For a special weekend and summer

Dear Friends,

There are lots of family road trips happening this weekend and all summer, which is GREAT, as they are an easy opportunity to build connection and prevent loneliness in our own families, especially with our tweens and teens! 

The epidemic of loneliness and disconnection is also plaguing our own homes, and we need to make ongoing efforts to hedge it out. We can be intentional about finding ways to connect and be persistent, even with some predictable pushback!  

Every single one of us, and especially our kids, wants to be seen, heard, and loved for who we are, and if we can act and speak in ways that open that possibility, we are creating belonging, connection, and a sense of mattering. Car rides provide a “captive audience” to make that happen!

My family uses road trips to play and share music. We do this by giving everyone a turn picking songs or making it a game by working through the alphabet and choosing a song with an artist of the next letter (ie, A= Amy Winehouse, B= Boston, C= the Cure, etc).

I recorded a quick video to share more about this! You can watch (and follow) on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn!

Instead of everyone being physically together, but in their own separate worlds, you can share, create a bonding experience, and even expand your own playlists. It’s REALLY important to make it a safe space for them to share, so work hard to be curious, be open to learning, and avoid judging their song choices.

Maybe you can ask some questions like:

• How did you hear about this band/artist?

• What do you like about it?

• And when it’s your turn, and you choose a song from previous decades, tell a memory related to the song you choose. It gives you the chance to share a bit about yourself.

This summer, let’s create some new family traditions, memories, and a strong sense of family connection and belonging! 

Why does Vanessa keep emailing me about block parties?!

You may be wondering why I’m so obsessed with block parties! The short answer is that knowing your neighbors is KEY to sane parenting. It builds the village that we all say we need to raise our children, and it’s what’s missing. Parents are burnt out, kids aren’t ok, and we desperately need to course-correct! This is why I started the block party movement and founded Block Party USA!

I’ve learned and seen over and over how building that network of support is critical for a resilient family—impacting both the resilience of the kids and the parents! There are four key ways that knowing your neighbors contributes to our well-being and strengthens resilience:

1. Neighborhood free play (unstructured, child-led) 

2. Opportunities to find jobs 

3. Other trusted adults in kids' lives

4. Network of support for parental well-being 

I will dive deeper into these next week!

And if you're organizing a block party or potluck this weekend (or this summer)…

Our nation’s 250th is an opportunity for all of us to reignite our neighborly interdependence, as that’s what allowed us to create the United States of America!

Focus on keeping it simple. I suggest making it a bit of a mantra and putting some Post-it notes around reminding you of this important goal. Keep fighting the urge to make it “perfect.” Know that your invite is a gift and an act of service.   

Most importantly, know what people (guests and your family) will remember is how you made them feel – welcome and relaxed – not the “perfect” decor or the perfectly manicured yard. 

And don’t forget to make your block party count by registering it here! We’d love you to send your photos and stories to info@blockpartyusa.org! They help inspire others to do the same.

And if it’s become waaay too hot to go ahead with your weekend plans, remember we are having an American Summer, so you’ve got until Labor Day weekend for your do-over! 

Happy 4th!!!