WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 14

April 7, 2024

IS FUNCTIONAL FUN?

If you know Erin Saxton, she posed not so much a question but a statement this past week: “Put fun into functional.” If you do not know Erin, you will likely take one look at the picture on her website at www.theerinnetwork.com and realize that she can put fun into just about anything.

Erin’s statement caused me to start thinking more about the word “functional”. Depending on the version of Webster’s Dictionary you use, functional can mean “connected with” or “having a special activity, purpose or task” or “practical or useful, rather than attractive.”

An article by Christine Koh in Substack is titled, Putting the fun into functional: The world needs all kinds of people. (Aug. 22, 2023, Christine.koh.substack.com). Like Erin’s statement this past week, Christine’s article immediately caught my attention. The opening words to her article are, ” I’m not often the classic Fun Mom….” She goes on to say that “one thing I have worked on as a parent is the idea that fun can take different forms.”

For those parents who have tried and failed (ie, me) to be “the fun one”, Christine’s article may resonate with you. She found her way as a “Functional Mom” by baking with her children. She candidly states, “Accept the mess. A lot of parents tell me they don’t want their kids in the kitchen because it will be messy. It will be messy.” The article made me chuckle for many reasons, primarily because parenting is messy, even when not in the kitchen. I was also one of those moms who allowed my children to make “yucky stuff” in the kitchen, much to my husband’s dismay.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Write down how you define fun and/or functional. Depending on the age of a child, niece, nephew, or student, have them do the same and compare notes. You may well find yourself engaging in an activity that is both functional and fun. If you need further inspiration, check out Erin’s website or Christine’s article.

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[1] Copyright April 7, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Winston Weekly is a weekly Sunday newsletter by Alysen Bayles, Founder of Bayles and Bruce. “Learn, live, love, read.” Alysen’s views are her own.