The Lighter Side
The Lighter Side

The Lighter Side

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Deaf Dog Trained To Understand Sign Language Commands Is One Smart Pup!
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Deaf Dog Trained To Understand Sign Language Commands Is One Smart Pup!

Faith is a deaf dog living in Minnesota. Although her world is silent, her owners have trained the deaf dog using American Sign Language (ASL). This way, they can convey instructions, information, or praise to her. Most people know that dogs are smart enough to learn verbal language. When dealing with a deaf dog, Faith’s owners needed to find a different way, so they opted for sign language. Faith knows several basic signs, such as “eat,” “sister,” and “sit.” If the dog is upstairs, her owner will flash the lights to get her attention and “call” her downstairs. Figuring out ways to communicate effectively with a deaf dog is a continuing task. The family is no stranger to deaf dogs. They had a dog named Zoe who slowly lost her hearing. Zoe passed in 2022 at 15. Her companion, PeeWee, passed a year later, leaving only Faith. We don’t know if Zoe and PeeWee knew sign language, but Faith is a stellar student. The deaf dog learns quickly and remembers the sign language commands. In the above video, Faith obeys the command to sit. Continuing to convey instructions, the deaf dog’s mom uses sign language for “treat,” “sister,” and “go.” This tells Faith that her human sister has a treat, and the dog can get the treat by going to her sister. Deaf dogs frequently hit the spotlight. Cole is a deaf therapy dog that works in an elementary school. Dory is another deaf dog that knows sign language. Sometimes she gets confused and thinks the referees are signing to her during sports events. Please share if you know a super smart deaf dog. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Deaf Dog Trained To Understand Sign Language Commands Is One Smart Pup! appeared first on InspireMore.

“Switched Places With My Twin. How Long Will It Take For Her Kids To Notice?”
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“Switched Places With My Twin. How Long Will It Take For Her Kids To Notice?”

When a twin reveals that there’s someone in the world who looks nearly just like them, they’re usually flooded with tons of questions: How similar are your personalities? Can you read each other’s minds? But most often, perhaps, they get asked about being sneaky. More specifically, people want to know if twins ever try to switch places with one another. And, if so, did they get away with it? There’s a chance that Shae and Brooke have tried this many times in their lives. That said, all we know is that one of them simply had to find out if she could fool her very own kids. The plan was simple: While spending time with her kids, Mom would briefly head outside. When she returned, it would actually be her twin in her place. Find out how long it takes these kiddos to catch on in the viral video below! Sneaky Twins Switch Places with One Another, but it Doesn’t Fool the Kids for One Second! “Girl you grew next to her, she grew IN her. Ain’t no fooling them!” someone hilariously points out in reply to this sweet video. Other commenters add, “You can’t fool those two little ones!” and “Wow I think the voice was the only giveaway but even then it’s nothing that screams at you. They definitely love mama haha.” To most of us viewers, there are almost no distinguishable differences between Shae and Brooke. That said, the differences between these twins goes beyond their looks and even their voices. Even the most identical twins are going to vary in their mannerisms. It’s these tiny differences that likely helped these kids know something had changed. How cool is that!? And a huge disappointment for every twin who wants to switch places, of course. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post “Switched Places With My Twin. How Long Will It Take For Her Kids To Notice?” appeared first on InspireMore.

“The Time My Oldest Daughter Was Terrified Of Darth Vader And The Second Born Said, “Not My Sister”
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“The Time My Oldest Daughter Was Terrified Of Darth Vader And The Second Born Said, “Not My Sister”

Some kids are afraid of everything, and others fear nothing. When the two are in the same family, it can contribute to a refreshing amount of smiles. The stark difference is never as noticeable as when both kids are faced with the same foe, namely, Darth Vader. Clutching her dad’s hand, Kristen Sexton’s oldest daughter approached the evil head of the Empire. She was not comfortable at all. The gravelly voice was frightening her. Enter the little warrior. When Kristen’s youngest daughter noticed how frightened her older sister was, the tiny kid laid into Darth Vader with a frightful fury that had him backing into the wall. @kristen__sexton One of my favorite memories, unlocked. Making memories with my family like this is something I’ve never regretted as a parent. So many fun experiences! If you’re ready to plus up your next vacation, I would love to help you get it planned! #starwars #hollywoodstudios ♬ original sound – Kristen – Travel Agent Bestie ‘Tis no fury like that of a two-year-old defending her family honor! Her terrifying scream echoed in the recruitment center, letting everyone know that she was not playing around. A cast member quietly mentioned that the kid would make an excellent addition to Darth Vader’s troops. Not knowing the family personally, I would still place my bet on her being more sympathetic to the rebellion forces. Seeing the kid’s reaction to Darth Vader, she did not seem frightened by his evilness. She met Chewbacca earlier and seemed totally smitten with the huge furry warrior and his rebellion sidekick. @kristen__sexton We go from having a bubble blowing moment to giving Chewy a bubble bath REAL QUICK ♬ original sound – Kristen – Travel Agent Bestie The entire family had fun on their Disney trip. Even Kristen’s husband got teary-eyed meeting his favorite character, the Mandalorian. Their older daughter was smitten by Mickey, but not so impressed by the Star Wars characters. Their youngest did not enjoy the Bibbity Boppity Boutique. We’re sure that being cute doesn’t vibe with her reputation as the kid who stood up to Darth Vader. You can follow this family on TikTok for more fun as they travel and grow up. Please share. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post “The Time My Oldest Daughter Was Terrified Of Darth Vader And The Second Born Said, “Not My Sister” appeared first on InspireMore.

