Spirit Magazine - August 2014 - (Page 82)

FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS, nature HAS BEEN GUIDING THE CHANGES IN OUR BODIES TO MAKE US THE BEST PARENTS POSSIBLE. A massive, four-year study by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research surveyed 130,000 adults internationally and found that parents are happier than nonparents. Of course, these results come with qualifications. Parenting doesn't necessarily make people happier, but it's clear that parenthood is associated with happiness and meaning. Time and again research has demonstrated that parents experience greater depths of joy than nonparents. And sure, the lows are lower too, but like an elite athlete who trains for years to achieve success, the pain and struggle only make the victory that much sweeter. The Diaper Chronicles ON MY FIRST date with David, I never could have imagined how much time we would one day spend talking about poop. Whereas we used to wax philosophical about political theory and art, now much of our conversation revolves around Atlas' diaper. Sometimes, it extends to the poop of other tiny beings too. My friend Vanessa and her husband recently discovered a bright blue bowel movement in the diaper of their 1-year old son, Jonah. Like all proud parents, they shared the news on Facebook, dispatching photo evidence and asking for theories on what accounted for the discoloration. Suggestions came pouring in: Did he uncork a bottle of food coloring? Eat a Smurf? We settled on ingestion of blue Play-Doh as the most plausible cause, but the case remains open. The bizarre thing is that neither David nor I find these discussions disturbing. Poop has become just another part of the day, a routine sandwiched somewhere between shopping for groceries and filling up at the gas station. It may not sound romantic, but it's probably not so bad for our relationship. Long-term data on marriage suggests that parenthood keeps us connected to our spouses. Couples with kids are more likely to stay married, and married people are, on average, happier than their unmarried peers. Sure, some couples stay together for their kids rather than for personal happiness. But here's what I know for certain: Although David and I talk more often about poop than I ever anticipated, we're still 2014-2015 Associated Students Executive Officers leadership starts here Leadership is on the rise. US News & World Report's Annual ranking of America's Best Colleges lists SDSU as one of the top "Up-and-Coming" schools in the country. With leadership opportunities in more than 300 student organizations and the university's strong commitment to student success, international experiences, impactful research and entrepreneurship, SDSU is taking its place among the nation's leading public research universities. SDSU.edu http://www.SDSU.edu http://www.SDSU.edu

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - August 2014

Spirit Magazine - August 2014
Contents
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Eat Drink Sleep
Wise Guide
Numbers
Business
Into the Rough
Chaos Theory
Your Adventure In Northwest Flordia Beaches
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products & Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards Partners
Route Map
The “If” List

Spirit Magazine - August 2014

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