Why Summer is So Hard for Moms

I’m going to admit something – this summer has been hard. I love my girls, and I look forward to spending time with them during summer. But summer is so hard for moms! Especially working moms. I know I’m not the only mom who feels this way – even if some of you are afraid to admit it.

Comedian Crystal Lowery wrote, “Why is summer so hard for parents? Because things have changed. When we were kids, we'd just run around town from dawn until dusk, unattended. Instead of mom slathering us with sunscreen, we burned, then peeled our damaged skin like molting snakes. Instead of sensible snacks, we'd ride our bikes to 711 to purchase fists-full of Jolly Ranchers and Atomic Fire Balls. Instead of parents entertaining us, we'd knock on our neighbor's doors and invite them out to play.”

Those days are long gone. Now, kids stay closer to home (and mom) all summer long, which makes summer exhausting.

Here are the main reasons moms struggle in the summer.

Lack of Childcare

I hate thinking of school as childcare, but the truth is I don’t have to find childcare during the school year between 8-3 because my girls go to school. For working moms, childcare during the summer is a whole thing. This is especially true when your kids are in the in-between ages – when they are too old for daycare or sitters and too young to stay home alone all day. We end up utilizing summer camps to fill the gap.

Fortunately, my girls love Chelsea Piers Summer Camp. Read all about it here!

Changes to the Routine

I am a creature of habit and so are my daughters. So, the transition from our regular school year routine to summer’s lack of routine is a challenge. Every summer, I try to create a summer routine or schedule – and it only lasts a couple of weeks before it falls apart between vacations, camps, and other outings. But when the routine disappears, the frustration begins.

Too Much Time Together

Sometimes summer provides too much time together for a family. For example, siblings are forced together for more time than usual, which results in more fighting. Being around fighting kids more often tries mom’s patience. And on and on. I love them, but I need a break. And there are far fewer breaks in the summer months.

Constant Need to Entertain

As a mom, I feel the constant pressure of society to ensure my girls are spending their time wisely and safely. So, if I allow them to binge watch TV all day, I feel guilty. If they complain they are bored, I feel like I have to find something fun and educational for them to do. And when I give up entertaining them, I have to listen to them whine and complain. It’s a lot easier to just hand them the remote or tablet.

All the Food

As my girls have gotten older, I have been amazed by how much they eat! This is especially true during the summer when they manage to eat a month’s worth of snacks in a weekend. I am constantly shopping for food and preparing food in the summer.

What makes summer hard for you? Share in the comments!

How to Prepare Kids for Real Life Emergencies

As much as we hope we’ll never have to call 9-1-1 or rush someone we love to the emergency room, it happens.

That’s why it is so important to prepare kids for real life emergencies.

A friend of mine recently shared something that happened to her that made me think about what my kids would do in a similar situation.

My friend’s daughter swallowed a large coin. My friend has an older child who was able to call their dad from their Alexa device while the mom was handling the daughter. The older child then knew to run to the neighbor’s house as the mom rushed the daughter to the nearest urgent care center.

Would my daughters know what to know in a real life emergency like the one she described?

I wanted to make sure, so I took the time to go over the following information.

Discuss Possible Real Life Emergencies

Kids need to know what qualifies as a real emergency and what doesn’t.

A lost toy doesn’t qualify as a real emergency. I reminded my girls of the story of the boy who cried wolf to emphasize the importance of only claiming something is an emergency when it truly is.

Then, we talked about real life emergencies, such as a major cut that requires stitches, when you might need an ambulance, car accidents, fires, etc.

Teach Kids When and How to Call 9-1-1

Once kids understand what qualifies as a real emergency where first responders are needed, such as mommy being hurt and unable to move, they need to know how to call 9-1-1.

While 9-1-1 is only a three-digit number, it requires more than three steps on a mobile device.

For example, you need to teach your kids how to 9-1-1 on your phone – especially if you keep your phone locked.

Teach them how to find the emergency button that allows them to override your passcode protection and then how to dial 9-1-1.

They also need to know what to say once they call 9-1-1. They’ll need to know your address, calmly explain what has happened, and listen to the operator’s instructions.

Talk About What to Do and Where to Go

In some types of emergencies, it is more appropriate to get help from someone close by.