Moms share 5 reasons why 'absent Baby Boomer' parents won't spend time with their grandkids
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Moms share 5 reasons why 'absent Baby Boomer' parents won't spend time with their grandkids

There is a growing trend on social media in which Millennial and Gen X-aged parents (ages 29 to 44) say their Baby Boomer parents aren’t there for their grandkids. In many cases, they begged their kids to have grandchildren, but when the kids arrived, they found better things to do with their time.The fact that their parents don’t seem to care about their own grandchildren comes as a shock to many, especially those whose grandparents were a big part of their lives growing up. Some say that because Baby Boomers are more affluent than previous generations, they spend their time doing activities outside of their family, or that, as members of the “Me Generation,” they’d rather focus on themselves than family.Of course, one shouldn’t paint an entire generation with the same brush. There are plenty of fantastic grandparents from the Baby Boomer generation. But for those whose parents shirked their duties as grandparents, the pain is deep. A stressed mom and her baby.via Canva/PhotosTo uncover why so many Baby Boomer grandparents aren’t around for their grandchildren, a Redditor asked the Absent Grandparents subforum for reasons why: “It makes me wonder: why are so many grandparents today so uninvolved, when they themselves relied heavily on grandparent support in the ’90s and 2000s? The one silver lining is this: IF our kids have children, we’ll show up. We’ll offer help, give them weekends off, and be the kind of grandparents we wish ours were.”5 reasons why Baby Boomer grandparents aren’t around for their grandchildren 1. They relied on their own parents"I think because a lot of them relied so heavily on grandparent support that they have no idea how hard parenting actually is.""Yep. My in-laws sent my husband and his two siblings to the babysitter/school for 12+ hours a day, and then on the weekends, they were at their grandma's house. Since they never got deep in the nitty gritty of caretaking, they simply had no patience for their kids when they did have them.""We were with our grandparents a lot because they didn't want to be parents back then, and they don't want to be grandparents now."2. They didn't want kids in the first place"Boomers had kids to appease their parents and never forgave us for it. I think most of them would freely admit they didn’t want to have kids, but societal obligations pushed them into it. I personally believe my father only had me because having a family was kinda expected to climb the corporate ladder.""My mom admitted that she didn't want kids, but my dad ultimatum-ed her. She was f**king amazing, engaged, involved, supportive. My dad was none of those things. Like, the best you could say is that he wasn't abusive and he liked to brag when we did well (thanks to our mom's support, not his)?" A couple in their 60s. via Canva/Photos3. They only want to show off to their friends"A lot of them only want grandkids so they can take photos and play grandparent for 10 minutes to show off to their friends. The novelty soon wears off, especially when said grandchildren won't perform for them and start having their own opinions."4. They were selfish"For me, my parents are incredibly selfish people. They have a decent amount of money, but since I was 18, they have never paid for anything as trivial as a meal for me when we ate out. When my sister had her first grandchild, she mentioned to my parents that it would be helpful if they had a pack-and-play and a high chair/basically some baby gear for when they came to visit. My parents freaked out and basically told her they would not be buying anything like that. If she wanted it at her house, she would have to buy it for them."5. Emotional immaturity"I think a lot of boomers are, regrettably, at heart selfish and emotionally immature people. The greatest and silent generations were not perfect, but they had a stronger sense of decency, obligation, and expectation than boomers did. Many boomers sadly have very few interpersonal standards. ... Sorry, but you don’t want people who don’t really care in your life. The reason they don’t see their grandbabies 5 minutes away is because they do not care." A couple in their 60s. via Canva/PhotosThere are many reasons why some Baby Boomers have turned their backs on their grandchildren. So how can parents turn this into a positive? Nathaniel Turner, co-founder of the League of Extraordinary Parents, lawyer, and TEDx speaker, says that parents should take this as an opportunity to build their own village.“I find the lament about absent Baby Boomer grandparents understandable. However, we need to stop mourning their absence and thank them for the open seats they left behind,” Turner told Upworthy. He suggests that parents find a fresh way forward rather than hope that their Baby Boomer parents will come around one day. - YouTube www.youtube.com “You must unapologetically accept that if an individual lacks the capacity to contribute to your child's highest outcome, their DNA gives them no special privilege to the Village seat,” Turner continued. He suggests that parents create their own “Starting Five”—like a basketball team—to support their child’s development. “The healthy way to handle absence is to engineer a qualified, superior replacement," he said. "Your job is to honestly and systematically evaluate potential new village members. For us, that was creating the ‘Starting Five’: a collection of five people committed to ensuring your child reaches their full potential and lives a life far better than your own.”It seems the parents in this thread are tired of lamenting that their own parents just won’t be there for their kids as grandparents, and they just want to understand why. But, as Turner notes, that leaves an opportunity open for someone with a bigger heart and greater concern for their child’s well-being to step in and create an even stronger village.

