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Catoctin Kids

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by Anita DiGregory

2018: Renewing, Reflecting, Resolving

It’s January, the start of a brand new year, full of exciting possibilities and new adventures. The beginning of 2018 promises a clean slate, a fresh start. Logically, it seems like the perfect time to reflect, make some changes, and set some new goals.

As it turns out, making New Year’s resolutions is not a new idea. In fact, people have been doing it for more than 4,000 years. The ancient Babylonians and the Romans made promises to their gods to amend their ways in the new year. The knights of the Middle Ages took vows to recommit themselves to their Code of Chivalry.  Throughout history, people of different faiths used this time to reflect, repent, and make resolutions.

Most recently a New Year’s resolution statistics research study conducted by Statistic Brain Research Institute (January 1, 2017) found that approximately 41 percent of Americans usually make New Year’s resolutions. Although this time of the year lends itself to personal reflection, it is also the perfect time for family members to work together to discuss and set important resolutions.

According to child psychotherapist and parenting educator Katie Hurley, LCSW, “Teaching kids to establish and work toward goals has many benefits.” These include establishing a sense of responsibility; mastering time management; and gaining self-confidence, resilience, and perseverance. The author of The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World, Hurley advises parents to assist their children in setting and attaining goals, rather than choosing goals for them or pushing them too hard.

Although Statistic Brain found that only 9.2 percent of those studied felt they had successfully achieved their resolution, working together as a family actually may help with accountability and overall success. It also has the added benefits of facilitating family time and increasing family communication. However, it is important for parents to model positive behavior by demonstrating their own commitment to working hard to reach their set goals.

While Hurley recommends setting realistic goals, she also suggests the resolutions should be just out of reach. She adds that by working to reach these goals, children are enabled, “to push themselves to meet a new challenge.” She also suggests helping them set a specific goal, rather than a general one. Additional research shows that setting resolutions tied to personal core values makes us more likely to achieve our goals. Therefore, our resolutions should reflect these key personal values. For example, a person who believes faith is vital will work harder to attain the resolution of spending more time in daily prayer. Additionally, choosing one specific resolution is more doable than trying to focus on several different goals.

Once a specific resolution is set, it should then be broken down into smaller, more manageable steps. This process of setting these attainable checkpoints along the way increases self-confidence and assists in the overall successful achievement of the goal. Once these smaller steps are established, a plan can be constructed and written down. Parents and children alike will benefit from planning and writing out the goal and the smaller checkpoints along the way. Journaling can be a helpful tool along this journey. Developing a concrete plan increases the likelihood of success. In fact, according to Statistic Brain, “people who explicitly make resolutions are ten times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t.”

Families who work together on personal and group resolutions will undoubtedly see many benefits. According to Hurley, “When families make goal-setting a family effort, they learn to support each other. This fosters a family environment based on cooperation instead of one grounded in competition. It also reinforces the fact that although all people are individuals with their own unique interests, we can all work together and provide support and help when needed.”

Whatever your resolution, try to: reflect on and encourage each other in times of disappointment, celebrate successes together, spend less time on social media and technology and more time together, don’t compare your life to those represented in other’s Facebook or Instagram posts, eat and pray together, smile more, hug tighter, say “I love you” more often because this year will be gone in the blink of an eye, and remember that this parenting thing is crazy hard so don’t be too hard on yourself. Do what you can and put it in God’s hands. You got this, Momma! Have a wonderful and blessed 2018.

Catoctin Kids

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by Anita DiGregory

Memory-Making Moments

Last month, when we visited together, we talked about fostering an attitude of gratitude in our little ones.  This transitions beautifully into the mystical season of Christmas. But if your home is anything like mine, this season can get more than just a bit stressful. As lovely and magical as this time of the year is, it is always a challenge to get everything done in time: the cleaning, the baking, the purchasing, the decorating, the mailing, the visiting…just thinking about it all makes me think about hibernating for the winter. But before I go all “Bah…humbug,” I am trying something different this year, a new twist on an old family tradition. This year, we will be filling our Advent Calendar with opportunities for memory-making moments rather than candy and little trinkets. It is my hope that by focusing on Faith and family, we will slow down and center on the true reason for the season. Here are a few ideas for fun family time, along with a couple of memorable quotes from some of my family’s favorite Christmas characters.

