Toby and Anton’s Guide to Life

Toby: Just be gentle.

Wise words for parents, like me. Thank you, Toby.

“wait until golden hour and go for a walk”!! This is true wisdom and honestly, just what I needed to hear. Just thinking about a golden hour walk has brightened my outlook today.

These were excellent. Little old souls in there. And you can tell how comfortable they are answering you!

When i was pregnant with our older son, i gathered answers to parenting questions – asked of my friends’ kids. The answers were funny, and ridiculous, and a great reminder of what kids think is important vs. what parents are concerned about. They really do see the world in cool ways.

Toby, cheering for players when they lose and: “Just be gentle.”

And Anton with his Scottish accent, love of Queen, Diet Pepsi comment, and knowledge of what Golden Hour even is…

You are raising such decent, fun, interesting, smart boys Joanna. And the world needs more of those! So thank you.

I love, love Toby’s advice for parents. “Just be gentle.” Such a great reminder! Anton’s advice for someone in a bad mood is excellent. You have some really insightful children, Joanna!

Aww I have a 4 month old boy and can’t wait to ask him these questions one day! ❤️

1.

Advice from my 6.5 year old daughter, Edie:
1. What’s a good breakfast?
Oats. I like putting cinnamon, oat milk, and maple syrup on mine, with peaches or apples or cherries or strawberries or blueberries on the side.

2. How do you make a friend?
Well, how I make a friend is I ask them if they want to play with me.

3. If someone can’t sleep, what would you suggest they do?
Read until they fall asleep, they could read Nancy Drew books or The BFG is a good one.

4. What should you do if you see a dog on the street?
Let the dog sniff you and pet it.

5. How can you be a good sports fan?
What does that mean? [We don’t really watch sports.]

6. For a chill Friday night, what would you recommend people eat and drink?
They should eat tacos and snow cones and drink a bottle of sparkling water.

7. What advice would you give parents who want to be good parents?
Read to your children, do not let them watch TV, buy them good food, and be nice to your kids.

8. What should people do if they go to someone else’s house?
Make sure to be nice and if they say you can’t play with a toy then just don’t play with it.

9. What’s a good karaoke song?
The Beatles “Yellow Submarine”

10) What should someone do if they’re in a bad mood?
Hmm, well they should just go into their room and read a book until they feel better. And they should get a hug from their parents.

Anton, the aspiring diet cola aficionado, haha!

This was so cute. I read it to my husband and we laughed! Good kids!

You have such lovely boys! Sweet, funny, kind. You must have been so proud of their answers.

Oh, I love these answers. The other day at my son’s soccer match, I was sitting next to two younger siblings of my kid’s soccer teammate, and they kept asking the funniest questions, like “Why does lava change to rock?” “Is there air in space?” “How does water evaporate?” “What’s the one thing that will never, ever change ever?” I was like, my dudes, you are two amazing scientist-philosophers.

Pizza with pineapple for the win! Love this post and the gems they came up with.

Just a nice plain walk. That’s all. HAHA! Love these two!

Pretty sure that’s Anton’s second time recommending a drink he doesn’t actually drink….haha, love it! And both their answers to #10 are spot on. Can’t wait for golden hour & a limonata this evening!

You can tell Toby is a gentle and thoughtful soul!! My heart!

I have the same cereal preferences, love of dogs and go for a golden hour walk every night. Who knew I had so much in common with a 8 year old boy. You seem like a cool dude, Anton.

Thanks for sharing your kids with us, Joanna.

I asked the kids (9 and 13) these questions at dinnertime. Kids only could answer! It was so fun and I told them some of Toby and Anton’s responses too after they have theirs. Some of my kids’ answers were, to how to be good parents… don’t get angry and don’t compare your kid with other kids. Let them live their life a bit, let them grow up. Let them have their phone and never look at their texts. It is an invasion of privacy (guess which age said that!). And going to friends place… be polite to their parents. Offer to set the table. Say thank you. If you are usually picky with food, don’t say anything just eat the food they give you.

I am really vibing with all of Anton’s answers! Both of them seem very wise, though. And Kashi Cinnamon Harvest really is the best.

This is so delightful to read and I think that these advice are tried and true classics haha.

The dog one though — please always ask the dog parents if you may pet their dog. Not all dogs wants to be approached and/or petted. Some dogs are also in training (whether or not they wear a badge or vest). Whenever children ask me if they can pet my dog (if we’re not training), I send them back to their parents to ask if it’s ok because I want the parents to be fully aware of what their children are doing too. It ends up being a nicer and safer experience for everyone (including the dogs) if you just asked. 🙂

99.8? Yep, still a huge fan of Anton.

I need to know Anton’s favorite version of Take On Me. My fave is aha on MTV Unplugged. My kids like Reel Big Fish’s rendition. :) Also, has he seen the music video?! I remember seeing it as a kid and my mind was *blown*.

Oh Anton, don’t ever change.

love Toby and Anton’s answers! Anton and the diet pepsi cracked me up :) And how sweet are their PSAs for what to do if you can’t sleep or are in a bad mood. Just wait until that golden hour and take a walk. Oh my heart.

Your kids are an absolute delight. They remind me so much of my son at their age. He’s now 16, and equally sweet, funny and insightful. It keeps getting better!
I just scored us tickets for a candlelight string quartet queen tribute at Grace Cathedral in sfo this weekend!

You have the sweetest kids, Joanna! From “be gentle” to cheering for your sports team, Toby and Anton have the most empathetic advice.

Golden hour walks, yes!!! chasing sunsets too!