As we wound up the mountain towards our New Year’s hideaway, an idea came to me.  Instead of pushing forward through our annual family tradition of sharing goals/resolutions for 2015, what if each of us identified a “tagline” that would guide us through the upcoming 365 days.  After letting it ruminate around a few turns, I proposed the idea to the girls and my husband.  The first question the girls had was, “What’s a tagline?”  I explained that it’s a motto, or slogan that is typically used by companies for marketing purposes.  You guessed it, the next question was, “What’s marketing?”

Thanks to my handy dandy smart phone, I pulled up some of the most recognizable catchphrases and we had a terrific discussion around what each company did and what the associated slogan was attempting to communicate.  Here are just a few:  Apple - Think different.  GE - We bring good things to life.  Hewlett Packard - Invent.  NBC - Must see TV.  Southwest Airlines - You are now free to move about the country.  US Navy - It’s not a job.  It’s an adventure.  The Yellow Pages - Let your fingers do the walking.

The girls quickly got the picture and shared ones that they have heard, “Nationwide is on your side,”  or “Safeway - ingredients for life,” and “Snickers satisfies you.”  We talked about how companies and/or products might keep a tagline for years, or they might change to a new one to reach a different audience or to alter the audience’s focus.  Nevertheless, everyone was on board.

We included two design parameters.  The tagline needed to be broad enough to apply to the various parts of our lives (e.g. school, personal growth, professional) and, if using an already established tagline, try to personalize it and make it original.

For the next few days each of us dedicated thinking time to this task at different points in the day.  When I was putting the girls to sleep one night, after Alex had already passed out (which happens moments after her head hits the pillow), I turned to Sammi and her eyes were wide open.  I knew that left brain of hers was working overtime!  She shared that she was having trouble coming up with a tagline.  I assured her that it would come to her when she was ready and that it would perfectly represent her.  Chris tormented all of us with what he insisted would be his tagline, “Do tomorrow what you can do today.”  None of us approved!  Of course the more we protested and explained that being a procrastinator was not the way he should spend 2015, the more he delighted in our consternation and teased us even more.

New Year’s Eve arrived and the time to share our taglines was upon us.  Through our great conversations, we decided we needed a tagline for our family.

Benadom Family - Let’s go [to new] places!

Chris - Just do it. (Proudly borrowed from Nike and not modified one bit!)

Erika - Focus on what matters; keep it simple.

Samantha - Conquer life’s tangles.

Alex - Be an original.

Both Samantha and Alex’s taglines touched my heart dearly.  Sam and I arrived at hers together after our third episode of detangling her very long hair that she’s struggling to manage.  After spending over 20 minutes trying to get out various knots and tangles, I said, “Sam, we gotta find a way to conquer these because neither of us is enjoying this process.”  She then said, “Mom, THAT’S my tagline.  Conquer tangles.”  It brought the needed levity to that moment.  We talked about how this massive tangle was a metaphor for the various challenges that might come up in life and that while frustrating, you have to keep at it and straighten out the problem.  We also discussed how to be proactive to prevent tangles from the get go.  I am happy to report, she has been hair tangle free since the new year!

Alex knew her tagline the moment we began discussing it.  She was born with spunk, a strong conviction, a deep sense of justice, and a very strong understanding of who she is.  She has a shirt that reads, “I am who I am.  Your approval isn’t necessary.”  She is in a family that embraces and encourages her originality and voice.  We all find great joy in her spirit and she inspires each of us in a myriad of ways.

So what’s all this got to do with Almond and education?  Well, LASD has it’s own tagline that guides our work:  REVOLUTIONIZE LEARNING!  We do this by empowering students and teachers, through nurturing a growth mindset, when we value process as much as the product, by providing students with choice in various learning activities, and when we design learning that meets students at their ability levels.  This tagline has been part of our district culture for several years now and has gained clarity and greater purpose in leading us towards student needs.

On this 8th day of the New Year, I ask you…”What’s your 2015 tagline?”

Here’s to another terrific year together!