Parents on HuffingtonPost.com

WATCH: Oh, Kmart!

2013-05-23T23:01:40Z

Kmart's new pun-loving "Big Gas Savings" commercial may not be quite as funny as its super-successful "Shipped My Pants" ad, but it's nice to see the franchise is still doing its damndest to peeve Christian moms across the country.

The new spot, which promotes Kmart's "Shop Your Way" rewards program, makes hay out of the fact that "big gas savings" sounds pretty much exactly like "big ass savings."

It's unclear if the new spot, which was viewed a respectable 31,000 times since being posted a day ago, will come anywhere near "Shipped My Pants," which has over 17 million views to date. But you can bet your gas it just might!

(Hat tip, HyperVocal)

Pamela Poole: Talk About a Choking Hazard! What I Never Expected to Find in a Kinder Surprise Egg

2013-05-23T22:43:39Z

If you're American, you may not be familiar with Kinder Surprise eggs, an Italian candy product that is not sold in the U.S. because of a 1938 law prohibiting putting non-edible things inside of food.

Or maybe you recently discovered these eggs through the powerful and viral anti-gun campaign run by Moms Demand Action:

Kinder Surprise eggs target the 5-10 age range, I'm guessing, based on the kinds of toys that are in them. I grew up with toys in cereal boxes and Cracker Jacks. It's part of being a kid! My little brother and I would choose our breakfast cereal based on what the "free-inside" was. One day, when I was 7, I was sure I'd seen a fairy disappear into my room's heating vent just as I woke up. And, that morning, I got two free-insides in my cereal! I knew it was the fairy's doing...

Now I live in France, where you can always find Kinder Surprise eggs just before the register at the grocery store, in the impulse-buy zone, and just where you're likely to wish for something to placate your antsy little kid for a bit while you wait in line. That's where I was when I saw the pink boxes covered with pictures of tiny fairies from Winx Club, an Italian cartoon series I'd never heard of. They looked cute, and I grabbed one. On impulse. As promised by the name, I was surprised. Once I got home and saw the fairy up close, I knew that if I'd had a little girl at home, there is no way on earth I would have bought one. Even if she'd pitched a tantrum on this scale in the store.

There is something very, very wrong with this picture. I probably don't even have to say what it is. But I will, just in case you've been on another planet. They're too skinny, their proportions are unnatural and they're way too sexy. And no normal girl can bend her back or her hips like that. These poor fairies have severe scoliosis or something. It looks painful.

There's a sickening trend towards sexualization of girls in toys and entertainment. And there's a long-term issue, going back to Barbie's youth, with presenting girls with unhealthy and unrealistic physical ideals through toys and entertainment intended for them. This April 2013 article in The Atlantic sums up these issues nicely. And, since this article appeared, there has been yet another controversy surrounding the addition of Merida, the girl heroine of Disney's Brave, to the Disney princess line-up. After cinching in her waist, slapping some make-up on her face, lowering her neckline, and more, of course. Because the destiny of all spunky young women is to grow up to be decorative princesses.

(Of course, every male action figure that a boy sees in his life looks like someone's ideal of male physical perfection, and there's no doubt this takes its toll on little boys too. Not to mention that action figures are almost always associated with violence. So for boys, there's an unrealistic physical expectation and an expectation/endorsement of violence inherent in their toys... People don't talk nearly enough about this issue, if you ask me. I raised a son.)

I asked the 19-year-old daughter of a friend what her impressions were of these fairies. This young woman, a mechanical engineering student at Boston University, could be the model for the fairy in the blue skirt (but with realistic proportions, no scoliosis and more class). Her first response, like mine, was "Cute!" Then I pointed out that they were for very young girls, and told her I was planning to write about the sexualization of girls' toys. She mentioned the Atlantic article I link to above, and told me how things had changed since she was small. (Oh-so-long ago.)

For example, she said that when she was very young, her dance class performed "Puff the Magic Dragon," and the little girls were dressed in "puffy little" dragon suits. She tells me little girls performing it now are dressed in frilly green skirts and v-necked leotards. In her opinion, the "Toddlers and Tiaras" phenomenon may be partly responsible. She says that her dance clothes in general consisted of unitards and simple skirts, but that the clothes girls are wearing now look like ice-skating costumes.

