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September 2025
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Pieces on the Board A LOOK BACK AT GAME NIGHT
Looking over a list of random holidays, I saw that September has National Checkers Day. I didn’t know that was a thing, but when I saw it, I couldn’t help but laugh — and remember. Technically, National Checkers Day has nothing to do with board games. It commemorates a political speech about a dog named Checkers. But since my dog, Oliver, isn’t in politics and doesn’t have a speech to his name, I figured I’d focus on the part I remember best: the actual game. When I was in high school, I was on the checkers team that competed with other schools during academic competitions. It wasn’t my main event. I was usually there for Lincoln-Douglas debate, which I still think is the sanest debate format. I ended up in checkers partly because I’d been playing during lunch with a friend. He graduated, a spot opened on the team, and I slid into it. We took the game seriously. Unlike casual games at home, where you could pass on a jump if you wanted, competitive checkers followed strict rules. If a jump was there, you had to take it. That created chances for setups and double-jumps, which made the whole thing feel a little more strategic. I can’t remember how well I did on the team, but I remember the energy. Even then, checkers wasn’t my favorite game. I liked chess much more. I used to play with my grandfather every time he visited. We’d break out the same old set with its oversized, cartoonish pieces. I still have the set today. When we played, he never let me win. Ever. That just made it more satisfying when I finally did. I took the same approach with my kids. My wife would throw a game every now and then, but I figured the real joy comes from finally pulling off a win the hard way. I played a lot of games growing up. My dad loved dominoes. He learned it from my grandfather, who learned it from my great-grandfather. We’d play different versions and sometimes mix it up with a game called Shoot the Moon, which was like hearts but with dominoes. I also remember playing spades at Boy Scout camp, sitting around a picnic table under a tarp while it poured rain. That was one way to pass the time. Some of the games came from my mom’s side. She introduced us to Trade Winds, a pirate-themed board game from Parker Brothers. You sailed your little boat to an island, collected treasure, and tried to make it back to
your harbor before someone else stole it. I found a copy on eBay years ago, and it still makes the occasional appearance. But our main family game was Tripoley, a mix of hearts, poker, and Michigan rummy. We played it when I was a kid and later with our kids, too. Those games were a fixture for a long time. Family game nights are fewer and farther between these days. I mostly play games solo and on screens. I’ve tried virtual reality chess and Settlers of Catan. It’s pretty fun but not quite the same. Maybe it’s time to break out the games again and play as a family next time everyone’s around. I’ll just keep Oliver away from the snacks and the board. He’s terrible at checkers and even worse at sharing.
-Aaron Miller
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FROM CHAOS TO CALM Actionable Tips for a More Organized Home Life
Family life these days can be stressful. Many parents must work more hours to make ends meet. They sign kids up for multiple activities to give them every opportunity possible. Meanwhile, video games and social media seep into every spare minute at home, stealing time family members might have spent resting or hanging out together. No wonder family life feels like a race with no finish line. But strategies to give yourself a little breathing room can be surprisingly simple. Here are six ideas to help everyone at your house feel calmer and more in control. Restore Routines Sticking to set times to finish chores can lend a sense of order. Setting homework, housework, and bedtime schedules can be calming for children. Teach your child to perform basic tasks at the same time every day, such as making their bed. For parents, planning set times to pay bills or shop for groceries can restore a sense of control. This strategy may seem obvious, but the rush to meet other commitments can easily eclipse common-sense habits. Plan as a Team Post a family calendar in a central location, such as on the refrigerator, and make updating it a shared weekly task. Some families with older kids use a digital calendar synced to everyone’s devices, but paper is better for teaching young children the process of collaborative viewing and updating. Set a time every week to huddle about the coming week. Include homework due dates, errands, activities, and household routines to make sure essential jobs get done. Delegate a household task to each child, and add due dates to the
by praising them for getting off to a calm, well-planned start. This skill, instilled early, can make your child’s adult working life far easier.
Set Limits FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is rampant among families. Parents often over-commit to too many activities in an effort not to miss any valuable opportunities. As difficult as it is to say no when your child asks to take part in too many activities, it is essential to preserve order. Establishing boundaries around your children’s commitments will teach them two valuable skills: setting priorities and valuing free time. Both are essential to a fulfilling, sustainable life. Don’t Procrastinate Much of the stress in families’ home lives springs from a mad rush to meet commitments in too short a time. Cultivate a habit of looking ahead at future deadlines and demands, and stop trying to save time by cutting it close. If your soccer player needs to arrive at practice on time, allow 30 minutes for the 20-minute drive. If your fourth grader needs supplies for next week’s fundraiser, shop for them this weekend rather than the night before the event.
Encourage Realistic Standards As odd as it may seem in our highly competitive culture, settling for less than perfection can go a long way toward de-stressing your home life. Setting perfectionistic standards can lead children to feel stressed and defeated before they start. Aim for positivity rather than perfection. Ask more questions rather than making demands. Say, “What is your plan for homework tonight?” rather than, “You need to get started on your homework.” This subtle change will empower your children to build a sense of personal mastery. As subtle as these changes may seem, they have helped countless families extract order from chaos. Try them yourself — and enjoy the sense of calm and control that will result!
calendar. Enjoy watching your kids learn teamwork, organizational skills, and accountability!