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” —Buddy, Elf.

Invite friends over and go Christmas Caroling. Visit the local hospital or nursing home and go caroling there. Have a Christmas carols karaoke night.

“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives.” —Clarence, It’s A Wonderful Life. 

Make Christmas cards for family members and friends. Mail cards to Veterans. Hand-deliver thank you cards to community helpers, coaches, and teachers. Host a Christmas Movie Night and invite some friends over for hot cocoa and snacks.

“But what would happen if we all tried to be like Santa and learned to give as only he can give: of ourselves, our talents, our love and our hearts? Maybe we could all learn Santa’s beautiful lesson and maybe there would finally be peace on Earth and good will toward men.” —Narrator, Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Donate gently used toys to a shelter or church thrift shop. As a family, buy some gifts to donate to families in need. Dress up like elves and deliver handmade cards or gifts to children at your local hospital.

“Eat, Papa, eat!” —Mrs. Claus, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

Spread out all the cookbooks and pick favorite cookie recipes. Bake Christmas cookies together. Deliver some home-baked cookies to elderly neighbors. Build a gingerbread house. Make ice-cream sundaes.

“Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.” —Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th Street.

Cut out snowflakes and decorate a room with them. String popcorn and cranberry garland. Make paper chain garland. Make some handmade ornaments. Visit a miniature train display. Attend a holiday play or event.

“At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”  —Hero Boy, The Polar Express.

Visit a local tree farm and cut down your own Christmas tree.  Decorate the tree while listening to Christmas carols. Decorate the outside of your home together.  Help the kids decorate their rooms.  Drive around together looking at the lights and decorations. Attend a Christmas Light display.

“You see, children hold the spirit of Christmas within their hearts.” —Bernard, The Santa Clause.

Hold a Christmas movie night with hot cocoa, popcorn, and yummy snacks. Have a Christmas picnic by the tree. Make a bonfire and enjoy s’mores. Have a Christmas sleepover by the tree.

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” —Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Attend a live nativity. Put up the nativity set but wait until Christmas to add baby Jesus. Read The Christmas Story and act it out.  Hold a birthday party for baby Jesus and bake a cake. Make an Advent wreath and light the candles each night at dinner.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” —Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol.

Catoctin KIDs

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by Anita DiGregory

Thanks & Giving

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us.  I love Thanksgiving—the faith-based tradition, the family-time, the fun, the food, and the feasting.  Quietly nestled between the sugar overload of Halloween and the incessant over-commercialization of Christmas (I honestly think some retailers had Christmas decorations displayed in September this year!), Thanksgiving has remained a humble holiday, steeped in tradition and rich in meaning. Even in a time when patriotism has somehow become controversial, Thanksgiving continues to bring people together and unite them around tables across the country. Although the holiday only happens once a year, teaching, modeling, and reinforcing the ideas of “thanks” and “giving,” has scientifically been proven to help both adults and children to be happier and healthier.

Dr. Robert Emmons from the University of California has conducted numerous scientific studies on gratitude. The findings reported from experiencing and demonstrating gratitude included many psychological, physical, and social benefits. Researchers found that gratitude resulted in feelings of alertness and wakefulness and higher levels of joy, pleasure, optimism, and other positive emotions. Benefits also included improved immune systems and blood pressure and decreased aches and pains. Grateful individuals were more apt to exercise, practice healthy living, and experience healthier sleep patterns.  Thankful participants were less lonely, demonstrated better social interactions, and displayed more signs of being forgiving, outgoing, helpful, compassionate, and generous.

Instilling a strong sense of gratitude in our children is a necessary and powerful tool in equipping them to become happy, healthy adults. According to Halloween author Christine Carter, Ph.D., grateful children may grow into happier grown-ups. Carter, director of the Greater Good Parents program at the University of California at Berkeley, states, “Pioneering social scientists think that 40 percent of our happiness comes from intentional, chosen activities throughout the day. Thankfulness is not a fixed trait. It’s a skill that can be cultivated, like kicking a soccer ball or speaking French.” Therefore, consistently teaching and encouraging our children to be grateful is vital. Here are some ideas for helping children to grow in gratitude.

