Category: Personal

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    Hey Dad…You Matter

    Jamie Perkins

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    Hey Dad…You Matter

    The Power of a Strong Father-Daughter Bond

    It’s Not Complicated … spend time, establish traditions, be a role-model, & provide encouragement

    Maybe it’s because, had he still been living, my father would have turned 90 years old today or maybe it’s because I’m just really appreciating having had such a great father. I’m not sure, but bonds between fathers and daughters are on my mind this week.

    “My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and I watched him do it.”

    Fathers seem to naturally love and adore their daughters. A father’s love and influence can really help shape his daughter’s self-esteem, confidence, and identity.

    Research shows that daughters who have a positive relationship with their fathers are more likely to have healthy relationships, a more positive self-image, and stronger mental health.

    Fathers can also play a critical role in their daughter’s education by encouraging academic success and promoting intellectual curiosity.

    Spending quality time together is essential for a strong father-daughter bond. This can be as simple as playing a board game or going for a walk.

    It’s important to create a safe and supportive environment where a daughter feels comfortable sharing her thoughts and feelings with her father. This can help build trust and communication skills that will serve her well throughout her life.

    Fathers who are affectionate, caring, and involved in their daughter’s life can help their daughters develop a positive self-image and self-esteem. This support can also help daughters avoid risky behaviors and develop healthy relationships with others.

    Fathers also serve as positive role-models for their daughters. When fathers demonstrate positive behaviors and values, such as respect, responsibility, and integrity, their daughters are more likely to adopt those behaviors and values.

    Through role modeling, fathers help their daughters develop healthy relationships with others. When fathers model positive relationships with their partner, daughters learn what healthy relationships look like.

    Fathers can teach their daughters how to set boundaries, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts in a healthy manner. Fathers who are involved in their daughter’s life help their daughters develop a sense of independence and self-reliance.

    Establishing family traditions can help strengthen the bond between a father and his daughter. This can be something as simple as dropping her off at school in the morning or planning to take a hike together. She will know that you were mindful in planning to spend time with her. Being with you matters.

    Honoring special traditions creates a sense of stability and consistency in your daughter’s life, which can be especially important during times of stress or transition.

    Encouraging your daughter’s self-expression is another essential aspect of a strong father-daughter bond. Fathers can help their daughter develop a positive self-image by supporting her interests and talents.

    This can help your daughter feel confident and capable, setting her up for success in all areas of her life.

    A strong father-daughter bond can have lifelong benefits for both of you. By spending quality time together, being a positive role-model, honoring traditions, and encouraging self-expression, fathers can positively impact their daughter’s self-esteem, confidence, and identity.

    As a result, daughters who have a positive relationship with their fathers are more likely to lead happy, healthy, and successful lives.

    “A father’s love is eternal and without end.”

    So, here’s a shout-out to all of you fathers out there with daughters. Keep up the good work, because let me tell you, your daughter is watching your every move. She loves and adores you too.

    Do you have a father-daughter story to tell? If so, leave a comment here!

  • My story: Helping “Boomers” downsize, declutter, and learn to do more with less.

    Jamie Perkins

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    My story: Helping “Boomers” downsize, declutter, and learn to do more with less.

    If you’re reading this, perhaps you are also what is considered a “Baby Boomer.” Boomers were born between 1946-1964 and we are part of the boom in births that took place after the return of the WWII soldiers. Many of us are entering, or are already enjoying, retirement. My husband and I moved from California to Arizona in 2022 and in this process, we downsized considerably. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of what it meant to downsize as we were packing for this move. Wow, was I surprised! If you are considering a move and you are in your 60’s-70’s, stay tuned here for information which will save you time, energy, money and unnecessary stress. If you are a boomer staying in place, you really need to join this discussion. You don’t want your loved ones to have to sort through decades of unwanted “treasures.”

    Boomers were raised by parents who worked hard so that their children could have more, be more, strive to live “The American Dream.” Our parents wanted us to live a life filled with the things they didn’t have or activities they couldn’t do. A bigger house, a nicer car, big vacations were some of the things we were raised to think were valuable. No fault to our parents, but what a waste! They just wanted our lives to be “better” and quite possibly, “easier” than their lives.

    My first understanding about how to downsize simply meant moving to a smaller home. My husband and I sold our 3,500 sq ft family home and moved into a 2,300 sq ft home. That felt like downsizing in my mind, but here’s the reality. I proceeded to fill up this smaller home, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms with newer, smaller furniture, new artwork on the walls, and we had a large “Tuff Shed” built near the side of the house and enclosed the attic space, to store the items that didn’t fit inside. So, although we did get rid of a lot of our belongings with this move, we still did not understand what it meant to really downsize with intention.

    Three years later, we decided to move to Arizona. This time, we purchased a 1,500 sq. ft. home, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Why not? It’s just the two of us! We measured all of the rooms in our new home and were very careful about what we wanted to take with us to Arizona. I thought I understood intentional downsizing at this point. Nope…not even close. After being here about a year and a half, I’m finally really embracing and accepting letting go of the items I don’t need and/or things that don’t bring joy to our daily lives.

    My hope is to be able to save you time, energy, stress, and money and to help you find peace in your journey to downsize, declutter, and live an intentional life.

    Consider what intentional downsizing and decluttering really means for you.

    • What does downsizing really mean? Why do it and how do you do it?
    • When is it time for you to consider getting rid of the things in your life that don’t bring you joy? 
    • The sense of freedom that comes from decluttering is liberating. You will no longer feel tied to the possessions in your home and you’ll feel a new sense of independence.

    In my next post, we will get to work on precisely how to begin this process. I hope you will join the discussion.