For example, I have told my daughters to run to our neighbor next door. We have a good relationship with our neighbors and trust that they would help my daughters.

We also talked about the types of emergencies that require you to leave the home (fires and intruders).

Explain How to Reach Others

If your kids are too young for their own phones and you don’t have a shared phone in your home, how will your kids reach others in the event of an emergency (such as dad and grandparents)?

You can teach your kids how to use Alexa or Siri to call these people, write their numbers on a dry erase board, or add identifiable emojis to their names in your phone’s contacts.

Show Kids Where to Find First Aid Supplies

It is also important to show kids where you keep your first aid supplies.

We keep our first aid kit in a pantry where they can reach it. They know where it is because they tend to need a lot of Band-aids.

It also gives peace of mind knowing I could yell at them to get it if we needed something quickly, such as wound seal for a cut that will require stitches.

Model Appropriate Behavior

Finally, I am trying to remember that how I respond in an emergency will greatly affect how my children respond. If I panic, they’ll panic. If I act scared, they’ll be scared. My goal is to try to stay calm during any real life emergencies.

What advice would you add? Tell me in the comments.

My Go-To Toy Brands

As long as toymakers keep inventing toys that encourage creativity, imagination, and fun, I’m going to keep buying them!

Honestly, the day my girls pack up their toys and say goodbye, I’m going to cry some big Toy Story tears.

Part of the reason is because today’s toys are fantastic.

If you know the right brands, you can purchase toys that are well-made, high-quality, and long-lasting. Plus, they will be toys that not only entertain your kids but teach them something.

That’s likely why Capitol Counselor reports, “In 2020, the US retail sales of toys reached $25.14 billion.”

Parents are willing to spend the money when they see that toys are worthwhile.

Now that my girls are a little bit older, I have noticed that certain toy brands we return to repeatedly. For a good reason! My girls love the toys by these brands, and I don’t feel like I have wasted my money.

So, the next time you are searching for a gift for a kid, look to these go-to toy brands.

American Girl

If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know my girls are huge fans of American Girl Dolls.

These dolls are pricey, but they are worth every penny. The craftsmanship is superb, and I love my daughters having dolls that look like them!

Here is some history about American Girl: “Since the first catalogue debuted in 1986, American Girl has provided inspiring products for each stage of a young girl's development—from her preschool days of baby dolls and fantasy play through her tween years of self-expression and individuality. Through an array of premium-quality books, dolls, clothes, toys, and accessories, American Girl has earned the loyalty of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators.”

KidKraft

Imaginative play is at the heart of KidKraft products. We have owned several, including kitchens and dollhouses, and I can tell you that they are built to last (and last).

KidKraft makes it easy for kids to pretend and explore.

They say it best: “KidKraft products are sold in more than 90 countries, resulting in infinite smiles from children around the world.”

Mattel

It’s no surprise that Mattel is a go-to toy brand, bringing in 4.58 billion US dollars last year.

Mattel has been around since 1945 and makes favorites, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, and UNO.

Speaking of Barbie – did you know over 1 billion Barbie dolls have been sold since she first was introduced?

According to Mattel’s About Us, “Mattel creates toys appropriate for children at various developmental stages, designing products to match their current abilities while challenging them so they can learn and grow.”

VTech

My girls have owned several VTech toys since they were babies.

These tech-based toys are great educational products that kids are instantly drawn to.

Thankfully, my girls haven’t outgrown VTech yet. But, sadly, the day is coming since the toys are more from elementary and under.

The good news is that they are so well-made that we can pass our well-loved VTech toys down to the next generation.

What are your go-to toy brands?

My Best Tips for Taking Pics of Your Kids

It’s no secret I love taking pics of my girls. But I’d be lying if I said it is easy.

It’s taken years of practice to realize what works and what doesn’t.

After trial and error, here are my best tips for taking pics of your kids.

Remember Your Why

If we’re being honest, there are many times we take pictures on our phones without having an actual reason to.

We are so used to taking pictures of anything and everything that we sometimes forget why we are taking pics in the first place.

Personally, these are my whys:

• I want to remember special moments with my girls, such as fun events or award ceremonies.

• I want to remember my girls with the people they love.

• I want to remember my girls at various ages and stages.

