The Kinder Surprise

Cover image for the The Kinder Surprise word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Tags:
Complexity-Confusion
Intuition-Insight

The Kinder Surprise

n.
the point in your early adolescence when you realize that your parents are muddling through their lives the same as you; that many respectable adults are no less lost than you and your friends, no less petty and obsessive and insecure, which makes you wonder if there are no real adults, because such a thing never actually existed, except in bedtime stories.

German Kinder, children. Refers to Kinder Surprise, a foil-wrapped chocolate egg that contains a small toy that’s already broken into pieces. Pronounced “thuh kin-der ser-prahyz.”

From the Dictionary

Mottleheaded

Cover image for the Mottleheaded word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Tirosy

a close-up of a young child's face

Lackout

Cover image for the Lackout word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Starlorn

snow flakes in the dark

Etherness

Cover image for the Etherness word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Nementia

Cover image for the Nementia word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Buy the Book
AmazonSimon & SchusterMore Information
Learn
the BookThe AuthorIn the MediaWikipedia
Write
Submit your SorrowExplore New Sorrows
Social Links
TumblryoutubeInstagramFaceBook
Gold foil illustration of bay with sailing vessels and a canopy of stars
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is the work of John Koenig – visit his official site and buy the book through Simon & Schuster.
This website is an independent tribute built by Qontour and is not affiliated with nor endorsed by John Koenig.