Small Rebellions

Adultitis can't be taken down by government legislation, well-financed corporations, or an army of powerful tanks. Its only weakness is ordinary people instilled with the soaring spirit of childhood who rally against the rules that don’t exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness. We call these actions small rebellions. They may be small but they are also mighty. They undermine the slavery of Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood, and they have the power to change the world.

- - - | written by Kim on 4/13/2011 | - - -

Picnic in the Rain: Father and Son Surprise Mom and Stay Dry

Spring has sprung in the Midwest. Yahoo! The black mounds of snow have finally disappeared and plump robins are taking their place in the yard. Tulips are starting to pop and the days are getting longer. I am a fan of the occasional cozy rainy day, but I can only handle a few of those a week, once I've tasted the long-awaited gift of a sunny spring day. I'm like an anxious 8-year-old on Christmas Eve. Come on spring! I know you need the rain to make everything green and colorful, but I can't wait any longer!! I suspect our friend Steven from Seattle can relate to my impatience. He …

- - - | written by Kim on 4/6/2011 | - - -

Sister-in-law Inspires Meal Planning Rebellion

My sister-in-law Katie has been implementing a small rebellion successfully and consistently for years. She simply refuses to believe that weeknights have to be stressful. She works outside of the home full-time and is in charge of the cooking for her household. Her weekly rebellion is something simple that helps her de-stress her day-to-day considerably, so that she has more time for the fun stuff in life -- like playing her ukelele and watching her favorite movie, The Little Mermaid. …

- - - | written by Kim on 3/23/2011 | - - -

Charity Worker Insists On Seeing Silver Linings

I received a unexpected phone call yesterday from a lady named Mary from Compassion International. One of our Big 6, Compassion is a charity that Jason and I LOVE. …

- - - | written by Jason on 3/21/2011 | - - -

Small Rebellion #3: Holiday Factory

Time for a new officially-sanctioned Small Rebellion! Ever notice how we usually only celebrate something if the calendar gives us permission? You know, if the fine print on a particular day says “St. Patrick’s Day,” we dress up in green and eat corned beef. If it reads “independence Day,” we grill up some food and ignite some fireworks. Kids, on the other hand, celebrate everything. Kindergartners celebrate Groundhog Day, Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and even the 100th Day of School! But kids have it right. You see, every day is a holiday. It’s just that on most days, what to celebrate is up …

- - - | written by Jason on 3/13/2011 | - - -

Small Rebellion #2: Operation Interrogation

This officially-sanctioned Small Rebellion (a small but mighty act of defiance against Adultitis and the rules that don’t exist) is inspired by National Ask A Question Day. The most popular three-letter word for three-year-olds is "Why?" Kids are endlessly curious and are always asking questions. As we get older, the curiosity fades and the questions slow to a trickle. Why? Because we're afraid to admit we don't know something and we don't want to appear foolish. And if we happen to be in a conversation that turns to a subject we know know nothing about, we fake like we do while scanning …

- - - | written by Kim on 3/10/2011 | - - -

Family Has Nerve to Eat Banana Splits – For Dinner!

I met the coolest lady the other day. Jason had just finished speaking to a group of educators and this woman and her 17-year-old daughter came to our table for a visit. They both wore genuinely contagious smiles and I knew right away that I was going to enjoy this conversation. In a crowd of stressed-out professionals, they had a MUCH different vibe. They came to share stories -- things they have done over the years to live this lifestyle that Jason had just spent an hour talking about. One of the stories warmed my heart instantly. …

- - - | written by Jason on 3/6/2011 | - - -

Small Rebellion #1: Project Pancake!

We're doing something new and a little nuts. We've been writing a lot lately about this idea of small rebellions, those small but mighty acts of defiance against the rules that don’t exist and the most effective way of defeating Adultitis. Over the past months, we've been sharing examples from people who've inspired us. And we've decided it's time to take things to a new level. To get even more people involved and mount a campaign that really puts Adultitis on the defensive. And so we're thrilled to announce our first-ever officially-sanctioned Small Rebellion. …

- - - | written by Jason on 3/6/2011 | - - -

Chinese Fire Drill Marks the Happiest Day in Marine’s Life

A few weeks ago, while packing up after a speaking program for a high school’s support staff, I had the privilege of chatting with one of the custodians. His name was Frank. Frank shared with me a story from his childhood, starring his father, a career Marine. The family operated pretty much as you might expect under the head of a someone who’d spent his whole life in the service and saw action in two wars. The kids had buzz cuts. The household was in perfect order. And when Dad spoke, you listened. …

- - - | written by Kim on 3/2/2011 | - - -

Breakfast Routine Upended by China, Heart-Shaped Pancakes

Mornings in most households are a little like attending a NASCAR event. It's intense. Lots of noise. You've got people moving at varying speeds. And in the end, you're hoping everyone gets across the finish line (out the door) without a major catastrophe. Ever wonder what your day would be like for yourself and your kids if the morning was more like a symphony? …

- - - | written by Jason on 2/27/2011 | - - -

Laid Off Husband Celebrates Anniversary with Slew of Small Rebellions

Small rebellions rule. They really are the most effective way to beat Adultitis. And they are so ridiculously simple. Pretty much my favorite thing in the world these days is getting an email, a blog comment, or an anecdote at the end of one of my speaking programs from someone who shares an example of a small rebellion they have participated in. Most of the time, they don’t even realize they’ve done it, because the effort was pretty minimal. But the result is monumental. …

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