Challenge is to put those sentiments on paper. First, gather your family together. Give each one a piece of paper and a pencil. Write your own name on the top of the paper. Now everyone pass his paper to the person on his left. When you get the paper, write down what you appreciate about the person whose name is on the top of the paper. If your children are too young to write, they can draw a paper expressing what they appreciate.

After everyone is done with the first round, pass the paper in your hand to the person on your left. Now you have another person’s name on the top of the paper. Do the same thing by writing or drawing an expression of your appreciation.

Continue with this process until you get your own paper back. Now each person take a turn and read the content of the paper aloud.

Even if there is just 2 or 3 of you in your family, it is important to go through this exercise because sometimes we are a little shy about expressing our love to the ones closest to us. Sometimes we take it for granted that they know your devotion to them. Sometimes we just don’t make the time to verbalize our feelings.

This activity today gives us the opportunity tell the people who mean the most to us how much they are valued.

I guarantee you that you will reread that paper several times, and it will warm your heart every time you read it.