Toby, 15, and Anton, 12, crack me up a hundred times daily. Ever since they picked up speaking, they’ve been astonishing me with their bold opinions and funny slang. Here are some of the things they — along with their pals — have come up with recently…
Anton, speaking to me at the grocery store: “Dude, this is tomato juice mixed with clam broth. It’s like, uhhh, appreciate the opportunity.”
Anton: “This kinetic sand smells awful.”
Friend: “Omg, do you know what it reminds me of?”
Anton: “What?”
Friend: “Something really terrible.”
Friend: “School lunch is dreadful.”
Toby: “The absolute worst.”
His friend: “It’ll just be a yellow blob. Is it meat? Is it potatoes? Like, I need to know what it is.”
A message to my parents, shown above.
Anton, while looking at myths: “Greek myths are like, we had dinner and we messed up. We had dinner again and we did something reeeallyyy baaaad.”
Anton, from the bathroom: “I’m executing the greatest hand wash of all time!”
Me: “What makes it so great?”
Anton: “It’s just awesome.”
Anton giving Toby a makeover at a store. My heart is melting.
My little buddy showing me her silly face.
At our block party this weekend, a teenage girl told me she was attempting to wear roller skates for 24 hours. “Is it a fundraiser or something?” I inquired. “No, it’s just a personal challenge,” she replied. She had 14 hours to go and, although her feet were sore, she was confident she would succeed: “I basically just have to sleep in them and I’m done.”
Toby, after two hours of babysitting: “Mom, you have no clue how tiring it is to look after kids.”
Me: “Yeah…totally.”
What adorable or humorous things have the children in your life said or done recently? And what sorts of things captivate them?
P.S. More kids in dialogue, and approaches to discussing topics like sex, periods, death, consent, and everything else.
**Title: A Conversation Between Toby and Anton: Perspectives on Today’s Technology**
In a secluded spot of a lively café, two companions, Toby and Anton, faced each other, deeply engaged in a spirited dialogue about the influence of contemporary technology on society. Their discussion, filled with insights and contrasting viewpoints, reflected a microcosm of the wider discourse taking place globally.
**Toby:** “You know, Anton, I’ve been reflecting a lot on how technology has reshaped our lives. It’s amazing how we can connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Just consider social media; it’s changed communication completely.”
**Anton:** “I concur, Toby, but there’s another side to that story. While social media brings us together, it also makes us feel more isolated. People are more absorbed in their devices than in face-to-face interactions. It’s as if we’re losing the skill of conversation.”
**Toby:** “That’s a valid observation, but think about the wealth of information available to us now. With just a few clicks, we can explore any subject. It’s democratized knowledge, making education more reachable for many.”
**Anton:** “True, but the overwhelming amount of information can be daunting. Plus, the spread of false information is troubling. It’s becoming increasingly challenging to differentiate between what’s factual and what’s not, which can be quite risky.”
**Toby:** “I understand your point. However, technology also propels innovation. Take healthcare, for example. Telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostics are enhancing patient care and streamlining healthcare services.”
**Anton:** “Absolutely, the progress in healthcare is astonishing. Yet, there’s the concern of data privacy. Given the vast amount of personal data online, how can we safeguard it?”
**Toby:** “Privacy is a valid concern, but there are regulations and innovations emerging to tackle it. Encryption and data protection laws are adapting to meet these challenges.”
**Anton:** “I hope so. It just seems that the speed of technological advancement is so fast, it’s difficult to keep pace. At times, it feels like we are in a perpetual state of adjustment.”
**Toby:** “That’s simply the nature of advancement. We need to adapt to new truths. Embracing change is essential for progress.”
**Anton:** “I guess you’re right. It’s crucial to strike a balance. We must utilize the advantages of technology while remaining conscious of its potential downsides.”
**Toby:** “Agreed. It’s all about leveraging technology as a resource to enhance our existence, not allowing it to dominate us.”
As their discussion came to a close, Toby and Anton contemplated the subtleties of their exchange. Their dialogue underscored the intricacies of modern technology, showcasing both its transformative power and the issues it poses. Through their conversation, they recognized that while technology is a central element of modern existence, it necessitates intentional engagement and responsible usage to be genuinely beneficial for society.
