‘Tis the season of family and friend gatherings as we hurtle towards the grand finale of 2023 in less than six weeks. Ah, the joy and chaos commence!

By now, I hope you’ve realized that the only person in charge of your peace is you. If you haven’t mastered protecting your peace, I offer you one of my favorite and infallible holiday hacks…By the way, this hack isn’t just for the holidays; it works in the everyday too.

Be as committed to your peace as you are to your insecurities. It’s a time-saver, mood-enhancer and joy-creator.

Don’t rob your kids of the best and most enjoyable parts of you. Be a wise and responsible parent of course, but also bring your smile, humor and lighthearted self out sooner and more often. Time is precious, and your family relationships are worth it!

In an era dominated by the digital symphony of pings, dings, and notifications, our youth are grappling with a profound and pervasive pain—the insidious loneliness that stems from a world drowning in distraction. Yes, you might be too distracted to read this because anything that takes longer than a minute to consume, we get ants in our pants. If you have an extra 2 minutes, take a quick read… It will do your world some good.

One of the most potent ways to build trust and forge a strong connection with our kids is by asking the right questions and truly listening to their responses.

Just last week, I was sharing a coffee with my 22-year-old daughter who was home for a visit. I asked if I could discuss some thoughts with her, never anticipating her response. Her question was simple, yet it carried an extraordinary impact, instantly infusing respect, and thoughtfulness.

In this blog, I share the question she asked that holds the potential to revolutionize the way parents connect with their kids.

Parents undoubtedly wield immense power in shaping their children's lives, a power that carries profound responsibility.

While I may not have all the answers, I’d like to provide an awareness that hopefully will serve as a compass for those navigating their children's childhoods, those preparing for their children’s transition into their emerging adulthood, or those already basking in the presence of their independent adult children.

In this blog post I will talk about the one thing you can do to nurture growth in your child’s life.

Parenting… Talk about a never-ending character-building experience. No matter how much we prepare, or think “I’ve got this”, we are humbled, and will inevitably eat crow again, and again. Look, mistakes happen. But what if I told you that these stumbles and failures are some of the greatest ways to teach your kids? Yes, you read that right! In this blog post, I’ll briefly touch on why embracing our missteps, and mistakes is a powerful tool for raising resilient, wise, and compassionate kids who will become healthy, kind, and self-competent adults.

As parents, we often prioritize academic excellence for our children, hoping it will lead to a better and more secure future. But true fulfillment extends way beyond the classroom. Life is every day, and how we show up each day will determine the quality of our lives. That's why it's essential for our kids to focus on developing self-smart skills which are ultimately, life-smart skills. These skills are the foundation for a purposeful and enjoyable life. In this post, I'll explore my top 4 self-smart skills for our youth and their immense value.

Choosing to be a person of increase within your family unit holds immeasurable value. As parents, let us lead by example to be present, supportive, and empowering, recognizing the innate gifts and talents within our kids. Choose to be a person of increase and witness the transformative power it brings to you and your family.

Working with rocks allows you to connect with nature in a unique and tangible way. There's something inherently grounding about the weight and texture of rocks in your hands. By building a rock garden together, you can create a miniature oasis right in your front or backyard filled with stones carefully chosen and arranged by each family member.

The new Netflix series "Arnold" is an absolute must-watch, and I can't help but share it with everyone I know. It showcases not only Arnold's journey to success, but also the failures he faced along the way. From this mini series, I've outlined three life takeaways that will forever empower your family's life.

Ahhhh summer is here! And it’s the perfect time for parents to embark on fresh adventures with their teens and young adult kids. While the traditional family vacations and outings are great, why not infuse some spontaneity and explore unconventional ways to create lasting family memories? Dive into this list of enjoyable, creative, and offbeat ideas that will ignite fun, curiosity, and deepen connections with your tribe.

I'm Jill the spill, and I believe our families are the heart of our lives, and our most precious investment. But let's be honest, navigating the intricate world of parenting in the age of digital dominance, distraction, and anxiety is not only challenging, but crazy making. Especially during the teen and young adult years--which is my sweet spot. Here's an introduction to my brand new newsletter - Jill spills where I spill weekly on strengthening families.