I have been given many good fortunes in my life but few compare to the blessing of my in-laws. Jason and I are constantly acknowledging how blessed we are by the excellent role models we have in both of our parents. I got an email from my father-in-law the other day, who just happens to be one of the wisest people I know. He has identified a condition that often accompanies Adultitis, which he called FTERA (Failure To Enjoy Recent Accomplishments). Do you have this condition? …
Adultitis
Pie Anyone?
I had a very miserable piece of pie the other day. You may have heard of the flavor: humble pie. Yes, I was looking through pictures of our Seattle trip with some friends when I realized that I, too, am struggling with a case of Adultitis. Admittance is the first step, right? The picture I shared a few blogs ago with me holding the large fish from the Pike Place Fish Market struck a chord with me. I’ve seen that face before. Who does that remind me of? It's someone very familiar. Then it hit me. …
Adults are Ruining Everything
They say misery loves company. That must be the reason why grown-ups suffering from full-blown cases of Adultitis are working so hard to ruin Halloween for kids. My three-year-old niece is going Trick or Treating as Darth Vader this year. (Yes, I did say niece.) She already has the next three years worth of costumes planned out. Next year, it's Luke Skywalker, then Darth Maul, then...a bunny. The other day on the radio, I heard the superintendent from the Madison School District mention that they don't encourage schools to have costume parties. They don't ban them; they just strongly …
Scrapbook Away Adultitis
Attention scrapbooking aficionados! Michelle Thompson at Scrapability has taken the 8 Secrets from Childhood from my ChangeThis manifesto (free download) and applied them to the art of scrapbooking. She correctly (and wittily) states, "The link into any seri-arse scrapper’s identity -- the ability, just for a bit, to escape adulthood, remember your childhood and simply 'to play'." I think scrapbooking is indeed a great way to tap into that childlike creative spirit in a "grown-up" way. Definitely more productive than sitting in front of the boob tube. Here's Michelle's scrapbooking slant …
Real Sophistication
By whose standards do we measure true sophistication? Today I 'caught' a man, about mid-40's, in a suit and tie sneaking some notes on a hotel lobby piano. He had a childlike smile on his face until he noticed Jason and I in his peripheral vision and then he quickly left. The other day I saw a guy driving a convertible at 6:15 am wearing a Santa hat. A few weeks ago I saw a 'Harley guy' decked out in leather from head-to-toe, with a stuffed bear strapped to the back of his motorcycle. “The most sophisticated people I know- inside they’re all children. We never really lose a certain …
Truth or Dare
Maybe it was just me, but when I was little I always dreamed of staying up all night. I always wanted to have the freedom of being a grown-up. Staying up all night was a very concrete action I could do that would 'show the world' that I was in charge. Bed times were so annoying as a child. If I was allowed to stay up all night I would do tons of cool stuff...like...um...well where do I start, there are so many things...hmm...give me a minute. Exactly! I really had no clue what I would do all night, but it was still one of my life goals as a child. …
Wonder Full
I dug up this quote my brother sent me a long time ago. It is from the television show The Wonder Years, which depicted a gentle, nostalgic look at Baby Boom youth and adolescence. Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers; the next day you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. …
Dreaming is a Responsibility
This post relates to our most recent podcast about immunizing your kids from Adultitis. I link to a Daily Guideposts article written by Mary Engelbreit. Mary is an artist whose warm and charming style is the star of an extremely popular stationery line. In the article, she shares stories about her upbringing, and the ups and downs of "making it" as an artist. One thing that stuck out to me was the variety of advice she received from the "grown-ups" in her life. Her high school guidance counselor, after hearing that Mary wanted to illustrate children's books, offered this advice: “You can’t …
Erase Your Way of Thinking
A reader pointed me to a column by D.L Stewart of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Mr. Stewart eloquently describes the nostalgic details of the first days of school: Like Christmas Eve and the night before milestone birthdays, the first school day after summer vacation was a special time. It may have been the end of freedom, but it also was the renewal of hope. The promise that this school year would be different from all the ones that came before it. A fresh start. On the first day after vacation, clothes were unwrinkled and unstained. School bags were filled with fresh supplies: …
Escape Adulthood Manifesto
When I tried to explain this whole 'manifesto' thing to folks a few months ago (as we were encouraging others to take a few minute to vote for Jason's proposal online at ChangeThis.com) I felt myself stumbling over my words. The best way I could describe it went something like this: "Everyone has something they are very passionate about – something that 'makes them tick.' Sometimes it is a concept that needs to be shared- that is a manifesto!" …