Play

- - - | written by Jason on 10/10/2010 | - - -

5 Ways to Forget About That Stressful Job Search Thing

Are you looking for a job? Do you have a hard time sleeping because you can’t stop thinking about living in a van down by the river? Do you feel guilty when you go to the bathroom because it’s taking you away from the almighty job search? The goal of this post is to give you permission to forget about the whole job search madness for a few minutes. I know, I know, somehow it feels more productive to coerce the universe into giving you a job by worrying, stressing out and doing a lot of frantic busywork. And how’s that working for ya? …

- - - | written by Kim on 10/6/2010 | - - -

Give Your Stalkers Something to Think About

After 10 years of being online, a fear of mine has been realized. I have a stalker. She's unpredictable. She's crazy. And she's managed to obsess over me and Jason for the last two years, mimicking our day-to-day habits and traits. It's starting to pick up in intensity. I feel like I am under constant surveillance. Some days, it feels suffocating. …

- - - | written by Kim on 9/15/2010 | - - -

The Rocket Man Principle

When I first took the job as a kindergarten teacher, little did I know that I would soon become exposed to a remarkable amount of loose teeth. We enjoyed perpetual Halloween, what with the number of kids looking like jack-o-lanterns all year long. It was not uncommon to be reading a story to the class and hear that familiar squeaky noise, the one that can only be heard when a child is wiggling her baby tooth with her tongue. (Did the thought of that make you cringe?) That subtle yet distinct noise means one thing and one thing only: time to pull it, honey. …

- - - | written by Kim on 9/8/2010 | - - -

What Are You Selling? And Is It Fun?

I am convinced that every single adult -- no matter their profession or educational background -- is a salesperson in some form or another. If you are a parent, you are constantly selling to you kids, persuading them to try hard in school, stay away from the wrong crowd, be polite. Heck, I am selling Lucy on veggies every night at 6 p.m. Teachers sell good conduct and self-sufficiency. Nurses sell healthy habits and discipline. Managers sell hard work, respect and communication. If you are ever persuading others to do something or act in a certain way, or you find yourself promoting …

- - - | written by Kim on 7/28/2010 | - - -

5 Surefire Ways to Fight Adultitis While Flying

Looking for a surefire way to acquire a "Full-Blown" case of Adultitis? Two words: air travel The experience of flying is guaranteed to morph even the most "glass half full" type of person into a cynical scrooge - or your money back. (Ha!) Who knew a hefty case of Adultitis was free with the price of a plane ticket? And being the contagious disease that it is, it's quite tricky to escape the spread when you're quarantined in small planes and stuffy airports. …

- - - | written by Jason on 6/20/2010 | - - -

Happy Father’s Day, God

Have you heard the story about the married couple photographed together at Disney World 15 years before they met? (I found out about it from a link Chris Brogan shared via Twitter.) The couple didn’t know each other, and they didn’t even live in the same country at the time the photograph was taken: That fateful realization came just one week before their wedding eight years ago. Alex and Donna had been going through old family snapshots. There, in the blurry background of a picture of 5-year-old Donna was 3-year-old Alex being pushed down Main Street at the same moment in 1980 by his father. …

- - - | written by Jason on 5/9/2010 | - - -

Connect Four and the Game of Life

I remember playing Connect Four when I was a kid. It’s like Tic-Tac-Toe on steroids (of the Barry Bonds head-enlarging variety.) It takes a while for a kid to get the hang of it. Early attempts are marked by a series of regular beatings (especially if you’re playing with an aunt three years your senior who never lets you win). But it really gets exciting when you start to figure it out and things get competitive. It’s a simple game, but there’s a lot of strategy and critical thinking involved. …

- - - | written by Kim on 4/14/2010 | - - -

9 Ways to Celebrate the Child Within

This week is officially the "Week of the Young Child" and today is Celebrate Children Day in Wisconsin. Boy, this is right up our alley. In celebration of all of the fabulously inspiring shorties out there, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that you don't have to HAVE kids or WORK with kids in order to celebrate children. Raise your hand if you used to be a kid... Wow...you all raised your hand. Sweet. This should also be an opportunity to celebrate the child within -- that little spirit left behind in a world that grows foggier and farther away with each additional birthday …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/4/2010 | - - -

The Danger of Cartwheels and Car Dancing

It wasn't long after she learned to walk that Lucy started dancing. It began with little head bobs and knee bends. Now, when a fast beat is bursting from our living room stereo, Lucy is the first one to come running. Spinning, twirling, and bouncing, she's a whirling dervish of dance moves. I hate it that we lose that free-spiritedness as we get older. Most of us, anyway. Me included. …

- - - | written by Kim on 2/4/2010 | - - -

9 Decisions You Can Make With a Rock, Paper, and Scissors

Remember the childhood game that settled every argument? No, not thumb wrestling (or even arm wrestling, for that matter.) I'm referring to "rock-paper-scissors." Sure, it's fun to flip a coin or draw straws, but nothing says childhood like this favorite classic. If you don't know that rock beats scissors, then you might need to reconnect with your inner 8-year-old and think back to the simpler days of childhood - the days when disputes were so inconsequential that silly hand gesture games could resolve them in less than a minute. Oh, if only adulthood could be that simple. …

« Previous Page