75+ Things My Kids Need To Know

It's the turn of another decade, I'm 36 years old, and the more time that goes by, the more urgent it feels to compile a list of valuable information to pass down to my kids, that they can pass down to their kids, and so on.

In this life, I've had a child in every decade {16 years old, 22 years old and 31 years old). I've been poor and I've been well off. I didn't go to college, but built a successful business and went on to build 3 more. I've experienced death of loved ones. I've experienced depression, and I've experienced tremendous happiness. I feel like I'm at a good place to offer up some good old fashioned words of wisdom, so here goes!

1.) Don't quit one job until you have another lined up.

2.) Take lots of pictures. I mean, a TON.

​3.) Don't waste a single second of your life worrying about what other people think of you.

4.) Don't follow the trends. Set them.

5.) Your "check engine oil" light isn't like your gasoline light. {Ask me how I know... RIP, 1996 Geo Metro.}

6.) Never sacrifice your financial independence for anyone. Ever.

7.) Be kind, BUT never EVER let people walk all over you.

​8.) Rid your life of toxic people the moment you discover they're toxic.

9.) Failure is a part of life. It's the only way to determine success. Kind of like, no rainbows without rain, ya know? Learn from your mistakes and use them as building blocks to make you better.

10.) No matter how alone you feel, you never will be. I will always be with you. I mean that. I will always find a way.

11.) Don't wish your childhood away. 

12.) Stand up for what is right and stick up for people being wronged.

13.) Be the bigger person.

14.) School doesn't always make you smart. Education does. Never stop educating yourself no matter where you choose to do so.

15.) When baking, if a recipe calls to add the eggs separately, do it. There IS a reason.

16.) Learn a craft. You need to know how to do or how to make something. Always have something to offer. {Thank you, Mrs. Meyer (sp?), my 7th grade Home Ec teacher at Rogers Middle School in Affton, for teaching me to sew. Not only does it earn me a living, it is therapeutic.}

17.) Trust your gut. I'm telling you right now, it will not lie to you.

18.) College isn't everything. Loving what you're doing IS. There are very few places of employment that won't require EXPERIENCE. If you take the college route, try to obtain part time employment in the field you are in school for so you have the experience and education required to start your career immediately upon graduation.

19.) The saying "actions speak louder than words" has been around for ages for a reason. Words are just words. We say words out of emotion, things we may never really mean, it's in your actions that will show who you really are.

20.) Always support your small, local businesses first.

21.) You can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat you when you have money vs. when you don't. Pay attention.

22.) Forgive. Forgiveness is important, not for them, but for you. Being honest, though you may be able to forgive {maybe}, you will never {ever} forget what someone has done to you. Keep that in mind when going further in your relationships in life. {Because, actions...}

23.) Use the microwave as little as possible.

24.) Honesty is most definitely the best policy even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment. One lie leads to another and betrayal is hard to get over. We all make mistakes in life. Come clean and move on. Anyone worth being in your life will understand.

25.) If you are going to be "in" something, be ALL in. Whether it's relationships or jobs,  put your all in it or get out of it.

26.) Self care isn't a luxury. It's mandatory to be a successful human.

​27.) Having good manners is important.

28.) You will determine how people treat you by what you tolerate.

29.) Nothing is permanent. Nothing. Don't be afraid to take risks or to leave a town. You can come back from anything. All the magic in life occurs outside of your comfort zone.

30.) Respect and communication are THE key components of a successful relationship. Period.

31.) Learn to love yourself NOW. All the great and not so great things all make you, YOU, and you are amazing. It is imperative you recognize this.

​32.) Debt sucks. Always have a rainy day fund. You never know when you're going to need new wheels, lose a job, or break a limb. A good rule of thumb is to act like 20% of your paycheck doesn't exist and immediately transfer it to an account you won't use unless it's an emergency.

33.) Don't ever be afraid to stick up for yourself and I don't care what that means you'll lose in the end, because at least you'll have your dignity.

34.) There are friends, then there are FRIENDS, ya dig? Invest in FRIENDS. Nurture them. They are your village, and we all need a village.

35.) You only have one body in this life. Do right by it. Give it, bare minimum, 30 minutes a day of exercise. You will never regret it.

36.) Do not use food for comfort. While I'm at it on this one, also be aware of the food you are putting in your body. Some foods do nothing for you, some foods destroy your body and some foods heal and nourish your body. Know the difference.

37.) Set boundaries and adhere to them.

38.) You are in an era of technology where your answer to any question is always just a click away on a device you carry around ALL day long. Use your smartphone to make you smart.

39.) Be grateful. Everyday, be grateful. This world is an amazing place. If nothing else, be glad for each day you are here to be a part of it.

40.) Travel. 

41.) The people most worth keeping are the ones that loved you when you weren't always the most lovable.

​42.) A good friend will tell you the TRUTH, not just what you want to hear.

43.) Often times no one will notice what you do for them until you stop doing it. Keep doing it anyway.

44.) Never let the things you want in life make you forget what you already have.

45.) Lend a helping hand.

46.) Be relentless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.

47.) Laugh a lot.

48.) When {if} you have children, make sure you are ready for them. It isn't fair and it isn't their job to have to grow up with you. {I love you, Hunter, and if you read this, I'm sorry.}

​49.) Live simply, it's less confusing and far more gratifying.

50.) Hold the door for the person behind you.

51.) You are here for a reason. You were created for a reason. No matter how bad life gets, remember that.

52.) Love your mother despite her flaws. You grew inside her. She carried you {in more ways than one}. She brought you into this world. I can guarantee you, every hard time you go through, she's going through it with you. When life is good, she's celebrating with you. Everything she does, she does it with you in mind.

53.) Only surround yourself with people that know your worth.

54.) Learn from your parents mistakes, don't repeat them.

55.) Everything WILL fall into place. It may not be in YOUR timing, but it always will.

56.) Never stay with someone that you have to beg to hang out with you.

57.) To my daughter: Under no circumstance is it ok for a man to raise his hand to you. To my son: It is never ok to raise your hand to a woman.

58.) Always keep a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle, at least.

59.) It's ok to change your mind.

60.) The kid sitting alone in the cafeteria - sit with them.

61.) Don't do drugs. Ever. Seriously, just don't. They will ruin your life if they don't kill you first.

62.) Don't eat yellow snow.

​63.) Tip your server.

64.) Return your shopping cart.

 65.) It's ok to say "no".

66.) Everything you do, do it with love, even when you've been wronged.

67.) Have patience.

68.) Don't judge people off of their political affiliation. It may be tempting, but don't. There are great people on all sides and it's a shame missing out on good people because of blanket judgements.

69.) Never ask a woman, "When are you due?", unless  you are a thousand percent positive she is pregnant.

70.) When {if} you have children, let them sleep with you if you want to.

71.) Life is short. Eat the cake. Just not too much, because -- health.

72.) If you're not going to wash your dishes right away, at least let them soak. Scrubbing sucks.

73.) Form is important. It's better to be able to do 5 pushups right than 20 wrong.

74.) Cook your own food as often as possible. It's healthier. It's satisfying. It is relaxing.

​75.) Never make permanent decisions in moments of temporary anger.

​

Love,
​Liv

​I'm dying to know, what would YOU add to this list? Tell me in the comments below!

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