Lower Your Expectations

We live in a picture-perfected curated world that makes it really easy to hold our kids to unattainable standards – especially when it comes to pictures.

Don’t expect your kids to always take perfect pictures!

For every picture you see on your social media feed, remember that the mom took several others and only posted the best one.

Instead, lower your expectations. If you capture your whys, that’s what matters.

Stop Lying to Get the Perfect Pic

I’d be lying if I claimed I never said, “Just one more pic!” to my girls.

However, I have learned (the hard way) that this hurts more than it helps.

Kids know you’re lying when you make this claim.

Instead, choose your words wisely, such as, “Once we get a picture with both of you looking in the same direction, we’ll be finished.”

Let Kids Be Kids

In our quest for perfect pics, we can sometimes try to force our kids to act older than they are.

Don’t do it.

Let kids be kids!

You’ll get much better pictures if you snap some while they are playing rather than forcing them to stand still and pose.

If they want to act silly, it’s okay! Kids are silly!

Don’t Force Smiles

If you try to force a smile, you’ll get a fake smile.

Don’t tell them to say cheese and don’t tell them to smile.

Instead, give them a reason to smile, such as telling a corny joke, and then snap the pic.

Bribery Works, Too

I am not above bribing my girls for a picture now and then.

Since we live in such a picture-heavy society (taking pictures constantly), I try to only use bribery for the pictures I really want, such as holiday pics.

The key is to keep the bribe small and to give clear rules.

For instance, you can’t say, “I’ll give you some M&Ms if you take a pic,” and then try to get kids to take twenty pictures until you get the perfect one.

Tell them what you are looking for, ask their suggestions, and tell them what you’ll give them as a reward.

Make Sure You Print Pictures

After all the hard work of getting the perfect pictures, don’t let them just sit on your phone or your computer.

Print them out and hang them up in your home!

If kids know the pictures you take will actually be used, they’ll be more willing to show off their photogenic personalities.

5 Reasons We’ve Already Started Saving for College

My girls are young, but like most parents, I’ve already started thinking about the day they’ll leave me to go to college.

And sometimes just thinking about it makes me panic. Not because I’ll be an empty nester but because, oh my gosh, college is expensive!

While I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t predict the future, I am still planning for their future college attendance. Here’s why.

1. Kids Who Go to College Earn More

It’s common knowledge that people who earn college degrees tend to earn more than those who don’t. But I was startled to learn just how much more.

According to Higher Ed Dive, “Individuals with bachelor's degrees will earn $400,000 more in their lifetimes than those with just a high school diploma.”

The same report claims, “College graduates who enrolled at age 18 and earned a degree in four years ‘can expect to earn enough relative to a high school graduate’ by age 33 to make up for paying tuition and other costs and for being out of the workforce while in college.”

Of course, I will support my daughters even if they don’t go to college, but those numbers are a great motivator for saving for college.

2. Money Grows

College is a long way off for my two girls.

But that means it gives the money I put into their college savings accounts even more time to grow.

For instance, money in 529 plans grows tax-deferred until the day comes when you need to withdraw it to pay for education expenses.

Plus, with a 529 plan, family and friends can also contribute.

Sure, it may sound boring to give a financial gift to a 529 plan while the kids are young, but their future selves will thank you!

3. College Costs are Rising

College costs are rising at crazy rates.

Check out these statistics from U.S. News representing the rise in college costs over 20 years:

• The average tuition and fees at private universities have jumped 144%.

• Out-of-state tuition and fees at public universities have risen 171%.

• In-state tuition and fees at public universities have increased 211%.

I don’t even want to think what college will cost when my girls are old enough to attend, but I know enough to know I need to start saving now.

4. Makes Saving a Habit

I learned early on to treat saving like a habit.

I like to set aside some of every paycheck for savings. What I like even more is setting up savings for automatic contributions, so I save without even thinking about it.

It can be really tempting to not save – especially for things like college that seem so far away.

Turn saving into a habit so you don’t give in to temptation.

5. Helps You Set Realistic Expectations

Lastly, saving for college early helps you set realistic expectations.

We all have different incomes and budgets. Only you know what you can and can’t afford.

By saving today for tomorrow, you’ll be better prepared to talk to your kids about how much you will be able to help them when the time comes.