My friend's daughter, whom I've known since she was two months old, was visiting me here in Paris because she's spending a semester in Germany and she had a long weekend. I took advantage of her presence to ask her to try to pose like the fairies. Try as she might, lean and limber as she is, she couldn't twist her body into any of these positions. Gee. Makes you think. Or at least it should.

So, what can we do about the exploitation of children by the greedy makers of toys and kids' entertainment? Amy Jussel, of Shaping Youth suggests,

We need to start asking bigger, tougher, hardball questions; look deeper into the effects of playing with thin dolls on body image and food intake in young girls for example, or the increase of sexual assault, dating violence and "rape culture" with social norming of misogynistic media, hyper masculine toys and monstrous marketing messages.

All that and, of course, just don't buy it.

Barbara Greenberg: Does Watching Pornography Lead to Teen Sex?

2013-05-23T22:16:01Z

In my experience working with teens, I have become well-aware of the fact that many teens become curious enough to glimpse at pornography. After all, they are curious about all things sexual and hormonally driven and, of course, about all things that tend to be off-limits. Parents ask me all the time if watching some porn will lead their teens to think that sex is aggressive and exploitive. Up until now, my answers have been based on the experience of each individual teen. I am delighted, then, to share the results of a new study that looked at the relationship between watching porn and engaging in sexual activity.

In the results of this study done by Gert Martin Hald, Ph.D. and colleagues at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and published in the online Journal of Sexual Medicine, looking at sexually explicit materials was NOT the best predictor of sexual behavior in a group of 4,600 males and females between the ages of 15 to 25. A very important predictor, however, was the individual temperamental style of the individual. Teens and young adults whose personality was characterized by what psychologists refer to as "sensation seeking" or who have a high comfort level experimenting with risky behaviors were more likely to experiment with a variety of sexual behaviors in this study.

I would like to explain "sensation seeking" a little bit more fully. You know those friends of yours who love roller coasters and like hiking on the steepest mountains? Yep, they are considered high on the sensation seeking scale. Now what I would like to know is whether or not you can predict your teen's probability of engaging in frequent and early sexuality by how adventurous they are in other areas of their lives. I suppose that this will have to be looked at in yet another study.

So what is a parent to learn from the results of this study?

1. Don't panic if you catch your teen looking at porn.

2. Talk to all of your teens -- both risk-takers and non-risk-takers -- about the importance of safe sexual practices.

3. I am still convinced that there is nothing good associated with frequent exposure to porn. Check your teen's viewing history on their electronic technology.

4. Talk about sex frequently so that it is less likely to take on a "forbidden fruit" quality.

5. Talk to your teens about how to handle peer pressure so that they are able to say no to sex despite pressure to engage.

And

6. Get your teens involved in lots of positive activities that build their self-esteem, because positive self-esteem leads to less susceptibility to peer pressure.

Please talk to your teens about the body, heart and mind connection involved in physical intimacy. Few teens are aware of how emotionally connecting sex can be.

Boy Scouts To Allow Gay Youths

2013-05-23T22:13:12Z

The Boy Scouts of America have reportedly voted 61-38 to allow gay Scouts.

According to multiple media sources, the scouting organization has chosen to eliminate sexual orientation as youth membership criterion. Under the new ruling, gay Scout leaders are still prohibited from serving.

Russ Warner: The Secret Life of Snapchat Pictures

2013-05-23T22:10:38Z

It's no secret that teens use the mobile app Snapchat to send sexually explicit pictures to each other. The premise of the app is that you can send a text that self-destructs on the recipient's phone within a few seconds.

The notion that these photos are deleted forever seems to give users a feeling of confidence, and even daring, when sending pics of themselves.

The Snapchat motto, "the fastest way to share a moment on iPhone" has developed into a quick way to take and send pics with no real responsibility. Unfortunately, the long-standing notion that Snapchat pictures are not really deleted forever has been confirmed true. User beware!

Richard Hickman at Decipher Forensics conducted an experiment to learn the truth. He and fellow co-workers snapped a few photos and exchanged them over Snapchat. After the 'snaps' self-destructed, researchers searched the devices to look for the videos and images. They discovered most of the 'snaps' still existed, along with all contacts stored on the device in a specific folder.

Thus, nothing deleted was permanently removed. Images and videos get embedded into the hard drive of the smartphone and can be retrieved when you simply plug the device into a computer. Thus, Snapchat texts will not necessarily "disappear forever."

