Hug Your Kids – Interview with Jeffrey Benjamin

 

Listen to Jeffrey Benjamin interview Hug Your Kids Founder, Michelle Nichols

You’ve read about Hug Your Kids. You might have even met Michelle Nichols, the founder. In this interview by Jeffrey Benjamin, founder of Breakthrough Training, you can learn why this message matters to every businessperson, regardless of whether they have kids or not. And if they do have kids, why they should forget “work-life balance,” and how they can be truly successful at work and life. This message impacts sales, business and life!

Listen and let me know if you agree, disagree or have someting to add!

Hug Your Kids – Even With a Pierced Belly Button

My daughter Amy shows off her new PIERCED belly button

Beware of children of sales trainers. Kids often pick up bits and pieces of their parents’ professions. Since I was in the sales biz for 25 years, my kids are really good persuaders.

Case in point: My daughter, Amy, turned 18 recently. See her Mexican tres leches cake (yum!), her cute boyfriend, and her new pierced belly button. I thought the tiara was a nice touch too.

How did she close her sale to me? “But Mom, my belly now has an amethyst – and that’s my birthstone!” 

Kids – gotta’ hug ‘em before they grow up and fly off to college and the rest of their lives. Too soon, she’ll be out of hug’s reach.

Hug Your Kids – Even Argentina 32 Years Late

Dad from Argentina hugs son for the first time, 32 years after birth

Did you read the story about the Argentine dad, Abel Madariaga, whose pregnant wife was kidnapped 33 years ago? Long story short, thanks to the Grandmothers of the Paza de Mayo rights group, the dad and son were recently reunited. Wow!

What did dad say? “Hugging him that first time, it was as if I filled a hole in my sole.”

Can you imagine waiting 32 years to hug your child for the first time? Go hug your kids right now – or call them and tell them you love them. Hugs matter. Hugs heal.

Hug Your Kids – Especially Older Dads

Author, Speaker Joe Calloway hugs Michelle in Nashville

I got to have lunch with big-time speaker and thinker Joe Calloway when I was in Nashville recently. He wrote a “bit” for my Hug Your Kids Today! book and brings a different perspective to this whole work-life “balance” (Ha!) conversation. He and his wife Annette had their first child, Jessica, when Joe was in his late 40′s and adopted their second daughter, Cate, a few years later, in his early 50′s.

Older dads really appreciate being able to hug, and laugh with, their children, in the moment. They have a lot to teach younger dads – and vice versa. Hurrah for men of all ages who are willing to step up and be great fathers!

Hug Your Kids – Even Angry Teens Need Hugs

Even angry teens need a hug

Maybe especially angry teens. Actually, these girls were posing and cracked up right after I snapped this photo but it makes me laugh.

Parents of teens ask me all the time about hugging their teens. My answer, “Yes!” Of all the age groups, I think teens need hugs the most. They’re learning to drive, applying to college, starting to work, dating, and other stuff we don’t even know about. They need the physical reminders of  hugs that their moms and dads LOVE them and stand beside, behind and even in front of them.

Even though my 18-year old daughter is 6 feet tall, my husband and I like to give her a “sandwich hug” where we both hug her at the same time. It’s one part embarassment and one part comfort.

Got a teen? Hug them today!

Kids, Hug Your Dads – When They’re Away on Valentine’s Day

Dr. Marc Tinsley, of Monroeville, PA, and the hand-made valentines from his kids

 

 I was at an NSA speaker’s conference in Nashville on Valentine’s Day morning recently and sat next to Dr. Marc Tinsley. As we opened our folders to take notes of ideas from the opening speaker, I noticed the 2 hand-made valentines in his folder. His kids had hidden them in his suitcase and just told him where they were earlier that morning.

I’m always reminding parents to hug their kids. This is a great example of kids giving their dad a long-distance hug.

Hugs for all!

Hug Your Kids – Even Elvis Needs a Hug

"Love me tender, baby!" Michelle gets a hug from Elvis in Nashville.

Hug Your Kids – After You Luge at the Olympics

Four-time Olympian Ruben Gonzalez waves after his luge run

Olympian Ruben Gonzalez and family hug

Ruben and Cheryl Gonzalez, of Katy, Texas, don’t just talk about hugging their kids – they walk their talk!

Ruben was the first person to ever compete in the Olympics over 4 decades. He brought along his family to witness his success – and for a few “Good luck, I love you” hugs.

Congratulations, Ruben!

PS To read Ruben’s amazing story, go to
http://www.thelugeman.com

 

Hug Your Kids – Even Tired “Wii” Ones

So cute you just want to hug him!

Reader Tom Taormina, a proud grandpa, sent in this photo of his 5-year old grandson from Texas. Tom titled it, “Wii until you drop – the new exercise regime.”

I don’t know about you, but think my kids are beautiful when they are asleep.  I confess, I bought pictures of sleeping children for the walllpaper in each of my infant’s rooms. I wanted them to think about sleeping. Now that they are teenagers, they sleep almost as much as they did when they were babies.

Whatever, just hug ‘em as often as you can, sharing your love and confidence in them. Being a kid is hard. A hug can help – both of you!

Hug Your Kids – For Rare Disease Day

Addi and Cassi Hempel, who are battling Niemann Pick Type C AKA Children's Alzheimer's

When a child has a rare disease, it’s tough on them and their whole families. It’s hard to find doctors to diagnose and treat them, there often aren’t medicines, protocols or special equipment to make their lives easier or cure them, and  kids can feel “weird” when they just want to fit in.

To help these kids, and their families, there’s a great group called the Children’s Rare Disease Network.
http://www.crdnetwork.org
The beauty is, when kids with rare diseases come together, they and the public see that they aren’t so rare! Feb. 28 is World Rare Disease Day, and many groups are coming together, helping to raise awareness.

Chris and Hugh Hempel introduced me to the CRDN through their beautiful 6-year old twins Addi and Cassi. Check out www.addiandcassi.com for their story.

Please hug your kids and spouse / partner today, just because you can!