The anticipation started about a month ago. Anyone who knows my husband Jason knows that he is very passionate about football season. He loves everything about it…the players, the rivalries, the highlights, the opportunity to eat chili and other yummy soups in your flannel pants, and also the fantasy football. Just talking about it all makes him smile from ear to ear, which is a big deal for someone who typically smiles with his mouth closed. The anticipation has brought him great joy these last few weeks. Sometimes the anticipation is the best part of something. I can’t count how many …
Archives for September 2006
Children of the Self-Absorbed
So what happens if someone doesn't want to return to childhood? Well, at least not when it comes to their own childhood. I'm always quick to point out that it's never too late to have a great childhood. That being said, one of the great tragedies in life is when someone's childhood is ruined, particularly by abuse or... really bad parenting. I'm not one for pointing fingers or blaming others -- that's childish -- but for those of you out there who need some tips on getting past a less than stellar upbringing, maybe this book by Nina Brown will help. I cracked up at the title: Children of the …
Authentic Wonder
Lots and lots has already been said and written about the late great Crocodile Hunter. But I wanted to call your attention to one more article about Steve Irwin's death specifically because it really underscores what this blog is all about. Nick Coleman of the Star Tribune observes that Irwin's passing is "the rarest of tragedies: the death of a celebrity that affects children and adults at the same time." Here are some highlights: …
Benefits of Boredom
With Labor Day now behind us, for all intents and purposes, summer is over. When I look back to the summers of my youth, I fondly remember my mom ignoring my brothers and me as we complained of having nothing to do. Ok, ignoring may be a strong word, but I distinctly remember this being her favorite catchphrase: "If you're so bored, I'm sure I can find something for you to do." Usually her ideas never involved a weekend jaunt to Disney World. A recent article in USA Weekend by Ann Pleshette Murphy proposes that boredom is actually a good thing for kids. …
So Long, Crocodile Hunter
When I first saw Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, I thought, "Now this guy is one big kid!" His boyish passion and wide-eyed enthusiasm were irresistible. Whether he was sticking his head in a crocodile's mouth or picking up an irritated snake by the tail, I couldn't stop watching. Needless to say, Kim and I were saddened to hear about his death yesterday. …
Splatter Paint without the Messy Cleanup
Jackson Pollock was an artist who created energetic paintings by splattering different colors of paint on large canvases. Now you can release your inner child -- Pollock-style -- at the Flash-based web site jacksonpollock.org, created by Miltos Manetas. It's a lot of fun, and you won't even get paint on your keyboard![tags]Jackson Pollock, art, painting, inner child[/tags] …
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Twenty-Four Hours
The other day I was listening to a song which really spoke to me. It's called "Life Means So Much" by Chris Rice. This verse and the chorus, in particular, really stuck out... Every day is a bank account And time is our currency So nobody's rich, nobody's poor We get 24 hours each …