In fact, if an iPhone user acts quickly upon receiving a text from Snapchat, she can take a screenshot of the pic when it's displayed on-screen with a click of two buttons. In short, just as you post pics and videos on blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, comments and updates are saved, documented for later use.

Today's generation of app users has been trained to post quickly and disregard the consequences. But beware. You really are what you post. Even college admissions boards use social networks to research possible candidates for future students. Be certain that your kids are posting pics and videos they wouldn't be ashamed of showing in public.

If you are worried about keeping track of kids as they use social networks, there are software tools available today that will help parents monitor a child on Facebook and other social networks. Go to sources like TopTenReviews.com, CNET.com, or ZDNet.com and search for "Facebook monitor" or "Facebook parental controls."

Open lines of communication with kids can have the best impact, but it's better is to couple good communication with software tools for mom and dad... just to catch the occasional mistake. We all make mistakes.

Liz Kozak: The One Question About Parenthood I Can't Get Out Of My Mind

2013-05-23T21:08:38Z

Exactly seven minutes into her first morning of daycare, my daughter took a giant step. Well, it was actually a pretty small, shaky step, but the important thing is -- it was her very first step.

I know there are plenty of moms who would kill to watch their baby take her first step, even if it was witnessed on a video monitor in the daycare director's office while filling out the last of the paperwork. But I don't have a baby.

I have a 19-month-old.

Who doesn't walk yet. Who only knows two words so far. Who has no idea that I'm "Mama" and my husband is "Dada," much less her own name.

When I quit my full-time job to become a fuller-time stay-at-home-mom, I had such grand plans. I'd frolic around the park with her, hear her accidentally swear when she learned to say "truck," teach her all the lyrics to Pearl Jam songs, chase after ducks with her. Who doesn't want to chase around ducks together, for crying out loud?

I did none of those things with her last week.

I did, however, enroll her in speech therapy, developmental therapy and physical therapy. Right after I scheduled her adenoid removal surgery, because for her whole life, I just thought her loud mouth-breathing was cute. Like an adorable snorty piglet. Not like someone who's experiencing an airway blockage of 90% (!!???!).

I know deep down that she's the little person she's meant to be and that she's on her own journey and that she is in fact human -- not a snorty piglet. But I can't get one irksome question out of my mind:

What if staying home was the wrong choice?

It was a no-brainer decision for me at the time. But now? Now I demand her daycare providers have Master's degrees in Early Childhood Development, yet my own childcare expertise amounts to Google image-searching various types of pediatric rashes. (Don't ever do this. Seriously.)

While I'm scrambling to get her into social environments chock-full of her peers, I'm thinking back on all those months spent isolated in our home during a long, dark Chicago winter. I don't think I pulled out flashcards once the whole time. Was I supposed to?

This is the part of the post where I think I'm supposed to begin my reassuring message to other parents experiencing the same feelings. I'd write something like, "but I know I'm the best mom I can be," or "my best is better than enough," or "I shouldn't be teaching her, because my daughter is teaching me."

Not gonna write it. Sorry. I'm not there yet.

Right now, I'm in that middle place. That I-wish-I-was-at-the-part-where-the-lesson-reveals-itself-and-also-we're-chasing-ducks-together place.

When they say that being a parent is the hardest job in the world, I guess I thought "they" just meant it as a generic round-up of the no sleeping/constantly diapering/colicky crying rodeo. Not that parenting is actually a technically difficult job at which you can actually perform poorly. Or at least, certain parts of it.

In seven minutes, a total stranger was able to help her do what I haven't been able to do in nineteen months. I thought I'd be upset, but I wasn't. I was relieved that someone could do the job.

Because right now, this whole situation feels more like an internship, not the high-level executive position I expected it to be. And this is a company I'd like to invest my future in.

LOOK: How To Get 'Stupid' Parents To Leave You Alone

2013-05-23T21:03:39Z

Parents don't know anything and are like, always on their kids' cases. According to an unofficial poll of every teen in America, parents need to like, totally chill out.

So kids, here are the secrets to getting your parents to lay off:

This PSA was brought to us by Reddit user unkydunc91 with the caption "found on my dad's fridge." On behalf of parents everywhere we want to say, Thank you unkydunc91's dad! And also, can you print out a million more copies?

