Welcome. Today is a good day for a newsletter, donât you think?
I parent in sprintsâtwo days mom, two days dad, five days mom, five days dad. My ex was out of town last week, so I parented one kid full-time (the other was away at Farm Camp).
Divorce from a childâs perspective sucks. I understand how Yuckersville it is to grow up bouncing between homes. I did it. Now that Iâm an adult, I see how grown-ups have a more pleasant experience of the whole thing. a) We donât bounce and b) We evolve into more who we are. The kids have it waaaaay harder.
While my kids are with their dad, I have space to do things full-time parents donât. I recognize that. I appreciate it, as well as the variety of scenarios all of you are in. Theyâre oursâgood and bad.
I enjoy the time single-parenting affords me, as well as the special time I get uninterrupted with my kids. The balance works for me. I wouldnât want it any other way.
Iâm sure my kids wish it were otherwise, but I hold it as my role to present my best self to them, even if it means living separately from their dad.
Listen, Dear Reader, make enjoyment a priorityâhowever, and whenever, you can.
Itâs your duty!
Welcome New Friends
As of late, Iâve received many new newsletter subscribers. I want to thank you for having me in your inbox. Iâm honored youâve given me your đđ. This publication is a two-way street. Youâre encouraged to comment, write questions, crack a smile, whatever my newsletter compels you to doâdo it.
Last weekâs issue was simply too long. Youâre lucky you missed it. I wrote about my skill of understanding people, reading their behavior, and all that jazz. Then I gave a book review of a series Iâm reading to my daughter called Lemony Snicket. I told you about the 12-hour Walk Iâm doing this weekend and a number of other things on my mind.
Given this, I figured Iâd share some oldies but goodies from weeks past. If you know me well, youâve read every issue; youâre one of my favoritesâyou can close your computer now. Put down your phone. Do something with this time. Iâll catch you next week.
The rest of you, come alongâletâs have some fun.
Quick, Draw!
I have a game for you thatâs so simple; youâll wonder if itâs actually a game or some other public database housing millions of doodles by millions of people who are aiding in machine learning.
With 20 seconds on the clock, you draw the object youâre told to draw. The goal is to get the machine to guess what youâre drawing. If it does, you feel satisfied. When it doesnât or guesses incorrectly, you chuckle.
Itâs good olâ fun for the whole family.
Play it,learn about it, but for God's sake, engage with it.
Deep Thought
Bill Phelps and Rick Wetzel own Wetzelâs Pretzels. How does Rick Wetzelâs name rhyme with the food heâs become known for đ„š?
Almost nothing rhymes with Wetzel, except pretzel. Itâs silly, no? Have I given you something to ponder? I sure hope so.
Silly thoughts like this deserve to see the light. We must move our ideas and feelings for new ones to grow. Say complete nonsense from time to time. Itâs liberating.
RIP Olivia + Kids Do the Darnedest Things
Friends, when I was a wee one, my step-sisters introduced me to Olivia Newton-John. When theyâd say her name I envisioned three people: Olivia, Newt, and John.
Kids.
When Owen was a wee one, heâd sit at the dining table with one leg hanging off the side of his chair. It drove me bonkers, and Iâm so sorry it did. Once he had the words and wisdom to share whyâhe revealed heâd sit that way because he envisioned it was the way people sat while driving excavators. đ
He wanted to be an excavator driver, so heâd pretend he was by sitting that way. How much cuter is that explanation than the one I assumed at the time (which was that he was messing with me)?
If only parents (me) understood in those momentsâthereâs a reason for all your childâs behavior, and itâs likely not just to piss you off.
I try and remember this story when Iâm frustrated by one of my kidsâ behavior. We donât have to like it, but we can respect that they have a version of reality thatâs all theirs (even if itâs wack).
Drawn Together
Wendy MacNaughton has a delightful YouTube channel called âDraw Togetherâ with drawing videos for you and your kids.
But the title of this section is "Drawn Together.â As in, this piece of art was drawn together by Emma and Simone.
A fun way to hang with the kids while youâre at a restaurant or on the beach waiting for camp to start is to draw an abstract picture by taking turns adding elements to the art.
We drew this in the sand this morning. I added wings. She added legs. I added a snake tongue. She added a SpongeBob body. And on and on.
Just another honest-to-goodness family activity. Enjoy!
Youâve reached the end. Your prescription: Express a random thought. Move your mind. Until next weekâŠ
* New readers, my newsletter titles are equal parts random and considerate. Each week itâs a toss-up. I wanted you to know.