Sunday Scroll #129

Things I've stopped feeling bad about at 42, talking to kids about AI, cookie cake, and how to regulate your emotions as a parent

Good morning, and Happy Sunday! How are you today?

Tbh I’m kinda excited. Last week was huge victory for our small business, and small business across the US!

Aaaand it’s my birthday week! Tbh I don’t care if I’m turning 43, I still love my birthday. (I’m wondering: Should I make myself this cookie cake??) Though as I’ve gotten older, I get more excited about the ritual of looking back at the year before to see what I’ve learned and how far I’ve come, and getting a thrill when I look at what’s ahead.

I wrote a Note about ten things I don’t feel bad about anymore at 42 and asked what you guys have learned as you’ve gotten older. And whew! The comment section, as the kids say, slaps. I think I’m going to turn this into a full-blown post, so stay tuned for that.

Ready for a scroll?

1. On why getting older might be life’s greatest plot twist. +1 to every word of this.

2. American Girl fans, this is not a drill! 🚨 There’s a new Samatha Parkington book for adults coming this fall! She’s 25 in the 1920s, I am here for this. (If you had an American Girl doll, please sound off in the comments — not surprisingly, I had a Samantha. 😂)

3. The hidden costs of people pleasing. Hi, my name is Emily and I’m a recovering people pleaser.

4. What to say when your child uses AI. Last week I sat down with Dr. Sam Illingworth, a professor and poet and father in Edinburgh who writes a brilliant Substack called Slow AI, for a live conversation about AI and parenting. Nobody has this figured out. Not me, not the schools, not the experts. But after my convo with Sam, I’m feeling more clear about one thing: the goal isn’t to shut it all down or hand it all over. It’s to stay in it with them. (PS: if you view the post on desktop you’ll find a transcript, if that’s more your jam.)