The 10-Minute Prep Teach your children every evening to plan ahead for the next day. Join them in a 10-minute planning session to lay out their clothes and gather all the necessary supplies. Reinforce the habit the next morning
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Hit ‘Play’ and Hit the Road
Audiobooks the Whole Family Will Love
The stress of holiday road trips can tempt any parent to let their kids zone out in front of a screen, but don’t give in! To prevent bored youngsters from disappearing into their tablets or phones during long drives, consider healthier modes of entertainment, such as audiobooks. Unlike passive entertainment media such as movies and video games, audiobooks can accelerate a child’s reading ability by making more complex language accessible. Also, the whole family can enjoy listening to a good audiobook — even sitting in separate seats in a moving car! Apps like Libby or Hoopla provide access to audiobooks and ebooks through participating public libraries. Amazon Prime subscribers can access some free audiobooks through Audible. For suggestions on family fare, ask your local librarian or check out the nonprofit Common Sense Media website for recommended holiday-themed books. For elementary school children, consider “The Snow Queen,” a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. This classic story of a girl saving her friend from danger, read by Julia Whelan, will inspire listeners with its lessons about fidelity and courage. Another classic is “The Cricket in Times Square” by George Selden. Read with dazzling energy by “Monk” actor Tony Shalhoub, this tale of a streetwise city mouse encountering a country cricket in a New York subway station is an engaging, easy listen.
For tweens, “The Mother- Daughter Book Club, Book 5” by Heather Vogel
Frederick tells of five book club members setting out on holiday trips from the tropics to the Alps. Of course, numerous disasters befall them before the book’s satisfying ending! Another Christmas-themed winner is “Nickel Bay Nick” by Blair Jackson, a coming- of-age novel about a troublemaking 11-year-old boy who gets a chance to redeem himself when a mysterious neighbor blackmails him to perform acts of charity in
their down-and-out town. And “Juniper’s Christmas” by Eoin Colfer is a Christmas adventure about 11-year-old Juniper Lane, who is accidentally exposed to North Pole magic after she asks for help from a mysterious woodsman living in a nearby park. As you listen, you can enjoy knowing that in addition to entertaining the family, you are stimulating your child’s imagination and language ability as they visualize the people and places in these delightful stories.
Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak Inspired by TheShortOrderCook.com
Ingredients
Marinade • 2/3 cup red wine • 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
• 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/4 tsp ginger powder • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup sesame oil • 1 tbsp sesame seeds • 1 tsp minced garlic
(optional, for a spicy marinade)
Meat • 1 1/2 lbs flank steak
1. In a large bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. Place the flank steak in a large, rimmed dish. Pour the marinade over the meat. 3. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for 15 minutes. Flip and let marinate for another 15 minutes. 4. Preheat grill to 400 F. 5. Add the meat to the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes on each side. Leave the grill lid open to avoid overcooking. 6. For a medium-rare steak, remove from grill at 130 F internally, and for medium, remove at 140 F. 7. Let the meat rest on a cutting board for 5–10 minutes. Then, slice across the grain into thin pieces and enjoy! Directions
TAKE A BREAK
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214.292.4225 AaronMillerLaw.com 1400 Preston Road, Suite 118 Plano, Texas 75093
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
The Games We Played
2
6 Steps to a Smoother Family Life
3
Audiobook Adventures for Family Car Trips
Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak
4
Have a Chat With Yourself — It’s Good for You
Talking to Yourself Isn’t Crazy — Really! IT’S SELF-CARE!
Find Lost Items Faster Have you ever lost your keys and started saying, “Where are my keys?” as you look around? That’s not just habit — it’s science at work. A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that speaking the name of a lost object out loud can speed up the search process. When you vocalize what you’re looking for, your brain can use verbal and visual cues, helping you locate the item more efficiently. Improve Mental Health What you say to yourself matters. Practicing positive self-talk — like encouraging yourself after a mistake or giving yourself a confidence boost — can reduce stress and improve emotional resilience. Phrases like “I can handle this!” or “Let’s take it one step at a time!” support a healthier, more optimistic mindset. Here’s the bottom line: Talking to yourself is a powerful tool for improving focus, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. As long as the self-talk is constructive and kind, don’t hide it — embrace it instead. So, go ahead and have a chat with yourself. Your brain will thank you.
You’ve probably caught yourself muttering under your breath or talking out loud when no one else is around. While it may feel strange, research shows that talking to yourself is perfectly normal and can be good for your mental well-being. Gain Mental Clarity When you talk to yourself out loud, your brain slows down and organizes thoughts more clearly. This is especially helpful when you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or need to make a tough decision. Saying things out loud forces you to process information more deeply, almost like giving yourself advice from a trusted friend — after all, who knows you better than yourself? Boost Focus and Performance If you sometimes talk yourself through a difficult situation or task, keep it up! Research shows verbal cues can sharpen focus and improve task performance. Athletes, for example, often use motivational self-talk like “Keep going!” or “You’ve got this!” during training and competition. That same technique can help you power through a challenging work project or stressful situation with more confidence and drive.
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