Life is filled with countless rules that need to be broken. No, I'm not talking about running red lights or robbing banks. I'm talking about simple assumptions that we live by in order to fit in and stay comfortable. Kids like to break the mold and a great way to stay childlike, leaving Adultitis in the dust, is to follow their lead. Here are a few thoughts about the rules that don't exist. …
[Read more...] about Are You Living By Rules That Don’t Exist?
We live in a culture of more. We are conditioned to want more stuff, sure, but also to be involved in more and more activities. Our schedules are bursting with everything from meetings, extracurriculars, and charitable activities to projects, practices, and parties of all kinds, including birthdays, baptisms, weddings and showers. And of course, we can't say no, for fear that we will appear selfish, offend somebody, or cripple our children's chance of getting into Harvard or the NBA. Sometimes it's as simple as not wanting to miss out on something fun. Having to say yes to all of these …
It seems as though the rough economy has affected just about everyone. Don't let it wreak even further havoc this Halloween. Just follow the advice in this video and you'll be able to enjoy the holiday AND avoid financial ruin. [flv:http://www.kimandjason.dreamhosters.com/clubkj_stuff/misc_videos/psa/King_Size_Candy_PSA.flv 450 338] iPod Version (13.2 MB) …
The days are getting colder, and the opportunities to take my little girl to the park for a swing without turning her into a babysicle are dwindling. *Sigh* She can sit on the swing all by herself now (with close supervision.) It seems like it was yesterday when we had our first swing. I'm sure it will seem like tomorrow when she starts asking for "underdogs." Today it was a sunny day. It's supposed to rain tomorrow. Make sure you're not wasting the sunny ones. …
Our buddy Lance over at The Jungle of Life posted an interview with me and Kim about our new book, our new life with a baby, and what we'd do if we were stranded in the middle of Wisconsin for a year. You may remember Lance from our collaboration on the Laugh Flash we did in Madison a few months back. It was fun to answer his creative questions, and I love the fact that he added his own commentary in response to our answers. Here's a sample from the interview: …
On the plane coming home from New York the other day, after the flight attendant told us to turn off our portable electronic devices, I reached for the Delta Sky magazine in the seat back pocket. I was delighted to find an article on the upcoming movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, Where The Wild Things Are. [Fun Fact: When the book came out in 1963, parents and teachers tried to get it banned. It was controversial because kids aren't supposed to be sent to bed without dinner. Pretty scandalous, huh?] The article featured interviews with two of the actors from …
[Read more...] about What You Can Learn From the Making of “Where The Wild Things Are”
It seems like we're all juggling a million plates and it's practically impossible to keep them all spinning. Here's a little reminder about what to do about the dust and cobwebs and busyness that piles up as we live our lives. This video was originally posted on Facebook. Become a fan of Kim & Jason on Facebook and get the first scoop on the crazy things we're up to as well as other behind-the-scenes treats. …
[Read more...] about What You Should Do About Dust and Cobwebs
Jen Robinson, our favorite children's book expert in the whole wide world, recently reviewed a book geared more towards bigger kids. Namely, bigger kids like you! She takes her reviews very seriously, so we were quite ecstatic to see she had some great things to say about There's An Adult In My Soup. Here's a snippet: …
[Read more...] about A Series of Pep Talks From That Unquenchable Friend
We went to the doctor the other day for my daughter Lucy’s nine-month checkup. It included a smorgasbord of shots. And I got to hold her down. I was pretty nervous on the ride there, and I wasn’t even the one getting the shots. As we were driving, I told Kim that I would rather receive the shots myself than have to see Lucy get them. “Spoken like a true Dad,” said my wife. I’m not sure what suddenly made me a glutton for punishment, but I didn’t say that to come across like some macho dude. I really meant it. Which surprises even me. You see, I’m not one of those manly men, with …
Don't ever wish away time. That's some advice a nursing home social worker gave herself during one of my speaking programs the other day. I'd asked the audience to imagine having an opportunity to sit bedside with their 99-year-old self. What advice would they receive from their more wise and experienced mentor? After giving them a few moments to reflect, I invited them to share. That's when one woman advised, "Don't ever wish away time." What a great piece of advice. And yet we do it all the time, don't we? …