 

Lead by Example. Children are great imitators, and little eyes are always watching. As parents, we can send a powerful message to our children by modeling grateful behavior. By taking the time and effort to say thank you and being openly and enthusiastically thankful to others for opening a door, making a meal, or helping out, we demonstrate gratitude.

 

Put it in Writing.  Help your child write a thank you note to someone who has helped them, perhaps a teacher, coach, bus driver, or school crossing guard. Help them hand deliver their special note.

 

Make it Fun. Children learn more when their lessons are real and entertaining. Try doing an ongoing gratitude activity. Last year, during the month of November, I constructed a gratitude tree with my two youngest children. We designed the trunk out of construction paper and taped it to a prominent wall in our home. Each day, they wrote on colored, construction paper leaves one thing for which they were thankful. By Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful, colorful display of their gratitude for all to enjoy.

 

Make Gratitude a Habit. Help your children to be thankful each day. Help them design a gratitude journal, where they can draw or write about what they are thankful for that day. Incorporate giving thanks into nighttime prayers, when each child can think back on the day and list those things for which he or she is grateful.

 

Thankfulness goes hand-in-hand with giving. Thanksgiving.  By teaching our children to give of themselves—to give their time, talent, and treasure, one small act at a time—we empower them to make a difference in a world that could use a lot of work. With small acts of kindness, we can change not only ourselves for the better, but the world as well. Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”  There is no better place or time then right here and right now to make a difference.

According to studies, kindness is actually contagious. David R. Hamilton, PhD., author of The Five Side Effects of Kindness, states, “When we’re kind, we inspire others to be kind, and studies show that it actually creates a ripple effect that spreads outwards to our friends’ friends’ friends—to 3-degrees of separation. Just as a pebble creates waves when it is dropped in a pond, so acts of kindness ripple outwards, touching others’ lives and inspiring kindness everywhere the wave goes.”

Additionally, scientific studies suggest that being kind is actually highly beneficial for us. A study conducted at Emory University found that when a person is kind to another, the giver’s pleasure and reward center of the brain is stimulated to that of the receiver.  This increase in pleasure is known as the “helper’s high.” Other studies have found that acts of kindness increase energy, happiness, lifespan, and serotonin, and also decrease pain, stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and depression in the giver.

Here are some things we can do with our children that may help nurture a spirit of kindness in them:  model kindness; smile; spend time with an elderly relative or neighbor; donate gently used toys, books, or clothes; visit a nursing home; help a friend in need.

According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD., author of The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, But Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t Make You Happy, But Does, states that almost any type of act of kindness will boost happiness in the giver. Quoting one of her study’s findings, she adds, “when 9 to 11-year old kids were asked to do acts of kindness for several weeks, not only did they get happier over time, but they became more popular with their peers.”

As parents, we are greatly helping our children, ourselves, and the world by instilling in them a sense of gratitude and a genuine desire to be kind to others…true thanksgiving.

Catoctin Kids

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A New Chapter

by Anita DiGregory

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning here in the area I am blessed to call home. The sun is shining. The sound of my children playing in the distance is ringing in the air. But instead of enjoying the day out with the family, I am sitting at the kitchen table, head down, suffering major writer’s block. My column for October is due, and I can’t seem to make it happen.

I love October. The weather, the colors, the boots, the sweaters—I love it all. But now as I sit here in a heap, I can’t find the words. I want to make it easy; I could use something easy, something simple. A nice simple topic, totally opposite from the whirlwind my life has been lately; something completely opposite from all the doctor’s visits, the high school dramas, the broken hearts, the never-ending to-do lists, the constant running, the juggling of all the balls in the air. Easy, that’s what I need. Hmm…what is October the month of? I do a quick internet search. No, that won’t do. What is wrong with me? October.

