In the busy rhythm of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the small moments that create deep connections with our children. Between school drop-offs, work deadlines, and the never-ending to-do list, many parents find themselves moving from one task to another without pausing to truly engage with their child. Yet, it is in these ordinary moments that the foundation for connection is built. By incorporating simple rituals and routines into our daily lives, we create security, predictability, and joy—essential ingredients for strong parent-child relationships.
The Power of Rituals & Routines
Children thrive on predictability. When they know what to expect, they feel safe and secure. Routines provide structure to their day, helping them transition smoothly from one activity to the next. But beyond just being practical, routines infused with rituals become powerful touchpoints of connection.
A routine is something we do regularly—a morning checklist, a bedtime process, a mealtime structure. A ritual, however, adds meaning and emotion to that routine. It’s the small, repeated actions that say, I see you. I hear you. We are in this together.
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Q. My 13-year-old is constantly complaining about things at school. She complains about who is getting away with what, that the teacher is targeting and being mean to her, and that another long-time friend is talking behind her back. She had me ready to barge into school and take down the teachers, administration, and the mean group of girls. Then I checked in with a friend whose son is in the same class and she had a different perspective from a different point of view (her son’s) which made me reevaluate everything that my daughter was telling me. My question is how do you deal with your child’s drama without getting sucked in? 
As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us reflect on the past and set resolutions for the months ahead. While goals like exercising more or saving money are common, the start of a new year is also the perfect time to focus on family relationships, especially the ones with your children.
An Article on Gratitude by Shannon McNamara, Associate Director
Nothing is more important for your children than your own well-being. 
Q. As I navigate my way through the influence of technology my fears are around knowing that I have a certain amount of control right now while my kids are 5 and 7, but what about later? I’ve taken the “Wait Until 8th” pledge, committing to not giving my kids phones until at least 8th grade. And even then, I would lean toward “dumb” phones. But perhaps what scares me most is how being on social media will affect them when they reach that stage. It’s something I never had to experience myself. The bullying, anxiety, eating disorders, and everything else that stems from the weight of that world frightens me. And what I hear from others and read in 
As far as I can tell, most parents want to raise successful children to reach launch-age fully capable of conducting their lives with responsibility and respect. When they leave the safety of their nests feeling self-confident, competent, resilient, and have the drive to contribute positively to the world, they are ready to greet whatever comes at them. We want our children to go out into the world capable of finding success yet able to weather the bumps and storms with a strong sense of self. But, what are the secrets that make children successful?
Your goal for your children is to raise strong, self-confident, resilient, independent humans who contribute to society, right? This doesn’t just happen somewhere in the teen years. It starts from setting family values that begin with 
A. The Foundation: You, the parent. 
“My child is so ungrateful.”