Hey there—

You made it. Another week down, and here we are at Friday. Whether this week felt smooth or like you were holding it together with duct tape and hope, you're here. That counts.

Here are a few small things for your weekend—nothing fancy, just ideas that might help you catch your breath before Monday rolls back around.

This weekend, gather everyone for a few minutes and try a compliment circle. Each person takes a turn while everyone else shares one thing they appreciate about them. It could be something they did this week, a quality you admire, or just something that made you smile.

It sounds simple, but it's surprisingly powerful. Kids (and adults) don't always hear what they're doing right in the middle of a busy week. This gives everyone a chance to feel seen and valued. It also helps siblings practice saying kind things to each other, which—let's be honest—doesn't always come naturally. Keep it short and genuine, and don't be surprised if it becomes something your family asks to do again.

Sunday evening, set a timer for five minutes and do a quick backpack check with your kids. Restock pencils, refill glue sticks, toss old papers, check that the water bottle made it home. If library books are due or permission slips need signing, now's the time to catch them.

This isn't about perfection—it's about avoiding the Monday morning scramble when someone realizes their homework folder is empty or their markers are dried out. Five minutes now saves you fifteen minutes of stress later, and that trade-off is worth it.

If you're looking for a game to play together, try Sleeping Queens. It's a whimsical card game where players wake up queens using kings, and protect them from being put back to sleep. It takes about 20 minutes, works for ages 8 and up, and plays well with 2–5 people.

The rules are simple enough that younger kids can jump in, but there's just enough strategy to keep older kids and adults interested. It's also one of those rare games that doesn't drag on forever, so you can play a round without it eating your whole evening.

If you've heard your kid say something like "I'm being so delulu right now," here's what's going on. This section is here to help you stay in the loop with kid language—not to use it yourself (please don't), but so you know what they're talking about.

Delulu is short for "delusional," but kids use it in a lighthearted, self-aware way. It means having unrealistic hopes or fantasies, usually about something they want to happen even though they know it probably won't. It's not mean-spirited—it's more about admitting you're being a little ridiculous but embracing it anyway.

Kids might say "I'm delulu thinking I'll finish all my homework before dinner" or "She's delulu if she thinks he likes her back." It's also used positively, like "delulu is the solulu"—meaning sometimes being a little delusional and optimistic is actually the solution. It's playful, not serious, and very much part of how they talk about hope and reality at the same time.

For younger kids: How many teeth does an adult human have?

For older kids: What is the only mammal that can't jump?

(Answers at the bottom)

Science: Your brain uses about 20% of your body's energy even though it's only 2% of your body weight. That's why thinking hard can actually make you feel physically tired—your brain is burning serious fuel even when you're sitting still.

Language Arts: The word "nerd" was invented by Dr. Seuss in 1950. It first appeared in his book If I Ran the Zoo, and within a few years, kids everywhere were using it. So yes, we have Dr. Seuss to thank for that one.

You got through another week of lunches, homework battles, permission slips, and everything else that comes with keeping small humans moving in the right direction. That's not nothing.

Your weekend might be wide open, or it might be packed with games, errands, and obligations. It might include rest, or it might just include survival. All of it counts. There's no prize for having the perfect weekend, and there's no penalty for spending it in sweatpants.

Here's to lowered expectations and raised spirits this weekend.

Younger kids: An adult human has 32 teeth—that includes 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars (including the wisdom teeth). Kids have only 20 baby teeth, so when all the adult teeth come in, that's a lot more chewing power.

Older kids: An elephant is the only mammal that can't jump. Their legs are built to support enormous weight, not to spring off the ground. Even baby elephants don't jump—they're just not built for it.