LOOK: 5-Year-Old's Cute Take On Mega-Hit Song

2013-05-23T20:53:22Z

Think all the greatest "Call Me Maybe" covers are so last year? Today's cute kid note -- while it admittedly doesn't involve any, er, sound -- might make you think again.

Title: "Col Me Baby"

Author: Abby

Age: 5

Our favorite misspelling: "Hae" for "hey." Or "crase" for "crazy." Or "dust" for "just." Heck, they're all adorable.

Lesser-known entries in the Cute Kid Note songbook: Thalia's Rap.

Has your child drawn or written something adorable? Send a photo, along with your child's name and age, to kidnotes@huffingtonpost.com or via Facebook or Twitter -- and it may be featured as our Cute Kid Note of the Day.

Next Cute Kid Note of the Day: Happy Things To Think About

Jada Pinkett-Smith Shares ADORABLE Photo!

2013-05-23T20:51:18Z

It may not be Instagram, but it sure was 'Throwback Thursday' on Jada Pinkett's Facebook page. The actress shared an adorable photo along with a powerful message on the social network.

The proud mother and wife treated her Facebook followers to a precursor to the days when her husband and son were starring in films together, flashing back to the days when Will Smith was mastering the art of fatherhood, and Jaden was--well, just being so darn cute.

The star shared this photo with a heartwarming caption:

Before Will and Jaden starred in AE, they starred in...Daddy Trying to Figure It Out
I have been blessed with one of the best baby daddies in the world.

To the young ones:
Just because he or she is fine, doesn't mean they'll make a good mom or dad.
Just because he or she is a good lover, doesn't mean they'll make a good mom or dad.
Just because they love you, unfortunately does not ensure they will make a good mom or dad either.

How they value and treat existing family... tells all.

Who we make babies with…is an important decision.
J

The father and son duo's new movie "After Earth," hits theaters on June 7, and we're pretty sure this photo just made us even more excited for the magic these two will make on screen.

Jada has taken to Facebook in the past, sharing her thoughts on blended families and marriage, and even some secrets on how she keeps her body looking as amazing as it does.

Keep 'em coming Mrs. Smith!

Bob Marley, Shakespeare & Peter Pan All Under One Roof

2013-05-23T20:47:14Z

NEW YORK — A new musical featuring the songs of Bob Marley, the world premiere of William Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" by the innovative Fiasco Theater company and an Australian take on "Peter Pan" are among next season's offerings at The New Victory Theater.

A total of 15 productions from seven countries are on tap from the city's first and only full-time performing arts theater for kids and their families.

"Bob Marley's Three Little Birds" is based on a story by Marley's daughter, Cedella, and features music by the legendary reggae artist. It will begin in February at the theater's home on Broadway.

The Fiasco Theater, known for its stripped-down takes on such shows as "Into the Woods" and "Cymbeline," will present their interpretation of "Measure for Measure." There's also a fresh take on Neverland that comes courtesy of the renowned Belvoir theater company of Sydney.

The New Victory will also present the American premiere of Circus Der Sinne's "Mother Africa" in December, featuring stilt walkers from Tanzania and a renowned contortionist from Kenya.

Other highlights include a "Sleeping Beauty" performed by marionettes from Italy's Carlo Colla & Sons Marionette Company, the genre-hopping Minnesota-based Rhythmic Circus' "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" and the return of the comic daredevil Bello Nock.

___

Online:

http://newvictory.org

___

Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Super-Rich Man Makes Extremely Offensive Comment About A 'Girl's Bosom'

2013-05-23T20:32:21Z

Ambitious ladies listen up: If you’d like to stay that way, never have a kid and if you do decide to have a baby, under no circumstances let that wailing thing near your bosom.

Those are the words of wisdom Paul Tudor Jones, a super-rich hedge funder, offered during a panel at the University of Virginia, last month. Jones told the audience that one of the major reasons there are so few successful women traders is because bonding with a kid is a “killer” to their ambition, according to the Washington Post, which obtained a video of his appearance through a Freedom of Information Act Request.

Jones later apologized for the "off the cuff remarks" in a statement to WaPo, noting that he has three daughters who he's always pushed to pursue careers in "anything to which they set their heart and mind."

