Almost exactly one year ago, I drew a purple mustache on my son Ben. It was a dark day for Adultitis, my friends, and a great personal reminder about how big an impact a small rebellion can make.

Especially small rebellions involving washable markers.

Not long ago, an Escape Artist named Angel emailed me about one such adventure. While in the process of cleaning, she discovered her two-year-old coloring on his arms. Adultitis was at the ready, encouraging Angel to flip out. But she decided not to. She wrote, “As Adultitus was SCREAMING, ‘We don’t color on our arms’ somehow turned into, ‘Here, let mommy try.’”

After coloring in their masterpieces, the duo kept them on to go shopping and eventually posed for the photo above.

Being a parent is no cakewalk. But if you have young children, and you are not using the inalienable power of parenthood to draw on them, you really are missing out.

Even if you don’t have kids, may you not let the Adultitis-fighting magic of washable markers go untapped.