Today’s edition is brought to you by us! - The newsletter that gives you great resources for free. Spread the news!

Bad news: my car broke down, so I can’t make it to work until I get it fixed. 😕 The reason it’s unfortunate is that I miss my job, especially working with my students. They do get annoyed when we work on their homework, but when we play games, I see their faces light up—those are the moments I truly enjoy. Honestly, we could play games all day, even though they keep beating me. I let them win, though. 😎

While I'm waiting for the mechanic to finish, I'm wondering how their homework is going and how school is treating them. It also crossed my mind: how would they do if I weren't there as their tutor? Both of my students are in foster care, so I'm the supplemental help with homework and anything they're having a hard time with regarding their education. It breaks my heart to see the day-to-day effects of not having parents. However, you all have the blessing to see your kids every day, and your kids get to see you every day. Friendly reminder: give them a hug today.

While we're on the topic of showing affection and embracing your child, have you considered the impact of prioritizing time to be with them? Have you also contemplated the depth of your relationship with your parents? Some of us share a close bond with our parents, while others have been separated from them for years. When we take a deeper look, we can trace the obvious steps that have led us to the relationships we have with our parents in our lives.

It's funny that we can see that now, yet we're unaware of the obvious steps that will shape our future relationship with our kids. I can't lay out these steps clearly, but there are signs to watch for, allowing you to perceive the paths ahead and make informed choices. The only step I know that comes next is the daily ad below 😅 It's that time again.

With that step out of the way, think about something from your childhood that you found hard to forgive your parents for. I bet if you were to bring it up to your parent now, they might react strongly, saying, 'How dare you call me a bad parent!' and overreact. On the flip side, they might not recall it because they were caught up in life. Work took priority, leaving them tired, or maybe they struggled with emotional control, making the situation unpredictable.

There are numerous voices that go unheard, feelings that have been hurt, and overlooked emotions, and I know you've experienced similar things. We all have. However, what sets us apart is our ability to take a moment and acknowledge what steps we can take next. Despite having work, we don't have to let it dominate us. Even when fatigue sets in, we don't have to shut down and neglect our kids' needs.

I understand it's easy to claim, 'I'm a perfect parent and I fulfill all my child's needs,' but I challenge you to ask your child when they last felt like you weren't there for them. Some of your children might not be able to express it yet, but consider how many times our own parents might have overlooked us. If they did it, there's a high chance we might be doing the same.

*Please give a gentle round of applause too…*