As Ogden Nash wrote, "Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore / And that's what parents were created for." Think back ... Why did you choose to be a parent—or did parenthood choose you? Which stories best encapsulate the joys and sorrows, pride and frustration, privileges and responsibilities of being a parent? Or, if you're not a parent, well, that's a story too. Share your parenthood stories forward.
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This Week's Prompt
Parenthood (10 Stories)
As Ogden Nash wrote, "Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore / And that's what parents were created for." Think back ... Why did you choose to be a parent—or did parenthood choose you? Which stories best encapsulate the joys and sorrows, pride and frustration, privileges and responsibilities of being a parent? Or, if you're not a parent, well, that's a story too. Share your parenthood stories forward.
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Upcoming Prompts
Accessorize, Accessorize (1 Story)
It’s “all about the shoes,” they say, but there’s also hats, handbags, jewelry, scarves, fragrances, and even tattoos. (Men: don’t forget ID bracelets, class rings, ties, watches, and that midlife sports car.) Think back … What’s the earliest accessory you remember? Have you had a “signature” accessory? Are accessories more important as we age? Share your accessory stories forward.
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Pranks and Practical Jokes
Pranks and practical jokes are practically synonymous with Halloween, so think back ... What pranks have you pulled? Did you TP a house? Make crank phone calls? Did you get caught? Do you regret pulling them? What's the most creative prank you've heard about? Have you been victimized by scams targeting seniors? Share your pranks and practical jokes forward.
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Politics (5 Stories)
As this election season draws to a close, think back ... What's your earliest election memory? What notable candidates have you voted for? Who is your favorite president in your lifetime? For what causes or candidates have you worked or demonstrated? Have you run for office yourself? What's your take on the state of politics today? Share your political memories forward.
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The Draft & Vietnam (1 Story)
The Vietnam War divided the nation, made real to us (or our brothers or boyfriends) by the draft. Some embraced military service, while others chanted "Hell no! We won't go!" or fled to Canada. Think back ... Where did you stand on the war? What was your draft lottery number? Did you watch the Ken Burns documentary? What lessons should America have learned? On this Veterans' Day, share your draft and Vietnam stories forward.
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Past Prompts
Beatles vs Stones (7 Stories)
Think back ... to the "British invasion." It was the Beatles vs the Rolling Stones and you had to pick a side. The moptops next door or the bad boys of rock? Soulful John or unruly Mick? "She Loves You" or "Satisfaction?" "The White Album" or "Sticky Fingers?" Do you still love their music? Are you fans of the remaining band members now? Share your Beatles and Stones stories forward.
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Good Riddance (12 Stories)
Pantyhose. Curlers. Coonskin caps. Disco. Polyester. Nixon. Segregation. Think back ... what object, person, or trend from our past are you thrilled to have behind us? What role did they play in your life, and what accounted for their eventual demise? Give us your quick take—a story you can write in 15 minutes or less—and bid good riddance to our past mistakes.
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Parties (5 Stories)
Birthday parties, holiday parties, dinner parties, dance parties—we punctuate our lives with parties. Think back ... to parties you remember. Which did you enjoy and which did you hate? Were you the life of the party or the wallflower? What was the best party you ever attended? What was the worst? What parties have you thrown? Is our two-party system obsolete? Share your party stories forward.
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What We Ate (30 Stories)
Think back ... to family dinners. Reading cereal boxes at the breakfast table. Lunch in the school cafeteria. Barbecues. Drive-ins. Pizza parlors. Chinese takeout. Burger joints. "Special occasion" restaurants. So many of our memories revolve around food. Share them forward!
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Middle School (5 Stories)
The recent movie "Eighth Grade" got us thinking about middle school, that awkward, difficult, in-between time when we were not quite children yet not quite adolescents. Or was it? Think back ... What was it like? Who were your friends? What were your interests? Were you still close to your parents? How did it change you? How was it different for your kids? Share your middle school stories forward.
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