Mental push ups

Saw this article on improving brain function and thought it was interesting.

According to Dr. Bernard Croisile, there are five daily activities you can do to sharpen your cognitive skills. To my female readers, keep in mind it's on the Askmen.com website, so you'll probably need to do two sets of the suggested exercises.

I and just about everyone I know have brain farts. (Sorry, not ready to call them senior moments yet. Besides, I have a 7-year-old boy -- our world is six degrees of separation from farts.) And we'll take all the help we can get to improve memory, attention and ... um, whatever else we use our brains for.

Most of these things I do already, like math in my head while driving. Apparently, it helps strengthen your attention span. It keeps me awake at the wheel.

Of course, it may all be a crock -- one part of the article suggests that these exercises help maintain efficiency when multitasking and it's written for men ...

'Nuf said.

But we could all use some mental push ups or sit ups or pull ups now and then. And if occasionally rearranging my desk, reading a story a day in the science or business section or kicking ass and taking names in the Webkinz World arcade keeps me sharp enough to wear my shirt right side out or give my kids milk money, then I'm all for it.

From the Mouths of Babes

So, should you worry when your 8-year-old starts a sentence with: "Mom, I don't mean this in a bad way, but ..."

My daughter, now nearly 10, has actually started a few sentences in such a way. I guess it's good that she's curious. She's also a cynical little thing. She may have been H.L. Mencken in a previous life.

That particular instance was, "Mom, I don't mean this in a bad way, but isn't it a little weird for a grownup to be playing on Webkinz World?"

This came the same day my son logged on to WW and said: "Mom, you didn't win me any money last night. Don't you know it's your job?"

Welcome to my damned if you do, damned if you don't life. I gently explained to my daughter that grownups like playing video games (at least that's what they were called back in the day) as much as kids. And while it may be a little unusual, I like to play games to clear my mind ... or better yet, to not have to think about anything at all ... And because I like to win.

In short, it's how I veg out.

I also explained to my son that winning him money on Webkinz world is not in the official Mom Job Description, however it is one of my special skills from which he benefits. He didn't buy it, so I'm off for some Color Storm. Or maybe Get Eleven Solitaire. After all, I've got a job to do, even if it's weird.