Back from spending a weekend with relatives in the OC. I can honestly say that I've never thought so highly of 7 and 12 yr olds until now. When comparing them to ridiculously rich, overly protective, socially naive, oblivious middle-aged and old folks, these kids are the only gleam of light that saved my sanity.

How is it, that these average, unaspiring children can hold more intellectual conversations than supposed know-it-all professionals?

And I'm always amused when all my young over-achieving cousins avoid contact with any of us (me, bro, and sis). Guess our badness might rub onto them. Who knows, they might turn that 4.0 GPA into a 3.8, play ball in the house instead of playing piano, choose their own clothes over what mommy laid out in front of them. Yes, listen to all those relatives and stay away from us "trouble-making bad kids". If you stick around too long, you might actually grow a backbone.