12 Parenting Tips for the Middle Years

I am right in the middle of middle childhood, which is defined as ages 6 to 12.

There is a lot of information out there about how to parent babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and even teenagers.

But, there is not nearly as much out there about raising children during their middle childhood years.

And, I sure wish there was more available because I am currently living with a 7-year-old who thinks she is 17!

According to On My Way: A guide to Support Middle Years Child Development, “Middle childhood is a period when children are exploring who they are and who they want to be, establishing basic skills and health habits, grappling with puberty, physical changes and gender roles, making friendships and forming attitudes about the world they live in, and taking first steps toward independence.”

With a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old, I need all the help I can get with parenting during the middle childhood years!

Here’s the best advice I’ve found.

1. Allow Some Independence

Middle childhood is all about growing independent, so it’s time to let go a bit, Mom. As they get older, let them do things without you.

2. Make Them Responsible

Along with independence, look for opportunities to teach your kids to be responsible. An age-appropriate way to do so is to start having kids do chores around the house.

Another way to teach responsibility is to encourage kids to take ownership of their schoolwork. Let them complete homework and projects independently and accept responsibility when they make mistakes.

3. Talk and Talk Some More

Open communication goes a long way during these years of growth. Kids are soaking up everything they are hearing during this stage, so you want your positive, helpful, caring voice to be the loudest of all.

4. Teach Healthy Habits

Middle childhood is critical when it comes to teaching healthy habits because kids are learning more independence. They need to know how to take care of themselves (such as personal hygiene, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep).

5. Listen Rather Than Lecture

We want to give our kids advice to succeed, but when advice-giving turns to lecturing, your kids will stop listening. Instead, give your kids ample time to explain their reasoning and talk about what is going on in their lives.

6. Set Realistic Expectations

We want our children to be successful. However, we need to make sure the expectations we set are realistic and reasonable. If you set goals and expectations that are too hard for a middle age child, he or she will feel defeated.

7. Support Their Strengths

Children in this stage are learning their strengths and weaknesses. When you and your child identify a strength, encourage them in this area.

Children.gov suggests, “Acknowledge what children are good at, and support them in doing those activities as often and as well as possible. Use the things they are good at, whatever those things might be, to help them build their self-confidence.”

8. Read, Read, Read

Even as your child reads independently, look for opportunities to read together. Choose chapter books that interested you at their age and share the stories with them.

9. Show Affection

The days of easy affection with your child will eventually come to an end, so take advantage of this stage when they are growing independent but still want (and need) hugs.

10. Have Fun Together

Many parents find they love the middle childhood stage because it is fun! Kids are just starting to be able to do fun activities alongside you, such as riding roller coasters and playing board games.

11. Start Some Traditions

The childhood memories your child will cling to really start to form during this life stage. So, this is the time to start embracing family traditions, such as family dinners and annual visits to apple orchards.

12. Praise Them Constantly

Last but not least, go out of your way to praise your child! Their self-esteem is developing during middle childhood, and you can help give it a boost by showing them they are loved.

8 Reasons We Decided to Get a Fur Baby

I am happy to introduce you to the newest member of our family, a fur baby named Milo. Milo is a Havanese puppy. After years of begging, we finally decided to get our girls a dog. What made us decide to finally give in to their requests for a family dog? Beyond Milo simply being the cutest puppy I’ve ever seen, there are other reasons why we made the commitment to welcome four extra paws into our family.

1. Teach Responsibility

One of the main reasons we decided to get a family dog is because we believe our girls are at an age where they can help take care of him. When they were younger, all the responsibility fell on me. And I didn’t know one more thing to take care of. Now that they are older, we are hoping owning a dog will help teach responsibility. They will be responsible for feeding him and picking up his toys.

2. Foster Empathy

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), “Multiple studies showed that children who owned pets were more empathetic towards others.” Learning to care for a dog helps foster compassion and empathy for people and animals other than themselves.

3. Find Comfort

Dogs are the ultimate teddy bear. They comfort kids and make kids feel supported. It’s one reason why comfort dogs show up after major disasters or events that are anxiety-inducing. Just being in the presence of a dog can alleviate stress.

4. Boost Self-Esteem

As kids take responsibility, their self-esteem grows. Kids are proud of themselves for being big enough to help. Likewise, as they feel comforted and supported, their self-esteem improves.

