Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I'm Big Enough; I'm Small Enough

A pretty typical activity for teachers of young kids is a project called some variation on 'I'm Big Enough; I'm Small Enough'. This is a great activity for kids who are at an age where they're being sent conflicting messages to help them figure out exactly where they stand. Kids who are not yet old enough to make many decisions, but are constantly being told they're "old enough to know better". The idea is to come up with positive things on both sides, for example: "I'm big enough to tie my own shoes; I'm small enough to cuddle in Daddy's lap for a bedtime story". This of course evokes "awwwww's" from the grown-ups, but it also helps the wee ones figure out that there are positives to being bigger than some and smaller than some.

I wondered if a similar activity would help with my midlife crisis.

I'm big enough to worry about not fitting in an airline seat;
I'm small enough that I don't need to drive a special car.

Hmm. That certainly didn't make me feel much better.

Perhaps I need to change it up a bit given my circumstances. Let's try: I'm young enough; I'm old enough.

I'm young enough to want to get my party on;
I'm old enough to know when to turn over the car keys.

I'm young enough to travel;
I'm old enough to afford it (theoretically, anyway).

I'm young enough to be idealistic;
I'm old enough to be practical.

I'm young enough to listen to and respect dissenting opinions;
I'm old enough not to let that change my mind.

I'm young enough to want to dress fashionably;
I'm old enough to have been forgotten by the designers.

I'm young enough to want to go to rock concerts;
I'm old enough to want to have somewhere to park my ample ass available at same. I might also want earplugs. If Pete Townsend wasn't immune to hearing damage, what makes me think I'll be? I'm also old enough to like Pete Townsend.

I'm young enough to want a beer at that concert;
I'm old enough to realize I can practically buy a twelve-pack for what that beer will cost. It can wait.

I'm young enough to want to try to fit in;
I'm old enough to not put so much store in other people's opinions.

I'm young enough to love Andy Samberg;
I'm old enough to have loved John Belushi - first run.

I'm young enough to want to try new things;
I'm old enough to be a little set in my ways.

I'm young enough to feel cute in my new hat;
I'm (almost) old enough for that hat to be red.

That was a pretty decent start. Maybe I'm just young enough and just old enough. Maybe this is just the right young/old for me to be. How about you? What are you young enough; old enough for? Or big enough; small enough, if you really want to go to there. I'm dying to know - I know I've missed good ones!

30 comments:

Badass Geek said...

I am young enough to wear t-shirts with comic book characters on them. I'm old enough to know that the amount of time I can continue wearing such shirts is getting smaller and smaller by the day.

Tracie said...

I'm young enough to play on the floor with the kids. But I'm old enough to need help getting up.

I loved this post! These were all great!

Unknown said...

I'm young enough to remember being a teen and wanting all that freedom. I'm old enough to parent 2 teens and to know when to let go just a bit.......but reign them in too.

Traci said...

I'm young enough to still love Halloween candy. I'm old enough to know too much will make me sick (theoretically)
:-)

As always, you made me smile.

Joanna Jenkins said...

That was terrific Tammy! Thanks.

I'm young enough to like blue snow cones but old enough to know I'll look pretty funny with blue tongue and lips.

xo

MaryRC said...

I'm young (and old) enough to buy a KISS T-shirt (it was in the juniors section). I'm old enough to know better than to wear it at the next Parent Teacher Conference. I to am young enough to go to concerts, and old enough to only want to buy good seats and only if they're affordable. Otherwise a great sound system and live dvd can be just as grand.
Im young enough to crush on Rob Pattinson as Edward. I'm old enough to know he's way too young, not very hygienic and a ding dong as a real person.
i can relate in SO many ways.

Housewife Savant said...

Anberlin has a song that says "Old enough to know, and too young to care."
It'll be in my head now. But who cares? Anberlin rocks.

I LOVE your insight here. I'll sign off now, so I can think of a LOT of 'em.
Great post Tammy!

Macey said...

I'm SO with you on the airline seat and special car. Yikes!
And the concert...and not caring what people think. All of that!
And what kys says, young enough to play on the floor with the kids, old enough to have to do the 3 point pivot turn grunt to get up. Gah. This is an awesome post.
How about this: I'm old enough to know better, but I'm too damn young to care. I think that's a country song from the 90's.
We must be having the same crisis, I've been thinking A LOT about the mid 90's and things from when I was younger.

