Sound the Alarm. This month, set your alarm 10 minutes earlier than normal. Use those few minutes to grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and WAKE UP! Gather yourself, make sure everything is in place, and be ready for wake-up time. Instead of focusing on getting out the door, focus on speaking words of encouragement and love to your family.

House Call. Schedule a day or night this month to make house calls—the Skype or FaceTime kind. You can even phone or text! Make a list of family members you want to connect with, get your family together, and go “door to door.” Tell them you’re on a mission to find out 3 things about them that you didn’t know. Have a list of your own things to share.

Tailgate Together. The first Saturday in September is National Tailgating Day. Grab your burgers and grill (or some yummy to-go food) and drive your family to a park or public venue and set up an impromptu tailgate. Throw down some blankets or towels, turn up the music, and focus on having fun with your family. Having fun with your kids is the best way to stay connected with them! (P.S. If you can’t make it happen on the first Saturday, you can always choose another one!)

Character Catch. Choose a character trait you’d like your family to work on: patience, ambition, persistence, kindness, optimism, honesty, etc. Then, start off the month with a family challenge—for the next 30 days, your family will intentionally practice that character trait. Talk about it in the car, at meals, and at bedtime. Make it a game by awarding points to someone who “catches” another person displaying that trait. Add up the points at the end of the month and crown the winner.

Laugh Log. Along with parenting comes a lot of sweat and tears. But as tough as it can be, there’s also joy and laughter. Get into the habit of focusing on the positive moments by writing down something that made you laugh each day this month. These are the memories you will want to revisit time and time again.