If you are feeling stuck in a daily rhythm that is just not inspiring to anyone involved, try to have your kids catch you in a random act of kindness.

• Pay for the coffee of the person behind you in the drive-through.

• Stop while you're on a walk with your kid to pick up a piece of trash and throw it away.

• Call a friend or relative at random just to tell them you love them and to encourage them.

Imagine the conversations you can have with your kid when they see you live out your faith and love in these very practical ways!

You don't need to wait for a birthday, holiday, or special occasion to write a kind letter to your kid.

This can be yet another random act of kindness to switch up your normal routine, but now you can show up in an unexpected way for your kids.

Writing letters to your kid can become a consistent practice in your life or a one-time thing, but the reality is that most of us are more articulate about our feelings when we sit down to write them down.

Take a moment to write down the reasons you love your kid just the way they are. You can leave this for them in a place where they can find it or read it out loud together with them.

Give your kid a physical representation of your genuine love for them that they can read and hold onto forever.

You might feel like your kid already knows exactly how you feel and how much you love them, but we all need to be reminded that we are loved from time to time.

Why not take a few moments to make sure your kid knows how much they mean to you?

We polled a group of parents and asked if they could focus their energy on only one area of their kids' well-being, where they would want to focus. Would you be shocked to know that every parent answered along the lines of "emotional health?"

When kids feel loved, safe, and free to say what's on their minds without fear, they will allow us into their world, where we can then influence their spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing.

So how can we help kids feel safe with us in all conversations? By showing up for them in all sorts of circumstances.

The big events, the special occasions, the early mornings, the mid-day notes, the on-time pick-ups and the late-night conversations all matter more than we might think.

Maybe it's time to take an inventory of where you're already showing up for your kid and how you can show up for them more consistently.

It's vitally important to meet your kids where they are at and try the things with them that interest them. However, you can also prove yourself to be a fun and trustworthy influence in their life by encouraging them to try a new activity.

While it would be easier to take them to do something you are already great at (and this is a highly encouraged activity in its own right), we also recommend trying something together that neither of you has ever tried!

If your kid has expressed interest in a new activity, try that together. If not, you can do some research to find a new, fun activity in an environment where they will feel safe enough to try it without fear of embarrassment.

Find a local place where you can take lessons in a new sport or activity or peruse YouTube for tutorials on how to paint, sculpt, bake, or achieve something brand new!

If you want to connect more deeply with your kid, try surprising them with something new. It might be exactly what they (and you) need to help you get out of a rut of disconnection.

It's the most important meal of the day, but your breakfast table could be the most impactful place to have a conversation.

We understand that our schedules and cholesterol levels don't always allow for us to sit down for a big plate of waffles every morning, but even if you can prioritize one morning each week to start your day together, the impact could be amazing.

Before any other influences speak into their lives or any other chaos distracts you from your relationship, prioritize a healthy conversation and remind them that no matter what the rest of the day looks like, they are loved!

Or maybe you already have a morning routine that's working. That's great! What are some other routines you can create to give your kid some more stability and give you more opportunities to connect consistently?

Or listen to an audiobook if reading with your eyeballs is intimidating.

Take your kid to the library or a local bookstore.

Have them pick out a book while you pick out one of your own. Then, you can read the same book or different books — whatever you want.

Spend 30 minutes reading.

Then spend some time asking them what they read, felt, and thought.

It's a simple formula and an easy way for you to encourage a great habit (reading) while also showing that you trust your kid to make decisions on their own and you are genuinely interested in what they think and care about

Yes, this one is for us as adults. We spend a lot of time trying to make sure our kids understand the importance of apologizing when they hurt someone, but this can be a tough pill to swallow when we are the ones who've messed up.

If you want to build a bond with a kid where they see you as a real person who really does mess up, but is always seeking to do better, you can start by acknowledging your faults and simply saying you're sorry.

You don't need to make excuses for yourself or make a big show out of the apology, just let your kid know that you value them enough to own up to it when you've messed up!

If you're feeling disconnected from your kid, maybe it's because there is unresolved tension or building frustration. This week, make it a priority to apologize for anything you know you've messed up. And if you can't think of anything, don't be scared to ask your kid if there's anything they wish you'd apologize for.

Or let's say your kid is the one who messed up — maybe they made a questionable decision, they broke a rule or they might've hurt themselves or somebody else in the process.

You already know what the punishment will be and it's a deserved consequence to their action.

However, your teaching moment doesn't end with the consequences. Consequences may teach kids to fear making the wrong choice, but processing their decisions with someone who loves them can teach kids the skills to decide between right and wrong.

Ask them questions like . . .

• Why do you think you are in trouble?

• What could you have done differently?

• If you didn't get caught, what might have happened? Could someone have gotten hurt?

Each situation will involve different lines of questioning, but by choosing to engage a kid's mind you can help them to be more critical in their future thinking and more trusting that you are on their side!

Airplane mode is not just for flying. When you are having dinner with your family, on a walk with your kid, watching a movie together or playing a game feel free to go ahead and switch your phone to airplane mode.

Take away the temptation that comes with every little buzz of the phone and show your kid that you really do value and prioritize the moments you get to have together.

You may think that your phone isn't a huge distraction or you may feel like you've mastered the art of subtly checking your emails during a conversation, but chances are your kids can tell when your focus is elsewhere.

However, when you intentionally remove your phone's ability to interrupt, your kids will see this and they will notice the place of importance that you choose to set them in.

You don't need to announce it (although you can if you'd like). In fact, you could even make it a game only you know about. Turn on airplane mode at the same time every day for a few days and see how long it takes your kid to notice.

Just like you, your kids have a lot of responsibilities to manage. Whether it's due to homework, extracurricular activities, helping around the house or even maintaining some of their relationships, a kid's schedule can be surprisingly full.

If we're not intentional, kids can become highly stressed out by their daily lives and unable to relax even when they do have free time. So how can you help?

Model self-care by being intentional about unplugging from your responsibilities whenever you are doing something you love or relaxing with your family.

Encourage self-care by finding out what brings your kid peace and fulfillment and encouraging those activities, free of all other expectations.

Practice self-care by caring for your bodies together. Get moving! Get active! Exercise! You don't have to start power-lifting with your children, but you should find specific ways to make a physical connection with your kid in a way that they enjoy.

• Do they like to dance? Then it doesn't matter how many left feet you have, you can show up and take a dance class together.

• Do they like to walk to run? Then you may have an opportunity there to get up early and spend some quality time together in the mornings.

• Do they love sports? Then find a local facility where you can practice their favorite sport together.

Caring for your body, mind, and spirit are all critical. As parents, you have the opportunity to model this for your kid while also building a better connection with them in the process.

If you're hearing some of these tips and thinking this sounds great, but you're not even sure where to begin at this point, don't be afraid to ask for help. Remember:

• You are not alone.

• This is normal.

• It won't always be easy to connect with your kid.

• Conflict is a real part of any relationship.

• You can repair the bond you have with your kid and make it better than ever.

We have an amazing community of parents and volunteers here who would love to walk through this with you, to encourage you, and to share their own experiences. The kindest thing you can do to yourself is to stop believing that you're alone and start reaching out to the people around you who truly want what's best for you!