Napkin Note: Stop the Presses Edition!

January 13, 2014WGarth Callaghan

As you know, I have been writing Napkin Notes to my daughter, Emma, for years. I started to post these notes in Facebook and Twitter about a year ago as a way to inspire other parents. The Facebook Napkin Notes page was created in August 2013 as a central place for parents to go for daily inspiration. I have received many supportive messages via email and Facebook postings. Many parents have posted pictures of the notes they have written. I even received a Napkin Note in the mail from one of my nurses.

Today marks the first time that my daughter wrote a Napkin Note for me and secretly put it into my lunchbox. I walked into work this morning and opened the lunchbox to pull out my oatmeal. I saw a paper towel next to my food. I was sure that I didn’t put anything like that in there.

I opened the paper towel and saw a note:

If my friends really did jump off a cliff, it’s because it was my idea. Sincerely, your daughter is a leader, not a follower.

PS. I think you used all the napkins <3

I think that I may just be on to something here!

Pack. Write. Connect.

Reflections on Christmas

January 12, 2014WGarth Callaghan

Christmas time has come and gone, although I refuse to pack up the spirit on December 26. I hate how the world rushes to return to “normal” so soon after the calendar passing of Christmas. What’s so great about “normal”? I’d much rather take the cozy feelings of family, good food, togetherness and goodwill than the rush of “normal”. I delay taking down the tree and the decorations, hoping to extend my internal holiday inspiration. I truly prefer to keep them up through January 6 while celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas and Epiphany. In fact, I just took down my personal Star Wars Christmas tree only because my wife, Lissa was starting to give it the evil eye.

Napkin Note Lunch Edition

January 06, 2014WGarth Callaghan

Daughter - salad, PB and crackers, cuties, water and a Napkin Note.

Dad - quinoa, celery, orange, banana, and peanuts.

Pack. Write. Connect.

Napkin Notes 2013

December 30, 2013WGarth Callaghan

Thank you for all of your support in 2013! Napkin Notes is inspiring parents each day to create deeper connections and relationships with their children! How can we better serve you in 2014?

Faces of 2013: Garth Callaghan

December 29, 2013WGarth Callaghan

WHY YOU KNOW HIM: Garth Callaghan touched hearts far and wide this year when he began publicly sharing on Facebook the lunch notes that he writes for his teen daughter, Emma. He’s been writing notes to pack in her lunches nearly every day since she started kindergarten. As she’s grown — she’s now 14 — the contents of the notes have matured with her. One day’s note might be an inspirational saying from a famous person, while the next day it’s a short but personal note straight from his heart.