Sometimes I long for the days when an Etch-a-Sketch was the most technologically advanced gadget I owned. Yes, I love my shiny iPhone and all the wonderful things it lets me do. But I hate when a family is out to eat and I see them all face down in their smartphones. I hate it because it reminds me of how the pull to check email or send a tweet or scan status updates on Facebook pulls ME away from actually being present in my real life. It often distracts me on my dates with my daughter. And it sucks up the mental space that could have been used to pray or think or -- gasp! -- just …
Archives for April 2013
How to Break the Cycle of Adultitis
Where does Adultitis come from? As a very contagious disease, it's an important question. Many times, it's passed down from generation to generation. This cycle needs to stop. But how? The best way is to model what an Adultitis-free life looks like. Like this Dad: Our kids listen to what we DO, not what we SAY. With respect to Adultitis, the prognosis for these girls' futures looks very positive. …
Children’s Hospital Hires Spiderman to Fight Grime
It seems ridiculous at first. What if we dressed our delivery drivers like the Flash? Or the crowd control team at the stadium as Stormtroopers? Or our window washers as...Spiderman? That's exactly what John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital did a few months ago. …
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Tinkering
Sometimes living a better story requires making a big, hairy, scary change. Like moving across the country or taking a pay cut to do what you love. But most of the time we just need to be open to the art of tinkering. The dictionary says that to tinker is "to repair, adjust, or work with something in an unskilled or experimental manner." Take special note of those words "unskilled" and "experimental." For some reason, we grown-ups think we have to master something on our first attempt. Naturally, that's impossible, so we don't even try. Kids are under no such illusions. They tinker all …
Before There Were Teleportation Devices
I wonder if the Wright Brothers ever imagined that less than 100 years after their first manned flight, we'd have already taken air travel for granted. And we do, don't we? Thousands of these "crazy flying machines" take off and land every single day. And yet, at one point, the idea was as crazy as could be. In fact, in 1902 (just ONE year before the Wright Brothers' great success), Lord Kelvin -- the dude who determined the correct value of absolute zero as approximately -273.15 Celsius -- said, “No aeroplane will ever be practically successful.” Back in the late 1800s, the idea of Orville …
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Can Your Crayon Sharpener Do This?
I have fond memories of getting the big box of 64 Crayola Crayons. All my artistic limitations were cast away as every color in the natural world was now at my disposal. (Mind you, this was before they came out with the massive 96 and 120 count boxes and way before Photoshop would provide me with a million possible color choices.) Anyhoo, remember the sharpener on the back of that box? I mean that was the bomb. A luxury of luxuries. Well now they have developed the sharpener on the box to a level in which you can actually fashion the points into animals. Believe it. Actually, don't. …
Ugly Cake Initiative: The Results
The purpose of this post is to feature some of the repulsive results from the recent Ugly Cake Initiative (We shared our family's experience here). We heartily congratulate all the people who took up the challenge to fight Adultitis by whipping up something ugly in the kitchen. And we offer our sincere condolences to any brave souls who ingested any of the creations. (Although to be fair, most were reported to be very delicious.) Take that, Martha Stewart! Without further ado, check out the gruesome goodness! …
The Power of Being Silly
Amen, sister. Let's hear it for being ridiculous. …
A Simple, Quick and Ugly Guide to Fun
It is official: making ugly treats is a foolproof way to annihilate Adultitis. Indeed, forgoing the stress that can come from trying to create a confection that might make Martha Stewart weep tears of joy is not nearly as fun as concocting something that would have her wailing and gnashing her teeth. Although we have extolled the virtues of cooking up ugly cakes and cookies for some time, we had not actually undertaken the task -- until now. We used the latest Small Rebellion, aka The Ugly Treat Initiative, as a fitting excuse to jump right in. It's easy to be intimidated by some of the …
Are We Alive Yet?
When I was a teenager, I worked at a car dealership. The garage where I spent my days smelled of used oil, antifreeze, and in the summer, sweat (hooray for no air conditioning!). My job was to wash cars, run errands, and keep the shop relatively clean. It was good pay for a good job with good bosses and flexible hours. And I learned how to drive a stick shift and detail a car like nobody’s business, which will come in handy when I buy my Porsche someday :) By all accounts, it was a pretty great career for a teenager. But that doesn’t mean I liked it. …