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Family mottos or mantras.  Catch phrases or little sayings you say to your kids.

Do you have a saying or motto you often say to your kids? (Besides I love you). At first I thought this was silly. When I would drop my son off at Kindergarten, there was a mom that would say “I believe in you!”. At first I was like….what? (judgy. I know! Sorry other mom!) Then I thought, hey…maybe her kid needs that. Maybe it makes her feel better to say this to her child and send him to school with positive words.

I always say “I love you. Be good.” Then I read on facebook about someone who started saying “Be kind” to their child at school drop off. (I wish I could find where I read that, so I could add it here.) But that was just so simple to me. Be kind. Now I say it to both my kids at drop off. And I hope they hear me.

I also have some nicknames I call them, like sugar boogers or shuga, buggy or bubba. But those are more terms of endearments, I guess.

So, nothing crazy. Not super fancy. Just…..I love you. Be good. Be kind. Maybe they hear me, maybe they don’t. But hopefully they are doing it. Be kind.

Try different ways of saying “I love you”. Like I’ve heard of saying/doing…

• 1,4,3  (1=I, 4=love, 3=you)
• Do the hand sign (thumb,pointer and pinky)
• Point to your eye, heart, then the person.

Maybe instead of a saying, you can do a fist bump or secret handshake. Make up your own saying. Maybe you can incorporate your last name into it. (i.e. “last name” love). Or something you have in common in the family. (i.e. Red hair rules!) Something special just for your fam. (O’doyle rules!) Whatever you choose, make it for you.

I think this can be a fun way to have something that’s just yours. A little something that is your family’s. Because family is awesome and we should be proud of it! Get your kids excited about your little clan and embarrass them a little when they’re older! 🙂

Will you or do you do this? If it’s not something you want everyone to hear or see, maybe do it at home before you leave. Or if you’re more comfortable, try it at bedtime. Say it whenever. Try to have your own special phrase just for the kiddos. Maybe it won’t mean anything to them now, But down the road, hopefully they’ll look back and remember the kind words. The silly gestures. The fun sayings. And pass it on to their kiddos.

Is this something you do or do you find it silly? Try it out. Get your kiddos to help think of the phrase or gesture. You never know, it might be a fun, family daily tradition you can start.

Until next time…..