The incendiary comments came in response to a question about why there were only “rich middle-aged white men” on the panel. This from the WaPo:

“As soon as that baby’s lips touched that girl’s bosom, forget it,” Jones said, MOTIONING TO HIS OWN CHEST [emphasis mine] during an April symposium. Jones was talking about two women who worked at the same stock brokerage firm as he did in the late 1970s — both got married, had children and, according to his account, no longer had the laser focus needed for the intense world of macro trading.

To recap, it’s not structural sexism ingrained in workplaces in the U.S. -- and especially in the finance industry -- that’s preventing female traders from reaching the top of their field, according to Jones. Instead, it’s their insistence on procreating.

So what makes Jones, who is a man, qualified to speak on the topic? It’s a little unclear. As far as we can tell his claims to fame are being worth billions of dollars and the super-awesome Christmas decorations on his Connecticut mansion. In other words, he hasn’t really had much personal experience navigating the workplace as a woman and making the tough choices that often entails.

But, oh wait, some people in his very immediate family may be facing those exact challenges, making his comments all the more strange. As Jones notes, he has daughters, and the outburst may do more to hurt their careers than any desire to have children. Daughters of men with egalitarian ideas about gender are more likely to be ambitious at work, according to a recent study.

So maybe this boob should just shut it.

How Divorce Affects Kids' Health

2013-05-23T20:30:50Z

Divorce is hard, especially on kids.

And according to Dr. James Sears of "The Doctors" TV show, parental separation can also compromise kids' mental and physical health.

"Some of the things I've seen are depression, anxiety, oftentimes changes in sleep habits, nightmares, insomnia, bed wetting, distress," he said on Thursday. "The lack of sleep and poor nutrition is a perfect recipe for an immune system that isn't going to work as well and kids get sick more frequently -- about 20 to 30 percent more frequently kids will get sick if there's divorce."

So how can you make the transition easier for everyone in the family?

"Even though you're not staying together, the better you get along, the better off the kids are going to be," he said. "I've been through it and sure, the pain of divorce as an adult is hard, but seeing your kid go through it is 10 times harder."

Watch the video above for more on how to make divorce easier on your kids, then click through the slideshow below to test your knowledge of Hollywood's most notorious custody battles.

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Divorce on Facebook and Twitter.

WATCH: Kid President Has A Solution For Global Sadness

2013-05-23T20:03:22Z

Kid President is back with a solution to fix global sadness. Hint: It includes dance parties, and everyone in the world recording themselves laughing and uploading it to YouTube.

Check out the clip above to watch Kid President and comedian/writer/actor Thomas Lennon ("Reno 911!") provide the solution to global sadness.

Rachel Blaufeld: No Longer a Mom to Single-Digits: Parenting Two Preteens

2013-05-23T19:54:25Z

My baby is turning 10 this weekend, and I would happily give up my slice of birthday cake if he did not have to grow any older! That says something because I adore cake... but really, OMG -- 10! I no longer will be a parent of a child who is single-digits, but two growing and maturing sons in the double-digits. When my older son turned 10, I set about a new groove for myself. Quite simply, I created a line of products, went back to my writing and marketing roots, and started this blog in an effort to fill a void left by my oldest's upcoming independence. After a decade of parenting my oldest, I felt the change in the axis. He was spreading his wings, having more get-togethers with friends, doing his homework on his own, and challenging his boundaries. I know now that all of this just increases with each added year to 10.

Now, my baby is entering this territory and I am crushed.

With my first child, like many other parents, I anxiously awaited each new stage. curious about what each new year would bring to our lives: Walking, talking, big boy underpants, no more nap, preschool, kindergarten, drop-off play dates, birthday parties, laser tag, sleepover camp, sports teams, swear words, math homework that I have NO idea how to do, texting girls, and deodorant have been just a few milestones that have marked our lives over the years with my oldest. Now, my baby, who has reached each milestone a little differently with his own style, sometimes sooner, other times later, is turning a DECADE old. I was excited to watch my big guy hit these marks because they were all so new, and I had no idea what it would ultimately mean. This time, I know. I know it is the end of an era. It means saying goodbye to a much simpler time.

I want to stop it. I know that I am trading minor problems, like remembering his lunchbox, for big ones, like hormones. With each new territory son #1 hit, I remember hearing myself say to son #2, "You will get this, or do this when you are [insert double digit age]" in response to his demand that he do everything the same as his older bro. Well, shoot. Now we are here at age 10 when I made promises for later bedtimes, more independence, and if I think back hard enough -- a cell phone. Crap. Crap. Crap.

