The Great Minimizers

Have you ever noticed that kids are great minimizers? They seem to think that nothing they want you to do takes any time, money or effort. Everything they want takes just a few minutes, a couple dollars, and is so easy. They have a way of making rock solid parenting reasoning and requests sound ridiculous.

My boys say things like...

Why can't you run to the car?!? Just because you don't want to get two raindrops on you?!?

Shutting off the TV, Mom? It's really important to save that 5 cents.

Can we stop at Sonic? Why not? It will take two seconds!

I don't want to go to New York City. There's nothing to do there.

Every job is easy, and all skills are attainable for them.

I could be a surgeon. What's so hard about cutting people open?

Dad takes out people to dinner. He eats dinner for a living. 

If I was the coach, we'd win every game!

You name it, they'll claim they can do it better, cheaper, and faster than any experts. No training or education needed.

Sometimes, minimizing comes in handy. Like for doing projects. I think maybe my girls might get a little of their attitude toward projects from me...Anyone else ever attack home improvement with the idea that it will be fast, cheap, and easy?!?

With their minimizing talent, my girls can create things out of nothing. Dad won't build a swing? No problem. Just grab a tree branch, cobble together some bungee cords and jump ropes, and voila!



I have no idea how that thing didn't come crashing down!

Mom and Dad won't buy a hammock? No problem. Just take the net from the back of van, hook who knows what else to it, and trust your entire body weight to this contraption. A thin blanket will for sure break your fall in the unlikely event something you create doesn't work!


On the one hand minimizing is annoying and on the other inspiring. If only we could keep such confidence in our abilities, intelligence, looks, and all around general awesomeness into our adult years. Think of the things we could accomplish, or at least attempt to accomplish. All in just a couple minutes for a few dollars and very little effort!

29 comments:

  1. I love this post! You're right! Children can be such minimizers but their thoughts are often big and inspiring.

    As I was reading this, I was reminded of the Ted Talk by twelve-year-old Adora Svitak; What Adults Can Learn From Kids. It's fabulous. I think it's 8 minutes long, definitely worth a watch!

    Children teach us a lot. Their thought processes don't make sense yet somehow, when really reflected upon you can see the limitless thoughts and boundary-free imagination.

    Thanks for sharing and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop.

    Wishing you a lovely weekend.
    xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer! I'll have to look up the Ted Talk. Sounds interesting!

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  2. Such a great observation Marie! I love that our kids believe anything is possible :)!

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    1. Anything! Last night, my twelve year old said he will someday get a 36 on the ACT last night. When I told him that would be very hard, he acted offended and asked if I had any faith in him! The sky is the limit in their minds! :)

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  3. I love this! The hammock and swing are awesome - true ingenuity right there! I wish we could keep that positive, do anything attitude, through all of life! I wish kids would never loose that, and always be ready to try something new and step out into the unknown. If I didn't live with the realization of how long things really take and how much they really cost, I'd do so much more! haha! Thanks for a great post!!!

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    1. So true, Mindy! I want to live in ignorance about how long things take and how much they cost. Much more fun that way! :)

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  4. Your kids crack me up! They remind me so much of my brother and I when we were that age. :) I'll admit, I was a great minimizer too, and I also think it is safe to say my husband still is. :)

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    1. Haha! I think we can all see ourselves in some of these statements! :)

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  5. Oh Marie, I love this! We obviously haven't reached this stage yet, but it makes so much sense. Yes, completely annoying and inspiring at the same time. Sometimes I think if I changed my mindset live would be so much more enjoyable and simpler :) We all have so much to learn from kids!

    Lauren

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    1. You're right, Lauren. We can learn a lot! Your son will be telling you all about his awesomeness before you know it!

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  6. Good stuff, Marie!
    My kiddos - even as young as they are - are great minimizes . . . and sometimes it works :0)
    Sometimes their 'minimizing' comments make things seem easier and simpler . . . so "why not?" lol
    Your daughters are not only adorable, but they're crazy ingenious! I love seeing girls come up with these kinds of ideas!
    Have a great weekend!
    Suzanne

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne! Kids do have way of looking at life that makes things seem much more simple! :)

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  7. Haha! Your kids have some serious creating skills! My children have also definitely mastered the great art of minimizing!
    Examples:
    Why cant we just go to the bank and get a couple extra dollars out?
    Come see this Mom it will take only a few minutes... One hour later Mom is still cleaning up the (few minutes) mess and they are gone!

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    1. Haha! I can definitely see these scenarios playing out in my house, too!

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  8. Your kids are like...McGyver. Genius! I love your perspective too...

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  9. I love how kids create so much fun from nothing - the simple things are often the best! #magicmoments

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  10. Haha love this!! Kids really are great at inventing something out of nothing! Popping over from magic moments

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  11. Your kids are so innovative! I can only see a bright future ahead for them.

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  12. Such a fun post! Your kids are very creative with their swing and hammock ideas! Seriously laughing out loud. Oh! And home projects, without a doubt we always think they are going to go so much quicker than expected.

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    1. I'm glad I"m not the only one! I'm sure my husband thinks I'm a terrible minimizer when it comes to home projects! :)

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  13. Just brilliant, my children are just the same and we have rope swings all over the river and home made rafts tested across the lake. A little can do attitude is no bad thing. #MagicMoments

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  14. Great post! Your kids ability to improvise will take them far!

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  15. Very resourceful kids! Love this post!!

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  16. Cute! I loved the thin blanket under the hammock. Safety first! Great insight into those creative little brains!

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  17. I love "surely the thin blanket will break my fall" mentality. I love watching kids see a challenge, formulate a solution and follow it through. While your kiddos may be in the "test pilot" category, it must make your heart sing to see them have a full circle of an idea. The fact that they even consider safety is a huge blessing! Well done!

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  18. Oh my goodness, yes this is always the case and I never really thought about it. When did we realize that it does take longer and cost more? Oh I remember when I had to do it myself and pay for it myself. Funny thing is now our oldest is just coming to this realization with having to pay for gas, and go get it herself!

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  19. Ahhh I love this. I think this is always the case with every child. We just don't get it until we are adults. lol Thank you so much for linking up to Share With me #sharewithme

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