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Have you ever wondered how to make each child in a blended family feel uniquely valued? Sometimes the answer lies in being purposefully present in both big adventures and small everyday moments.

When Greg and I merged our families, we quickly realized that intentionality would be our lifeline. After a chance encounter at Target revealed how our daughter Callie felt about sharing "her time" with us, we knew we needed a better approach. This moment of clarity sparked what would become one of our most cherished family traditions – the "Sweet 16 Adventures."

For each child's sixteenth birthday, we dedicated three to four days to go anywhere in the continental US and do whatever they wanted. Callie's New York adventure during a historic snowstorm, Thomas's adrenaline-filled outdoor excursion in Asheville, Cody's skateboarding journey up the California coast, and Erin Grace's personalized NYC experience – each trip uniquely reflected that child's personality and interests.

But perhaps the most powerful parts of our story aren't the grand adventures but the small, consistent investments we made: "Girls' Days" getting manicures, "Boys' Days" fishing followed by eating at "places the girls would never go," and those in-between moments where we simply showed up. These seemingly ordinary times built extraordinary connections that our now-adult children still reference today.

The beauty of intentional parenting isn't in perfection but presence. As I recently heard, "Don't wish for happiness to come. Be happy where you're at." Whether you're managing a blended family or simply looking to deepen your connection with your children, start where you are, with what you have. We'd love to hear your stories of intentional moments with your children on our social media. What simple traditions have created lasting bonds in your family?