5. Built-In Companionship

A dog is essentially a built-in playmate for a kid. Dogs love wholeheartedly, and kids reap the benefits of their unwavering love. Plus, dogs can help kids develop social skills. For example, Momtastic reports, “A University of Missouri study found that children with autism have stronger social skills when a dog lives in the home. ‘Children were more likely to engage in behaviors such as introducing themselves, asking for information, or responding to other people’s questions,’ says Gretchen Carlisle, a research fellow who helped in the study.

6. Get Active

Dogs need exercise, which means your kids get exercise. One of the girls’ responsibilities will be playing with the dog outside. Dogs make fewer messes when they get enough physical activity, so we are making that a priority. Not only will this help kids stay active, but it will also force them to put down their devices and head outside.

7. Stay Safe

Dogs have great ears. They can hear things humans can’t. As a result, they can alert us to danger. With a dog, you get a built-in security system. For this reason, many kids feel safe having a dog in the home.

8. Have Fun

Last but certainly not least, having a dog is fun! Who doesn’t love puppy cuddles or playing fetch? We have only had Milo for a few days and our home is already more fun!

What dog tips do you have for me? We need them! Post them in the comments.

Setting Summer Screen Time Rules

Summertime and the living is easy - until it comes to keeping our kids from turning into rabid screen time zombies! It seems like the day school wraps up all our kids want to do is play on their devices or watch tv all day long. It is a constant battle to get them to stop playing Fortnite, Minecraft, and Animal Crossing. Plus, the endless streaming options make watching tv all hours of the day possible – and extremely difficult to control.

The first thing you need to know is you are absolutely not the only parent dealing with this problem. So, don’t beat yourself up! It is perfectly fine to relax your screen time rules during the summer. The goal is to set some boundaries that keep them from turning into screen time zombies.

Create a Family Media Plan

Recently, I discovered that Healthy Children from the American Academy of Pediatrics has tools that are super helpful in setting screen time boundaries. They offer a Media Time Calculator that allows you to enter the amount of time your child needs each day for different activities, such as sleeping, eating, exercising, chores, and more. As you enter in the time needed for these important activities, you see how much time is leftover for media use.

Additionally, they offer a Family Media Plan tool that allows you to create a customized media plan for your family and each child. For example, you establish which areas of the house will be screen free zones, device curfews, and recreational co-viewing/co-playing plans.

To-Dos Before Screen Time

It’s also smart to use your kids’ love for their screens to encourage them to get some stuff done. For example, have a set list of to-dos your kids have to complete before they can have any screen time. And, don’t just stick to their chores. Add in to-dos such as personal hygiene tasks, reading, exercising, and playing outside.

Another tip for parents of older kids – make them work for the Wi-Fi password. This requires you to change it each evening, but your kids know they must do everything on their list to get the new Wi-Fi password.

A Screen Time Bedtime

During summertime, bedtimes are later. Along with bedtimes, we tend to let our kids stay up later watching tv or playing videogames. Unfortunately, if we give them free rein, they will stay up all hours of the night doing these things. This is super unhealthy and the blue light from screens will make it harder to get a good night’s sleep. As a family, set a screen time bedtime. This should be a bit of time before your child’s actual bedtime.

Family Time is Screen Free

Do your best to have screen free family time. Start by making family rules, such as no screens at the dinner table. Then, sit aside time every week to spend a few hours doing things together as a family without devices, such as going on a hike, playing a board game, or telling ghost stories.

What summer screen time rules do you have for your family?

7 Ways to Keep Your House Clean with Kids Home All the Time

All moms have heard the saying, “Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos.” But what are we supposed to do in 2020 when the kids are in the house all. the. time?

Within the first few weeks of the pandemic, our clean house was starting to show signs that it was lived in. In other words, it was messy.  Between virtual schooling, working at home, and the kids having nowhere to go and nothing to do except make a mess, things started to pile up. But the usual chore charts weren’t working.

Here are some of the things I am doing instead to keep the house clean with kids home all day every day.

