Getting my youngest daughter to eat breakfast before school was not easy. I put in front of her what I thought she should eat. She resisted. It was only after putting two choices for breakfast in front of her that breakfast started to go off without a hitch. Controlling her choice for breakfast shut her down. In hindsight, I think she was instinctively trying to tell me she wanted a voice in this breakfast moment. Giving her a choice lowered her shield and helped her practice – and ultimately to learn – the skill of agency.

What IS agency?

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Michael and I were in Chicago recently, seeing our daughters and visiting the friends of our youngest daughter.  They are all now young adults and part of a generation of first grade kids I taught decades ago about the choices they have for money.  We treated everyone to a nice dinner.  It was lovely.  That night it was one of the top three things I remembered in my nighttime gratitude prayers.

Shortly after we got home, we received a handwritten thank you note in the mail from our young friends. Yes, you heard me right – a handwritten thank you note!  Not a big surprise coming from the young lady we had dinner with – but a note that touched my heart.

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It’s the start of the school year and with that comes the many school supply requests from the teachers and/or the school – and your kids as well!  With the back-to-school sales in full swing, it’s enticing to get these supplies in volume – much greater than actually needed because, you know, it’s on “sale.”  It is so easy to go beyond your budget just to get the best deal.  This year, try these ideas to help save you and your family time – and money.

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Talk to any educator and they are likely to agree the “summer slide” is real.  Often, the first two weeks (or more) of school are spent “reteaching” the concepts taught the previous year. So how can you help prevent this from happening to your kids?  Try reading. Taking time to read to or with our kids is a great way to help prevent that learning loss. And reading as a family is one of the best ways to spend quality time together and to strike up some meaningful conversations – especially during the summer.

To help you get started, I’ve assembled a recommended reading list of great money books for preschool to adult.

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