Greetings to everyone. Can it really be May already? School is almost out and summer is almost here. I think I love summer more than the kids. Who would know by the weather though, it has been cold…

Anyway as I wrote the Newsletter Update last month I realized there might be an omission of a Close Kids factor from the book. So you wouldn’t miss it, I will include it today. The factor? Sharing a room together.

While it may or may not be practical in your situation, kids who share a room together do have a better chance to grow up as close adults. But with the progress of our culture providing most kids with their own rooms, this practice is becoming more and more rare. To compensate, we have Friday night “sleep togethers”. It is amazing how much they talk about Friday night and how much they enjoy being together. Towards the end of every week we hear, “Is it Friday night yet?”

What amazes their mother and I the most though is not the fact they stay up way to late and talk way too much, it is that they don’t fight. Most days we get a good dose of bickering, but when Friday night rolls around, it magically ends. I can’t explain it, but I can’t recall ever breaking up an argument…ever.

We also let them choose where they want to sleep. They can go campout style with sleeping bags (a word to the parents, this usually provides a late night) or pick a sister’s room and we make due. Most of the time all three of them end up in a twin bed with two of them at one end and one on the other. Try it out and see if the magic works for you and let me know.

PS. Upcoming Speaking Engagements – I will start to post these on the “Book Brett” page of the website, for now I will let you know I will be speaking on having Close Kids in Oklahoma City at St. Luke’s Methodist Church on June 29th at 9:40 in the Chapel.

PPS. From Jessica Bridges article I talked about last month. Things to do with your kids this month – Bottle up Lightning bugs (great time of year for that), Make a Bird Feeder, Spin in a Circle Together, Climb a Tree or Attract Butterflies (How to Attract Butterflies).

All my best,

Brett A Johnston