I look up, glance at the fridge and think about how it’s a perfect metaphor for my life: it’s an organized mess. The bills, the deadlines, the work schedules, the have to do’s, all stuck up there amongst the beautiful prayers, crayon pictures created with care by sweet, little hands, the wise messages telling me to keep calm, and the family pictures…all the family photos. And then the tears fall. In October, things will change, again.  As I glance at the counters, I spot them: all the messy reminders, the rehearsal dinner venue brochures, the caterer cards, the bridal shower decorations…yup, October is coming fast.

And now with all the proverbial floodgates open, all I can think about is my little one, my baby who somehow grew up overnight. How did that happen? I know all the experienced moms out there told me:  “Don’t blink. Don’t miss a minute.  They’ll be all grown up before you know it.” And, of course, they were right; I knew they were right all along. I tried to heed the wise advice.  Like special dried flowers pressed into old scrapbooks, I tried over the years to press into my memory all the special moments: all the firsts, the little fingers wrapped around my finger, the walks on the beach, the arms wrapped around my neck in sweet embrace. I honestly think the feeling of having sweet little arms wrapped around you has to be one of the greatest feelings on Earth, like a tiny glimpse of what Heaven must feel like.

Then, with a blink of a tear, my memory transports me back to the new mommy class I attended nearly twenty-four years ago, when I was a brand new momma, sitting there with my brand new little one in a room full of new moms and babies.  In an attempt to conduct an (always awkward) ice-breaker, the instructor asked each member of this sleep-deprived, hormonal, anxious crowd to identify the one thing we found to be the most surprising about being a mother for the first time. I remember my answer. There was not much I was sure of back then. I was nervous, felt like I had no idea what I was doing, and was absolutely terrified of the day my husband’s time off would run out; he would return to work, and I would be all alone in the house with this new bundle of joy. But I was sure of my answer to her question. As a brand new mom, I was most surprised by how deeply and completely I felt joy and love: the joy of experiencing being mom each new moment to this beautiful baby and the unbounded, unconditional love for this child and my new little family.

Fast forward to today and not too much has changed. My family has grown by leaps and bounds, and will be blessed with yet another sweet, beautiful family member in October, when my son joins his life to his new bride. And although every single day is a crazy ride on this roller coaster of life, I am blessed by every single crazy moment, ups and downs. Half of the time (probably more than half), I still feel like I have no idea what I am doing. But the truth is, this mom thing is crazy hard, and it’s okay not to have the answers all the time. Honestly, the more I realize how little control I have, the more I realize Who does have control, and the more time I spend in prayer, and that’s a pretty great place to be. I am still in awe at being mom to some of the beautiful blessings in my life, and being able to experience every new day, challenge, failure, mistake, and success with them.    And although it is hardly ever easy and always messy, there is nowhere else on earth I would rather be.

So, come October, I will joyfully watch my son as he joins hands with his bride, exchanges vows, and they begin a new life together. And even though he may be grown and quite a bit taller than me now, this mom will undoubtedly turn into a puddle of tears when he wraps his arms around me, says goodbye, and begins a new chapter. October.

Catoctin KIDs

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by Anita DiGregory

New (School) Year’s Resolutions

As we prepare to say goodbye to the long, carefree days of summer, you, too, may be channeling the wise Obi-Wan Kenobi and feeling, “…a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of (students’) voices suddenly cried out in terror (at the thought of beginning a new school year).” And, although my children would be among those crying out, as a mom, I must admit I am not too keen on trading in those lazy, hazy, crazy days of the summer for the over-scheduled, hectic pace of another school year.

Each year at this time, I find myself repeating the same internal mantra, “This year I’ll do it better.  This year I’ll be more organized.  This year I won’t overcommit.”

But as we slide into fall and the hint of winter is in the air, inevitably, I am knee-deep in school work, homework, work-work, practices, games, and a myriad of other activities that fall under mom duties. It is at this time, with all the proverbial balls up in the air, that I have to remind myself to breathe.

With this in mind, I offer myself, and all of the other parents out there who need to remind themselves to exhale, a list of new (school) year’s resolutions. In honor of this new school year, each resolution is backed up by treasured characters from favorite children’s books. I wish all of you a blessed and wonderful new school year, filled with fun adventures, love, and beautiful memories. And may the Force be with you!

 

Have faith in yourself…you’ve got this.

