No More Party Poopers

As I mentioned in a recent podcast, I had a baby shower a few weeks ago with a crazily silly shower game. Woman everywhere have to admit that shower games are inherently a source for easy diagnosis of Adultitis. Those who think these games are silly and chilldish are typically silently suffering with a severe case. Those who not only enjoy the games, but want to be in charge of them, are typically Adultitis-free or at least only Stage 1. (Do you know what stage you are in? Check now!)

Have you heard of this game? It involves real diapers and about five different candy bars. The Adultitis-free party planner melts the bars in the microwave and then transfers the “goods” to the inside of a diaper that is labeled 1-5. As the game starts you have five dirty diapers floating around to be inspected. The winner is the one who guesses the most candy bars correctly.

I have to admit that I didn’t fully engage in the competitiveness of this game because I was much too distracted by the comedy of imagery all around me. As I looked around the room at all of these friends of mine, I couldn’t help but simply laugh… and laugh. Here they were lifting filled diapers to their noses, with the most serious looking faces. Some of the more competitive types were in a zone… others just laughed as they lifted the diapers to their noses. Either way, it was hilarious!

I’ve played this at a couple of other showers and I have to tell you that there is always one guest who simply states that she “cannot play.” “It’s too gross!” Maybe I’m being insensitive, but it seems to me that it’s Adultitis striking again. Life is just too short and filled with too many headaches to allow yourself to take yourself too seriously at a baby shower. Admittedly, it’s a game that would be just as well received at an eight-year-old’s birthday party, but isn’t that the point? Eight-year-olds know how to have fun, don’t they!?

I think most woman love this game because it’s a chance to laugh and make light of something very real and not very fun… dirty diapers. I read the other day that by three weeks of age, the baby will have received 200 diaper changes. Yikes! Reality check. There are many seriously stupid chores and stresses in life that are just a reality. Try to lighten your load (no pun intended) by finding something to laugh about. Being serious will only perpetuate the problem.

I got an email the other day from Austen Onek, a reader from TN. He is a living, breathing example of an Adultitis-free man working in a professional setting, but still not taking himself too seriously. Here are a few of his comments to us…

Most of what I do is inspired in showing my kids that there is humor and mirth in life, and not in just day-to-day-2-cups-before-10AM drudgery. Life is just too darn short for being too down about stuff. Sugary cereals, oddly decorated offices, wearing sneakers with my suits, odd socks, singing while driving, using my Sonic Screwdriver to examine things and wearing my 25′ long Doctor Who scarf when it’s cold.

The other day I was invited to a school for a Community Leader Breakfast. Of course, I had to wear the suit, but the sneakers may have been a tad much on this occasion. So, failing that clothing option, I opted for the bright science-themed tie. My one saving grace with wearing suits like this is to wear bright/unique neckties. Along the lines that if the rules of men’s business fashion dictates that I must wear a strip of fabric around my neck that is going to partly cut off my oxygen supply, I’m darn well gonna’ have fun with it!

A big kudos to Austen for being an example of someone enjoying the moment and not taking himself too seriously! He is certainly NOT a party pooper!