I always love the "firsts" of a new school year.
The first day of class.
The first major assignment.
The first home football game under the Friday night lights.
The first college application. And therefore the first college recommendation I get to write.
And the first blog post.
As we begin the new year, I want to remind you as parents of what we all deep down want to keep and preserve as first in our lives.
If life is moments, then these dots represent moments of influence.
Moments where you (the parent) have the opportunity to positively impact the life of your child.
Or negatively impact them.
One of the things I most appreciated about my parents is how they intentionally carved out time with each of the four of us kids to "make a moment".
Dad and I, for example, would do lunch together, just the two of us, once a month through the high school years.
We had a favorite Chinese restaurant just across the street from the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs.
Over cashew chicken, we would talk honestly and openly about the present and future.
Somehow dad was able to keep first things first.
I challenge you as we start the new year to carve out moments of influence with your son or daughter..
Make time just to be with your child.
To nurture what will last long after high school and the college search are over.
I am sure glad both my parents did that with me.