There is no arguing that this mom-thing is super hard sometimes. Oprah Winfrey said of motherhood, “I always say moms have the toughest job in the world if you’re doing it right.” President Obama stated, “There’s no tougher job than being a mom.” Renowned author C.S. Lewis referenced a housewife’s work as “surely, in reality, the most important work in the world.” Although this all sounds very reassuring, the weight of the responsibilities of raising little human beings can be quite daunting, if not crushing, at times.  In one of my favorite movies, Mom’s Night Out, Trace Adkins’ character delivers a moving speech to a mom who worries she isn’t enough. “It’s beautiful to watch one of God’s creations just doing what it was made to do. Ya’ll (moms) spend so much time beating yourselves up. I doubt the good Lord made a mistake giving your kiddos the mom He did.”

“Puff, puff, chug, chug, went the Little Blue Engine. ‘I think I can—I think I can—I think I can—I think I can—I think I can…I think I can.’ Up, up, up. Faster and faster and faster and faster the little engine climbed, until at last they reached the top of the mountain.” (The Little Engine That Could, Watty Piper).

 

Take the time to smell the roses. 

When faced with looming deadlines, never-ending to-do lists and bombarded with media and images of hate, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. It is important to take time for yourself to refuel and re-energize. Take time to do things that help restore you: pray, exercise, bake, write, etc.

“So they had to take Ferdinand home. And for all I know he is sitting there still, under his favorite cork tree, smelling the flowers just quietly.  He is very happy.” (The Story of Ferdinand, Munro Leaf).

 

Take time to enjoy just being together.

To date, no one has successfully found a rewind or pause button for life. Ever since I was a newbie mom, family members, friends, and strangers alike would caution me to treasure every moment with my little ones, because time flies by in the blink of an eye. And they were right.  It is important to take time from our busy lives just to be together.

“But what I like doing best is Nothing,” said Christopher Robin.

‘How do you do Nothing?’ asked Pooh, after he has wondered for a long time.

‘Well, it’s when people call out at you just as you’re going off to do it, What are you going to do, Christopher Robin, and you say, Oh, nothing, and then you go and do it.’” (The House At Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne).

 

Take care of yourself; get enough sleep; and remember, tomorrow is a new day.

In spite of all your hard work and dedication, some days are just really bad days. Our efforts, love, and determination make us who we are; we are not the sum of our successes and failures. After all, we often learn more from our failures than we ever could from our successes.  Tomorrow is another day full of new opportunities and possibilities.

“It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that.” (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst).

 

Model empathy, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. 

One resounding fact about motherhood is that little eyes are always watching. Our children learn behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs from watching us. In today’s world, it is even more important to extend these works of mercy and model these behaviors to our children.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” (Aesop’s Fables, Aesop).

 

Love with all your heart every day.

Smile. Tell the people you love that you love them. At the end of the day, even if it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, if children know they are loved, everything else seems surmountable.

“Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night. Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, ‘I love you right up to the moon – and back.’” (Guess How Much I Love You, Sam McBratney).

Catoctin Kids

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by Anita DiGregory

Summer Family Fun

Well, summer is finally upon us.  If your kids are anything like mine, they may already be climbing the walls (literally), looking for things to do with their newly acquired free time. Although many kids look forward to summer break all year, parents may feel the added stress of becoming a quasi-activities director in order to keep their kids from overloading on video games, screen time, and too much TV.  Fortunately, our area offers many affordable activities for kids and families. Here are just a few fun festivities offered locally.

 

Participate in a summer reading program. Just because it is summer, doesn’t mean learning needs to stop. Fun, educational, and often free, these programs generally offer an assortment of prizes to entice young readers to challenge themselves. The Frederick County Library System offers parents the opportunity to sign up their children at the library or online (http://www.fcpl.org/programs-events/summer-reading) and then earn points for reading and completing different activities (http://bluetoad.com/publication/?i=383331#{“issue_id”:”409260”,”view”:”articleBrowser”,”article_id”:”2787840”}). Barnes & Noble also offers a program (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading-for-kids/_/N-2mir), in which children can download a reading journal, read eight books, and return the completed journal to receive one of the free redeemable books listed on the back of the form.

