THE ORDER OF THINGS

Tonight as we were reading bedtime stories, Nicholas and I began talking about various grades in school. He said, "I know the order: Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade...12th grade, college, grown up!" I gave him my own version which included, "...college, medical school, internship, residency, fellowship, parenthood, faculty position, grown up." May his growing up be quicker than mine... it's not as though it could be any longer!

WHAT NOT TO DO

8PM+


+

+

(for the first time ever)

=Greatly delayed bedtime.

Nicholas did eventally fall asleep, but he woke up, of course, at 530AM. His first question was, "When can I have Pepsi again...?" Never.

THE (FACEBOOK) PARTY IS OVER

It has been one week since I quit Facebook, and I have no regrets. It was fun initially. However, it later came to feel like a part-time job to keep abreast of one's "friends'" musings and to offer one's own witty quips. As a friend, who is not on Facebook, once said,"Facebook is like a cocktail party... that never ends." Well, the party is over.

While growing up, I remember hearing the saying, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Well, in the digital age that saying should be updated to, "If you don't have something meaningful to say, don't say anything at all." I came to find that the same people had the same things to say and that I was turning into one of those people. Each person is obviously free to say whatever he/she pleases or to be whomever he/she pleases, which is why I quit.

While, on the surface, constantly "hearing" about one's friends activities or interests might seem like keeping in touch, I found that I felt increasingly distant from these folks due to the divergence of our lives, which was spelled out on a daily basis. I would prefer one quality conversation per year with a real friend than 365 sound bytes per year from each Facebook "friend."

That in a nutshell explains why I closed down the account and why I will not be going back...ever. The keg has been floated. Lights out!

THE ART OF NEGOTIATION

Yesterday Cate's teacher in the toddler room told a funny story about how Cate is learning to compromise. The teachers have taught all the children in her class the sign language sign for "share," and the kids have been using this to express themselves when they want something another child has.

Leave it to little Cate to come up with her own version of sharing! Yesterday, on several occasions, Cate went up to children who were playing with rather large, fun playsets with a small figurine in her hand while she signed "share," which is to say, "I'll give you this measly item while you give me your way cooler and ginormous toy." In some cases, they took the bait.

I would hate to be on the opposite side of the courtroom of her or on the opposite side of the Supreme Court bench, behind which she may sit one day, because this kid is one tough cookie!