Need help with an unmotivated child? Want to give a gift that lasts forever?
Do you think your challenging child (or spouse!) would remember a gift like the letter below? Can you bring yourself to write something like this? It can change lives. And it’s a great tradition for Hanukkah, Christmas or New Year’s Day.

Dear Casey,
I’m not interested in whether you’ve been “bad or good” this year. I want you to know that I am proud of you. In honor of your 17th birthday, here are 17 things that make you unique and tell me you’ve got a great future ahead of you. I saw you:

  1. Give up your Friday nights to go feed homeless people that others forget.
  2. Own up to your mistakes and learn from them.
  3. Start singing out loud while playing guitar, which takes a lot of guts.
  4. Humble yourself and apologize when you’ve messed up.
  5. Treat girls with respect.
  6. Push people’s buttons. It tells me you get what makes people tick. And I’ve seen you use that skill to help people…and know that must feel good inside.
  7. Stick up for your friends even when it means other kids harass you.
  8. Persevere and speak to students because you want to help them–even though it makes you feel sick to your stomach and lose sleep.
  9. Write down your goals and stop making excuses.
  10. Work really hard to become amazing at video games. I know you’ll use that persistence, creativity and problem-solving to do something great in life.
  11. Do boring, pain-in-the-butt chores for your Mom and Dad, even though I know you’d rather be doing something else.
  12. Go out of your way to help our neighbors during a rainstorm when no one was
    watching. But someone did see you. Good job, son.
  13. Be mischievous, not follow the rules and accept the consequences. It means you are human, can think for yourself and weigh consequences. I like that.
  14. Say, “No” when kids try to get you to do something you don’t want to do. That tells me you respect yourself and have confidence.
  15. Solve quadratic equations and learn periodic tables you’ll never use in life. You even showed your work…even when “It’s stupid, duh!”
  16. Get giddy when a Ferrari blasts past or a band plays your favorite song. Don’t
    ever lose that passion and childlike excitement.
  17. Grow from a teenager into a man.   

I am proud of you, Casey. You continue to be the best Christmas gift your Mom and I could ever ask for.
–Dad    
Moms and Dads, do this for your kids (and spouse). Toys break and are forgotten. Your kids will never, ever forget this gift. They will keep this note and read it over and over again, especially when they have a rough day. It takes time, but it will change your Hanukkah or Christmas. If you need help motivating your child, lecturing and taking away stuff will make it worse and create more defiance. Don’t give up! On New Year’s Day, we will begin showing you step-by-step how to motivate event the most challenging children through the Motivating Teens 40-Day Challenge.

If you need practical, concrete strategies to stop the yelling, defiance and meltdowns with kids of all ages, then be bold. Call Brett at 888-506-1871 or email Brett@CelebrateCalm.com. He can help you find the perfect tools that fit your budget and needs.

Keep enjoying your kids. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

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