 

Attend a storytime. Help transport your children to another place and time by fostering their imagination and encouraging them to read. The Frederick County Library System offers different options for storytime, crafts, and activities at their local branches (http://fcpl.evanced.info/signup/calendar). Barnes & Noble hosts storytime with stories, activities, and crafts on Wednesdays and Saturdays (http://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2257). Dancing Bear in downtown Frederick also has storytime for little ones (http://dbeartoys.com/events).

 

Attend a workshop. Several stores in the community offer fun kid workshops. Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/workshops/#change_store) offers a hands-on class once a month for children and parents to build fun projects together. Joann Fabrics (http://www.joann.com/classes/), A.C. Moore (http://www.acmoore.com/specialpromo?spid=326), and Michael’s (http://www.michaels.com/classes-and-events/classesandevents) also offer classes for kids.

 

Shoot for the stars. The Earth and Space Science Lab (ESSL)provides a truly unique experience. A part of the community since 1962, the ESSL promotes all four earth sciences with a planetarium, observatory, arboretum, and critter cove (https://education.fcps.org/ESSL/content/essl-events-201617).

 

Get creative. The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center hosts free workshops for kids (http://delaplaine.org/classes-workshops/free-workshops-for-kids/).

 

Go bowling. Children registered in the kids bowl free program can receive two free games a day for the entire summer. Check the website for details (https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/).

 

Check out some of the offerings around town. Frederick County Parks and Recreation offers several classes and special day activities for kids (http://www.recreater.com/).  Fun-filled family events are hosted year-round in Frederick (http://www.celebratefrederick.com/).

Catoctin Kids

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by Anita DiGregory

In Honor of Fathers

On June 18, America will celebrate Father’s Day, a day devoted to our dedicated dads.  Although widely celebrated today, surprisingly, Father’s Day was not always embraced by society. In fact, it did not receive its designation as an official holiday until the early 20th century, when it was established as a complement to Mother’s Day.

According to History.com, the first organized day of recognition for fathers was celebrated in the state of Washington on June 19, 1910, when Sonora Smart Dodd, a Spokane woman, went to local community leaders in an attempt to establish a day of celebration for fathers in honor of her father, a single parent of six. However, it took sixty-two years for it to become an official holiday, and even then faced some controversy. President Woodrow Wilson had already approved in 1914 a resolution to establish Mother’s Day. This day, set in honor of “that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America,” was enthusiastically embraced, having already been celebrated in forty-five states since 1909.

After Dodd’s 1910 celebration, the idea of Father’s Day slowly increased in popularity, despite thoughts that some dads lacked the sentimentality or interest in a day of honor for them.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge advised local governments to institute this day of honor for dads.

During the Great Depression, U.S. retailers struggling to make ends meet launched campaigns in support of Father’s Day and promoted the necessary card and gift purchases to go along with it. With World War II, Father’s Day took on another meaning, becoming synonymous not just with the support of our fathers, but also with the American soldier, many of whom were honored dads. Finally, in 1972, Father’s Day became a national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed the federal proclamation.

In honor of Father’s Day, I would like to give a shout-out to all dads out there. Your role as father is sacred, special, and super important.  It is not easy and certainly not glamorous, but it is monumental; in choosing to get up each day and face your struggles and be there and provide, you shape lives. Your silent sacrifices, devotion to your family, and commitment to being the man you are called to be, is what shapes communities and motivates today’s youth to be equally as inspiring.

So, in honor of my dad (a perpetual list maker), my husband (an amazing and inspiring father and also a list maker) and all dads out there, I have included some Happy Father’s Day Lists, featuring quotes, favorite Dad movies, and things you can do in honor of Father’s Day.