BONNIE K said...

I'm young enough to love the idea of hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows on a snowy day. I'm old enough to know it must be the low calorie version, which doesn't taste as good.

Hit 40 said...

I am young enough to be able to work and old enough to know that retirement would freaking ROCK!!!

Anonymous said...

I think you've covered just about all of mine!

I'm young enough to be the mother of an 18 year old. I'm old enough to be a grandmother of three. What a span, huh?

Claudya Martinez said...

I'm big enough to prop my daughter on my ample hips.

I'm small enough to be spooned by my husband.

I'm young enough to get my groove on.

I'm old enough not to care what I look like when I am getting sait groove on.

You are awesome and so was this post. I linked to you on my most recent post. Check it out when you get a chance.

Becky said...

I'm young enough that the experts say I'm nearing my sexual prime.

I'm old enough to have stretch marks, 4 human beings come out of my va ja ja, and too tired to care.

Nope...this game isn't working for me:)

Hey! Doesn't Pete live right near me! In Indian Hill I think:) (rich area of Cincy)

Mama-Face said...

Tammy Tammy Tammy

First off; I am definitely playing the big/little game with my lil guy.

Secondly, you are a genius. Well, I think so cuz I fit every single category. Young enough to want to fit in; old enough to know to not care.

I have stuff for you...I get it if you aren't into the award aspect. But, I love you-I think I've passed every award I've ever been given on to you!! Some more than once. haha.

Anonymous said...

At this point, I'm small enough to fit into 2 pairs of my pants...but I'm big enough that the rest don't fit. :(

I'm young enough to know what blogging is...I'm old enough to appreciate the friendships it brings!!

Carma Sez said...

Andy Samberg AND wearing earplugs - I tell ya - we are kindred spirits.

I'm young enough want to get my nose pierced; I'm old enough to know I'd better wait til I quit my job :D

Liz Mays said...

You are NOT old enough for the red hat!

Geez, I've actually moved beyond idealism. I'll all practical. Maybe I should be wearing the red hat.

Mike said...

Oh, you could do a whole series! How about Smart enough, Dumb enough! LOL!!

Sandra Wilkes said...

Found you at Tater Tot Mom's place! Love this post...how clever. I am young enough to go skinny dipping and old enough to know it would be a scary scene!

Alicia said...

lol i LOVED this!!! you crack me up!! lets see...i'm young enough to still get carded....i'm old enough to embarrass my son at school

Mandy said...

You're young enough to write great blog posts that are interesting, funny and thought-provoking without sounding like a preachy, old fart.

You're old enough for me to heed your sensible advice and keep it stored in the back of my mind for future reference. So thanks! :-)

-------------

I'm young enough that every so often I still get carded for my I.D.

I'm old enough (and smart enough) to know that those folks carding me (a) are just doing their job, and (b) know that I will most likely tip them for carding me! ;-)

Gibby said...

I'm young enough to party all Halloween weekend,
but old enough to take two days to recover. (Thus the lack of blog posts. Note to self: schedule posts when going on a bender!)

Great game, Tammy!!!!!

sheila said...

Gosh, that is pretty profound, actually! What a great thing to say and practice daily!!!!!!!

Maude Lynn said...

I have a rather traumatic birthday coming up, and I'm so glad that I read this!

Live.Love.Eat said...

I never played that game. It could definitely make one feel good if played correctly!!!!! But I can't even think of one thing to add!


Thanks for sharing in my SITS day last week!!!!

♥ Braja said...

I usually think of "young enough to keep trying, old enough to know better" one :)

Kelley @ magneto bold too said...

all I know is I am not old enough to be the parent of an adult!

Hold me?

Stacy Uncorked said...

I love this post, Tammy! And you're way too young to even be thinking you're old enough to wear a red hat. Well, unless it's just a normal everyday red hat. Then knock yourself out! ;)

Sandy said...

Tammy, as usual, you are fabulous!

Let's see...you hit just about everything I can think of, 'cept my hat would be red. I am at what father used to call the 'awkward age.' Want to do things to help the kids (not that they need it) like pick up checks in restaurants but also want to do the same for Mom.

And....I'm young enough to listen to what the teens are talking about and remember when...but I'm old enough so that they look at me and wonder what the hell I'm smiling about and nodding my head to.

AudreyO said...

I'm young enough to have 100% independence but I'm old enough to know that sometimes a bit of dependence is nice :)