Want to treasure something? Invest in it!

So said my father. My old Dad was right. He was old-almost forty-four when I was born and now was in his fifties. He was right because he drilled down to one of the bedrock principles of life when he told me, “Son, if you want to treasure something, invest in it.” It worked for him–eventually. The good news is that it’ll work for you and me.

Dad could have been talking about stocks and bonds. But he wasn’t. He could have been talking about how to get interested in the St. Louis Cardinals playing the Boston Red Sox in the 1946 World Series.

But he wasn’t. He was talking about the general principle. And family. Mostly he was talking about family. It relates to you. And me.

Almost too late, Dad began investing in family. For almost forty years he had squandered life on other things.

Often he invested in empty things–foolish things. Then he met my mother-to-be. That attractive little widow flipped his investment strategy upside down! He spent the next few months, then the last forty-six years of his life in high-interest investing. Not money (he had little), but his heart, his time, his energy, went into family. Four generations adored him. Later generations regret that they missed him.

This site, TheFamilyMinute.com, is about making the most of family. I’ll post thoughts about reading aloud to children, storytelling, playing together, making “thimble biscuits,” building family traditions–all kinds of little investments, and large ones. They accrue massive compound interest and build memories for a lifetime. We’ll watch my mother and dad work their family-blending wonders. And I’ll share nuggets from my half-century-plus of work with children and families. Some of you will give helpful insights.

Not much will come from Child Psychology 302, Developmental Psychology 202-or other such classes I took back in the 1950s. We’ll talk about down-to-earth, put-to-work-now ideas and activities. You’re going to love them! Some of my posts will be audios or videos. Some will be text. And we’ll have guest messages. All, I promise, will enrich your life.

So this blog is for people who are passionate about family–or want to be. If you don’t give a hoot about family, it’s not for you. But if you’re ready to make a difference for generations to come, we’re in for a delightful and enriching journey.

TheFamilyMinute.com is for those you love, too. I’d be elated to have you call, write, email, or otherwise get in touch with them and invite them to join us at www.theFamilyMinute.com. And please do let me hear from you. –Grandpa Dale