Fun and Inspiring Quotes about Dads

“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”  —Billy Graham

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.”  —Ephesians 6:4

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”  —Mark Twain

“By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.”  —Charles Wadsworth

“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.”  —Sigmund Freud

“Having children is like living in a frat house—nobody sleeps, everything’s broken, and there’s a lot of throwing up.”  —Ray Romano

“When I hear people talk about juggling, or the sacrifices they make for their children, I look at them like they’re crazy, because ‘sacrifice’ infers that there was something better to do than being with your children.”  —Chris Rock

 “Fatherhood is not a matter of station or wealth. It is a matter of desire, diligence and determination to see one’s family exalted in the celestial kingdom. If that prize is lost, nothing else really matters.”  —Ezra Taft Benson

“It’s like you have a child and you think, ‘Everything that I’ve done up until this point is insignificant in comparison to being a father.’ It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing.”  —Vin Diesel

“Every night before I get my one hour of sleep, I have the same thought: ‘Well, that’s a wrap on another day of acting like I know what I’m doing.’ I wish I were exaggerating, but I’m not. Most of the time, I feel entirely unqualified to be a parent. I call these times being awake.”  —Jim Gaffigan

 

Favorite Movies About Dads

Here are some great movies to watch with Dad: Father of the Bride; Three Men and A Baby; The Goofy Movie; Hotel Transylvania; Meet the Robinsons; Finding Nemo; Mrs. Doubtfire; RV; We Bought a Zoo; and Dan in Real Life.

 

Things You Can Do for Dad in Honor of Father’s Day

Clean the car inside and out (yes, that includes getting all of the old French fries and Cheerios out from under the seats), do the yardwork, clean out the garage, clean out the clutter and have a yard sale, surrender the remote, serve him breakfast in bed, go to church with him, take him fishing, go hiking together, plan a family day trip or getaway, work on a household project together, run a 5K with him, go biking, or attend a sporting event together. Listen to him and have fun together. But above all, spend time with him!

Catoctin Kids

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by Anita DiGregory

Conquering Spring Fever

With spring break over, and the end of the school year in sight, this time of year can be especially challenging. Final testing, graduation ceremonies, weekend team games, teacher gifts, and other end-of-the-year demands require added energy and motivation; however, the warmer weather and mere exhaustion from the year can lead to the exact opposite. It seems that just about the time allergy season kicks in, so does the dreaded and very overwhelming “spring fever.” Symptoms include uneasiness, sluggishness, lack of motivation, and inability to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Worst of all, spring fever seems to be very contagious, spreading from child to child, and child to parent, quite effortlessly. Since the CDC has yet to offer a vaccine for this motivation slayer, here are a few tips that may help you to reach that light at the end of the tunnel, otherwise known as summer.

 

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff 

With all the added demands of the end of the year, things can feel a bit overwhelming, while our energy tanks may be pretty close to empty. Prioritize your to-do list. Try focusing on those events that are the most important, and letting the others slide a bit for now. When you are busy running your kids to different activities and team sports games, while also trying to help them complete end-of-the-year projects and study for finals, now may not be the best time to take on other big projects like remodeling or reorganizing the house.

 

Set a Schedule 

During these last few weeks, a little planning may prove helpful.  Recording events on a large calendar, and displaying it where everyone in the family can regularly see it, can be a powerful tool for effective time management. Prioritize your schedule to include only those events most necessary to accomplish. Displaying the calendar for all to see helps to instill family teamwork.

 

Schedule Free Time

It is especially important during stressful times that families take time to just be together and have fun.  Former Director of the National Park Service and Board Co-chair of the U.S. Play Coalition Fran Mainella said, “Families that play together, stay together…so when tougher situations come up, the fact that they’ve played together makes it so they can better communicate in those situations, too.”

With the nicer weather, spring is the perfect time to get out and enjoy a family hike, picnic, or outing together.

 

Plan a Family Vacation 

By planning a summer adventure, parents and children alike have something exciting to look forward to, and that in itself can be a great motivator. According to a scientific study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, the effect of anticipating a vacation boosted happiness levels for eight weeks. With more than 1,500 individuals evaluated, the study concluded that happiness was higher in anticipation of travel than even after the trip. In fact, there was little difference found between vacationers’ and non-vacationers’ post-trip happiness. By planning the getaway together, family members can, therefore, find that extra incentive to accomplish all those not-so-fun, year-end tasks.

If all else fails, remember that you’ve almost made it! Summer is almost within reach…and look at all of the amazing things you accomplished this year!