Monday, April 27, 2009

Children and boredom

This rant is a bit over the top but it also makes, implicitly, a couple of good points.

First, our culture makes it very difficult to be honest about children. Sometimes they are boring and sometimes they are a pain in the behind. As Penelope says, "even cute gets boring". That does not mean that they are not loved or well cared for. It is just a fact without any normative content.

Second, as much as it is fun to color again for the first time in over three decades or to play with Lincoln logs or legos, these activities are just not as interesting in your 30s and 40s as they were in your youth.

Third, it is good to be nice on-line, so that people like Penelope don't call you at work.