Are you with me? Do you count yourself among the ranks of the too busy and awfully tired? That’s why we’re devoting this week to “Getting Some Rest.”

We have many nuggets of real-talk from Lisabeth on our YouTube channel. Listen in to our Sparkle founder and momma to two boys. Let her support your parenting week!

Kids starting kindergarten. Kids starting college. First day of senior year. First fall that there’s no return-to-school (college graduate!). We Sparkle Team parents — Ann, Lisabeth, Susan, & Trish — offer up ten ways to navigate these big parenting milestones!

Lisabeth offers some sage advice about how to harness the power of YOU!

What qualities do you need in your life? What about your kids? Listen to others who embody those qualities and find stories about them. You will find they stir and draw out those very same qualities — qualities that are readily available but just dormant.

We’ve made you a list — because there ARE things you can do, even if you just have a minute. Here are some of our favorite rest and reset activities.

It's GOOD for us to work with our hands. Creative hand-work pursuits bring out the best in us and free our minds and spirits. Plus, when kids learn to cook, or knit, or sew, or build, they also grow a foundation of capableness and confidence. There's nothing like knowing you can DO for yourself and others.

I think we should go old-school this year. Unstructured, play-filled, low-tech, outdoor-exploring summertime. Bike riding, back yard playing, free to roam and explore and play — uninterrupted. We were bored. We were creative. We had lots of friend time. It wasn't always easy, but it was real. And we benefited from it!

I know you've seen it. You've watched children play "house" or "firemen" or "pirates," haven't you? Have you seen how they've had to work out dynamics, distribute roles, and collaborate in the creation of the play? ll of this gives them a chance to grow and expand their abilities as people.

Sensitivity can come in a variety of forms, from children who can't stand tags in their clothes to children who withdraw in stimulating environments. We sensitive people are a gift to the planet. Let me tell you why.