Category Archives: Oh Boy

A simple quiz

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Enough about me, let’s talk about YOU, dear readers.

Take a look at this 30-second video, then answer the question below.

If you can’t see this video, click here. 

What’s the first thought that popped into your head?

A.  Wow, where DOES he get his fearless athletic abilities?
B.  You are so lucky to have a future Jackass star in the family!
C.  I think you skipped a chapter in the Great Parenting Handbook.
D.  Time to go all Tiger Mom and get this kid in a Pre-Olympic Training program.
E.  Thank God I have daughters.
F.   You call that cute? Wait til you see my kid doing aerials on rollerskates!
G.  Here’s the name of my personal-injury lawyer. Just in case.
H.  Pass the Xanax.
I.   Know what would be even cooler? Hooking up a helmet cam on that kid!

See also: “totally bogus”

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Things that are “ANNOYING” to a busy 8-year-old boy:

• Mom’s No-Fart-Jokes-at-the-Dinner-Table rule
• Double-knotted laces when I’m trying to rip off my shoes without untying them
• Spelling rules
• Spelling tests
• Stupid pencils with no stupid erasers when I have to study for stupid spelling tests
• Big sisters who think they know everything about mythology when really only I do
• Little brothers who copy everything
• When mom says he copies just because he wants to be like me
• Sitting down to eat
• Forks
• Spoons
• Napkins
• When the coolest part of the creek has stagnant water that freaks Mom out
• Learning a new video game
• Turning off a video game when I just learned how to play it LIKE FIVE MINUTES AGO
• Playing chase (or anything!) with girls who make up too many rules
• Cleaning up my awesome Lego stuff on vacuum day
• When superheroes get all mushy
• Showering
• Re-showering when I forget to wash my stinky parts
• Toothbrushes and flossers that are supposed to make me like brushing and flossing
• Socks
• Alarm clocks
• Having to hear the “Family Plan for the Day”
• Anything that’s not awesome

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If you liked this, check out Next Lesson: What is lame?

Next lesson: What is lame?

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Things that are “BORING” to a saucy 3-year-old:

• Shoes that are not flip-flops
• Any non-beige food item
• Books involving happy bunnies
• Carseats
• Running errands without a lightsaber or other weapon
• Having your photo taken
• Leaving the house when Mom seems rushed
• Television shows designed for 3-year-olds
• Lego sets designed for 3-year-olds
• Costumes that don’t come with a laser blaster because Mom didn’t special order it
• Shirts with collars
• Shorts with snaps
• Going into the school classroom
• Leaving the school playground
• Washing hands “when I only went pee!”
• Getting into the bath
• Getting out of the bath
• Sleeping
• Waking
• All of the Star Wars movies except “the hot lava one that I’m not allowed to watch.”
• Mom’s no-gum-til-I’m-four rule
• Catching bread when it pops out of the toaster instead of reaching in and grabbing it.
• Drawing with anything but Sharpie markers

Surprise!

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So this happens at least a few times every day around here…

Our future Cato (“My little yellow friend, I am home!”) ducks into a shadow, waits for his prey, then pounces on some unsuspecting victim. The results? Often there are dropped bags, occasionally salty words, usually squeals of laughter. But no matter what, there is always, always a very satisfied 8-year-old boy.

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Speaking of surprises…the wonderful team at Build a Sign recently gave me some great ones. Build a Sign is the parent company for websites that cover all kinds of printing needs (MagnetsOnTheCheap, BannersOnTheCheap, SignsOnTheCheap, EasyCanvasPrints). Seriously, they do it all. EasyCanvasPrints offered to send me a canvas using a photo of my choice. My piece arrived this week and looks fantastic! The site was simple to use and the canvas quality impressive. They also printed up a new batch of my favorite Tami Taylor bumper stickers…the ones I have been giving away to readers since last year. If you missed the first batch, I’d love to send you one! Go here for details. Thanks for everything, Build a Sign!

Singing the blues

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Sometimes you just need to put your truest feelings into song…

If you can’t see this video, click here.

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In other exciting video news…the videos from Austin’s Listen to Your Mother show are now online, along with the nine other U.S. cities. There is so much talent and goodness here! Pour yourself a cup of whatever, dive in and enjoy!

Look again

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What you should know about this photo:

1. This scene happens every single day around here.

2. I feel something new every time I look at it: joy, admiration, empathy, gratitude, love.
And today: jealousy.

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Like this? You might like these too. My kids have a knack for teaching me something new about mothering, focusing or injecting playfulness in an ordinary moment.

Upcycling

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Yet another example of why toys are overrated…

Inspired? You might also like these posts about blast-offs, artificial intelligence and artistic vision.

On target

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You can take away the iPhone and the Angry Birds, but you can’t take away a boy’s need to hurl things through the air with only the sheer force of his creativity.

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Like this post? You’ll probably dig this one or this one. Oh, and definitely this one.