Fun Friend Fridays Show Power of Sharing Solutions

Ahh, Memorial Day weekend! The start of summer – and the beginning of the school break childcare scramble for parents.  While my youngest just graduated from Purdue University with his master’s degree (where did the years go?), I recall the masterful scheduling and effort it took to cover a summer of kid coverage, and a story about the power of sharing solutions 

When our kids were in those weird “too big for a babysitter yet 40 hours home alone is too much” years, my husband and I brainstormed how to fill the gap. Recall in this time pre-Covid, working from home was not the norm. My answer?  Fun Friend Friday.

I decided to take every Friday off in June and July to insert fun in the summer and spend quality time with my kids. They had their “chore list” – including working on 4-H projects - the other days of the week when my husband and I could pop home for lunch, but Friday was all about fun.  Exploring our hometown, determining where the best doughnuts could be found, and extra cousin time filled these fun days.

This creative solution came full circle last year when I was at the Agribusiness Council Women’s meeting. Jill Zeller, a panelist from Corteva, spoke about the importance of balance – and cited how she remembered my “Fun Friend Friday” action plan.  I was humbled by the stage shout out – and the realization that people are watching how others navigate life’s challenges.  Your actions DO speak louder than words and sharing your solutions can inspire others.

While not everyone has the fabulous alliteration of “Fun Friend Friday,” you can create your own catchphrase and action plan for a challenge in your life that can inspire others.  Every solution we share becomes a stepping stone that can give a colleague solid footing for a challenge in their path.

Here’s to a summer of creative solutions and fun!