15 unusual spooky words to learn for Halloween and beyond
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15 unusual spooky words to learn for Halloween and beyond

Following long and hot summers, there is nothing more refreshing than welcoming in "spooky season" on September 1. With the cooler fall temperatures, revelers prepare for the highly anticipated day that crowns the season: Halloween.And leading up to October 31, those who love the scary, creepy and supernatural get to settle into all things macabre. Macabre is one of many uncommon words that tend to come out during this time of year.So if you're looking to expand your Halloween vocabulary, there are many obscure words for you to learn. Here are 15 Halloween words and definitions that will take your lexicon to the next level: @jesszafarris Replying to @jesszafarris woohooo! #halloween #wordoftheday #wordorigins #spooky #werewolf #witch #witchcraft #witchtok #booktok #literature #etymology #etymologytok #warlock #magic #wolf #wifwolf PhantasmPhantasm means "a product of fantasy: such as a delusive appearance or illusion; a ghost, specter; or a figment of the imagination."ApparitionApparition mean "ghost; the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people."KrakenKraken means "a gigantic tentacled sea monster of Scandinavian myth."According to Merriam Webster, the kraken is "a legendary sea monster of Scandinavian and Norwegian lore, perhaps imagined from sightings of giant squids and octopi. Sailors have discussed giant sea monsters for thousands of years, and Danish historian Erik Pontoppidan described the kraken (as well as sea serpents and mermaids) in detail in his Natural History of Norway (first published in Danish in 1752), claiming the beast was 'round, flat, and full of arms' and 'the largest and most surprising of all the animal creation.'"EldritchEldritch means "strange or unnatural especially in a way that inspires fear; weird, eerie."MacabreMacabre means "gruesome; extremely disturbing or repellent." @englishwithterry #holloween #holloween2024 #spooky #fear #macabre #englishlesson #speakingenglish #writingenglish #englishasasecondlanguage #eslclass #englishteacher WerewolfWerewolf is "a person transformed into a wolf or capable of assuming a wolf's form."According to Merriam Webster, werewolf traces "all the way back to the Old English werwulf, and before that to a prehistoric predecessor that also left its paw prints on German (Werwolf) and Dutch (weerwolf). Synonyms for werewolf in English include the obscure lycanthrope, which has roots in two Greek words (lykos, meaning 'wolf,' and anthrōpos, meaning 'human being'), and loup-garou, which comes from Old French."WraithWraith means "the exact likeness of a living person seen usually just before death as an apparition, ghost, specter; an insubstantial form or semblance, shadow; a barely visible gaseous or vaporous column."NefariousNefarious means "flagrantly wicked or impious; evil."According to Merriam Webster, nefarious "comes from the Latin adjective nefarius and the Latin noun nefas, which means 'crime.' Nefas is a combination of ne- ('not') and fas, meaning 'right' or 'divine law'."LycanthropyLycanthropy means "a delusion that one has become a wolf; the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic."MausoleumMausoleum means "a large tomb, a usually stone building with places for entombment of the dead above ground; a large gloomy building or room."ColumbariumColumbarium means "a structure of vaults lined with recesses for cinerary urns." @wired A #mausoleum and a #columbarium - what’s the difference? Let’s dive into the world of enternal resting places with licensed funeral director and #mortician #victormsweeney #morticianlife #morticiansoftiktok #cemetery #cremation #funeraldirector CrepuscularCrepuscular means "of, relating to, or resembling twilight, dim; occurring or active during twilight." EsbatEsbat means "a meeting of a coven of witches."Malevolent Malevolent means "having, showing, or arising from intense often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred; productive of harm or evil."ChthonicChthonic means "of or relating to the underworld; infernal."