1. Let Them See You Clean

I remember being told by a wiser, more experienced mom the importance of cleaning while the kids were awake. There are so many moms who do chores during their kids’ naptimes or after bedtime. All this does is put all the housework on you, and it keeps kids from learning how to clean a house. Instead, vacuum right under their feet, load the dishwasher while they are at the counter, and fold the laundry in front of them. Children learn by watching you.

2. Give Them Age Appropriate Chores

But don’t stop at just letting your kids see you clean – they need to clean, too! It is important to give your kid’s age-appropriate chores. And, the sooner, the better! Even toddlers can help out around the house. WebMD has a great list of age-appropriate chores for kids starting at age 2.

3. Reward Their Hard Work

And when the kids do their chores the right way, make sure you reward their hard work! This can vary from giving them praise and compliments to giving them an allowance. Consider your kid’s love language to know type of reward that will work best.

4. Offer Choices

We like having a choice, and so do our kids. Try giving them choices when it comes to chores, such as, “Will you clean the dishes or dust the living room today?” You are giving them a choice between two different chores – not giving them a choice between doing chores or doing nothing.

5. Create a Cleaning Playlist

We call cleaning a chore for a reason. It’s not exactly fun. But there are ways to make cleaning a little more enjoyable, such as creating a cleaning playlist of all the songs your kids love. Plus, you can use your cleaning playlist as a timer to get chores done. For example, tell your kids they have until the end of the playlist or a certain number of songs to get their chores done.

6. Make Them Work for What They Want

Many moms have found success by making kids work for what they want. In this scenario, you don’t let your kids do what they want until they do what you ask. For example, you withhold the Wi-Fi password or TV privileges until their chores are done.

7. Get the Whole Family in on the Cleaning Action

During the quarantine, I’ve had cleaning success by making cleaning a family affair. Every Saturday, we work together as a family to do some deep cleaning before we start to enjoy the weekend. Working together helps it get done faster. And, we are teaching our daughters that they can contribute to the family unit and help the household.

What tips do you have for keeping a house clean with kids home? Share in the comments!

6 Things Kids Need to Do Every Day During Summer

Summer’s here, which means moms are trying to figure out how they are going to keep their kids occupied without school. With some COVID-19 restrictions still in place, it also means many moms can’t rely on summer camps to fill the days between now and the start of the next school year. You can find all sorts of summer schedules for kids online. Rather than give you a set schedule to follow, I thought it might work better just to give you a list of the six things kids need to do every day during summer break.

1. Use Their Brains

It’s important for kids to avoid the summer slide. The summer slide refers to the tendency for kids to lose what they have learned at school over the summer break. According to Scholastic, “A more recent study of children in 3rd to 5th grades also showed that students lost, on average, about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break.”

Using their brains will look different for each child – and will likely vary from one day to the next. Encourage your kids to read every day and get them to play educational apps before they play apps only designed for entertainment. You might also want to consider signing your kids up for virtual educational summer camps like iD Tech.

2. Play Outside

Playing outdoors leads to happier and healthier kids. It also forces them to turn off the TV and other electronic devices. The Child Mind Institute claims, “Most of the studies agree that kids who play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors.”

3. Exercise Their Bodies

Not only is exercising good for their health and bodies but exercising also helps them to sleep better at night! That should be reason enough for parents to encourage their kids to stay active during the summer. Whether it is going on a family walk or turning on the radio and encouraging a dance party, parents need to encourage their kids to get up and move.

4. Create Something

Give your kids time each day to create something. This is wide open! It may mean playing with Play-Doh, coloring, crafting, building with LEGOs, or staging their own play or puppet show. The point is to encourage creativity and imagination. Parents explains, “When kids feel good while they are creating, art helps boost self-confidence. And children who feel able to experiment and to make mistakes feel free to invent new ways of thinking, which extends well beyond the craft room.”

5. Do Some Chores

We all learn best by doing. That’s why it is so important to start insisting your kids help with chores around the house. Summer is the perfect time to encourage these behaviors because you aren’t as pressed for time. By the end of the summer, your kids will have mastered the art of unloading the dishwasher.

6. Your Attention

Last but not least, every day, your kids need your attention. I don’t mean they need your attention all day every day. Instead, moms should give each kid a few minutes of one-on-one attention. This may look like reading together before bed or simply putting your phone down for a few minutes to talk about their favorite things. A little bit of your attention every day will go a long way.