My son is on the cusp of 13, close to that age where young adulthood is a few blinks away. Up until last year, he LOVED Mad Libs—that simple pencil-to-paper game that works both your comedic creativity and parts of speech knowledge.

With social distancing still encouraged during COVID-19, I found my wandering imagination waxing nostalgic for our giggling days spent over many a goofy Mad Lib. Aha, I thought (I regularly talk to myself), presents are often forgotten but a personalized Mad Lib—now that’s a memory he can take to college someday🙂

So here’s what I created for the soon-to-be teenager. My maternal gut tells me I’ll be witnessing a smile that money can’t buy, perhaps a belly laugh or two (depending on his answers;-)

Here’s what I believe most of us in this life are hungry for: to matter, to be noticed, to feel heard. Each of us has the power to help feed another’s soul. Toni Morrison once said something I will never forget (this was way back on the Oprah Show in the 90’s—where has time gone??):

“When a kid walks in the room—your child or anybody else’s child—does your face light up? That’s what they’re looking for.”

A personalized Mad Libs is a great way to show a loved one they matter. You are giving that child (or adult:-)a verbal “light up” from you to them.

Feel free to use the Mad Libs I created for my son. I encourage you to get creative and feed your own soul in the process:-)