What our babysitter said.

Our babysitter said that she had never seen the inside of a pair before because she is "allergic to fruit". She's allergic to them because of the "pesticides". She is not allergic to organic fruit, however.

Our babysitter said that she failed her essay, despite her thinking that it was the best essay she's ever written. A few days later she told us the whole class had failed. Everyone received an F.

Cindy told her that Jake's teeth were so white because they were extra calcified - and this could lead to future cavities. A few days later she told us that she had extra calcium in her teeth and the dentist said this was a problem.

We had ants in our house one morning. A few days later she said that they had ants in their house, in every cupboard, in every box of food.

When the painter came to paint our house, she said she and her boyfriend were painting their house this summer - and her boyfriend's house.

When Cindy said my feet were dirty, the babysitter said that she noticed Jake's feet were dirty from his play mat and that her feet were also dirty from his play mat. The play mat is clean. My feet were dirty from walking around outside.

Life advice from a 20 year old.

I was reading an online discussion about life and someone posted a long message about advice and wisdom, and the things they've learned in life. About halfway through the post they mentioned they were 24 years old.

I stopped reading. To be fair, I was basically only skimming the article anyway so I probably would have stopped in the next few seconds because I just wasn't interested.

As soon as I saw they were in their 20's, I automatically discounted everything they said. Remember when you were in your 20's? How wise were you back then?

I might take life advice from someone my age. Might. Especially if they've had a harder life than me and seemed to be coping well with the challenges. Someone in their 40s, I'd listen to. In their 50's and 60's, yes. 70s and up, surely.

While older people are the most qualified to offer advice, we rarely ask them. We equate old age with declining mental ability. So the people who can offer us the most wisdom and guidance, we ignore because we think they're no longer smart enough.

Would you rather look old when you're young and young when you're old? Or look young when you're young and old when you're old?

I find it fascinating that when you look at someone you can immediately determine if they are younger, older or about your age.

Why can we do this so fast? My guess is that it has to do with reproduction and evolution. It was in our benefit to identify people's ages very quickly - it helped us get more mates and have more babies.

The way life works now, we look young when' we're young and old when we're old. What if this was reversed?

From my work in the school system I know that kids who look older often have more problems:

1) They're bullied by their peers for looking different.

2) Teachers and adults overestimate their maturity and are disappointed.

So I think it would be bad when you're young. On the other hand, when you're old and you look young, lots of good things can happen.

1) People will be pleasantly surprised at your maturity and wisdom.

2) You'll have more success with the opposite sex because combined with your good looks, you now have the intelligence and wisdom of an old person that would help you attract and seduce(?) a younger person.

On the other hand, it would be frustrating being treated as a "dumb young person" by people who are younger than you.

In conclusion, I say that the way we age works out just fine.

At what age do you realize you were wrong about life?

When you're a kid you think that when you grow up you'll be special. Maybe you'll be rich or famous or powerful. An astronaut, scientist, explorer, inventor. You'll do something unique, be remembered forever, work hard and succeed at something.

Then, as you get older, you realize that in fact you're not special. You're pretty mediocre. There are millions of people like you. There are millions of people better than you.

You have accomplished very little, don't have much money, you are physically past your prime. At what age do you finally realize you will never become the adult that you dreamed about as a child?

I say 30. In your teens, you're still very young and naive. You still think you're special, and you haven't started college or lived on your own in the real world.

In your 20s, you start to get an inkling that maybe you won't be a smashing success after all. But you're still hopeful! Maybe you'll catch that break! Maybe something's going to change.

By the time you hit 30 it's sunk in. Sorry, you ain't special. You still have a small chance, perhaps, but probably will never be the roaring success you thought. You're running on the treadmill faster and faster, just to maintain.

This could lead to depression (mid-life crisis in 30s or 40s). Hopefully you will simply accept it and move on. Try your best at the few things you're good at. Or maybe you'll be motivated to try even harder and become the success you dreamed.

Who knows?