My little guy, the baby who I was not sure was going to be a reality, is at a huge crossroads. Selfishly, I have allowed him to be a bit of a contradiction. While he often emulates his older brother and is way more privy to mature content, I have babied him. "Tantied" him, my bubbie would say in Yiddish. I could not help it. He is my baby, and after he hits the BIG 10 there is no going back for me. So what if I let him get away with things I never let his brother do???

I don't even feel old. That is not at the crux of it. It is the thought of the kisses and hugs slipping away, two smelly adolescent boys instead of one, and the very normal grasp for greater independence. I have never liked packing lunches more than this week. A last vestige of the single digits. A simpler time.

As I write this (over the course of a few days), I see that my still single-digit son has left his lacrosse stick at home and he needs it. Normally, I would not take it to school, but I want to do it this week. My desire to run the stick right into his classroom and squeeze him tight is palpable. Realistically, I know that even at 9 years old, this would be a major violation in public. PDA has been long gone for me. Affection is saved for the wee hours of the morning, bedtime, or when the boys are sick.

So, this weekend as we officially say adios to the single-digits and what I know was definitely a much simpler time, I am going to steady myself for the teen years with not one, but two sons. More than likely, my family will find me tucked away in my closet with a cup of joe, sifting through memory boxes and blubbering. When next week comes, I will be ready. Ready to see how my baby tackles the next decade with only his spunky style, and if you know him -- spunky style is one thing he is not lacking.

Goodbye, Simpler Days. This time around I am not starting anything new, just holding on as tight as I can for the upcoming ride of my life.

Happy Birthday to my Baby.

Bruce Reyes-Chow: Teaching Our Children to Be Joyfully Mediocre

2013-05-23T19:43:35Z

I love playing the guitar.

But truth be told, I am not very good.

Sure, I can rock out on "Shine Jesus Shine," "One Tin Soldier" or "Brown-Eyed Girl" like no one's business, but I am pretty sure that I have reached my peak. I am fine knowing that my 12 chords and I could lead a campfire sing-along, but I am fully aware that my window to be good enough to be "in the band" closed a long time ago.

And really, it's OK. I'll be fine.

In fact, I love being able to just be mediocre.

In some ways, it's kind of sad that I have to give myself permission to not try hard to excel at playing guitar: take lessons, schedule practice and play until my fingers bleed -- but in our hyper-achievement society, this is apparently what is has come too. We must give ourselves permission to not feel compelled to be the best and simply enjoy doing something for the sake of doing it. While I believe that we are called to tend the passions, talents and skills that reside within each of us, that does not always equate to being the best and most talented at them all. Sometimes, tending our passions means allowing ourselves be, in the eyes of the world, mediocre.

As my wife and I raise our daughters, this is a constant tension for us. Of course we want them to do well in whatever they are passionate about and called to pursue, but we also do not want to communicate that their worth and their joy comes from achievement and competency in all things because, despite what we would like to think, in reality, no one can be amazing at everything. In the end, our sense of worth and joy can be just as nourished by simply doing something that we love, whether we are good at it or not.

It seems that society and parents -- both with good intentions -- forget that sometimes, whether it is kicking a ball in soccer, making music with a violin or expressing oneself through drawing, joy can be found in the act of doing those things, and not the trophy, the applause or the recognition. I know that it is a fine line when parenting: when to push, when to pull back or when to stop altogether; but we must never communicate that excellence is the sole determiner for participation in an activity. For when we forget that not all things must be mastered, we too often discourage our children from doing things they love or we push so hard that the activities no longer remain life-giving endeavors.

One of the things that we parents can do to model this joyful mediocrity is to acknowledge those things that we, ourselves, are not very good at -- but love to do anyway. We can also return to those things that we may no longer do because we fell into the trap of thinking that we had to be good at it for it to worth our time. I suspect that when our children see us not excelling at something and being OK with it, they too will excel at embracing and doing those things that they love and bring them joy.

Now go forth and be mediocre. Joyfully.

* Some folks have begun sharing their joyful mediocrity [here]. Feel free to add yours!

Re-posted from www.reyes-chow.com