Murphy's Law says: if something can go wrong, it will – usually at the worst possible moment. Here are ten laws every kid will recognise, each with a survival tip.
These sample laws were written especially for this website, in the style of the book. They are not excerpts – Murphy's Law for Kids contains 101 different ones.
You will find one shoe straight away. The other one has moved house and won't come back until you're already late.
Survival tip: park both shoes by the door the night before. Murphy can't hide what's already waiting for you.
The perfect reply to a mean comment arrives in your brain exactly three hours after you needed it.
Survival tip: often the best reply is no reply. Walking away calmly is a comeback too – and it never comes out wrong.
It's sunny Monday to Friday while you're stuck in class. On Saturday morning, it pours.
Survival tip: keep a rainy-day plan B – a den, a board game, a funny book. Weather can't cancel those.
You own fourteen pens. Thirteen don't work. The fourteenth works perfectly – until the test begins.
Survival tip: test your pens the night before, and always pack a pencil. Pencils never run out of ink.
The game will crash one second before you reach the save point. Never one second after.
Survival tip: take a breath, grab a snack, and try again. You already know the level – you'll be faster second time round.
You don't need anything all day. Then a grown-up picks up the phone, and you suddenly have seven very important questions.
Survival tip: write your questions down. If they still feel important when the call ends, ask away.
The day you wear something brand new and bright white is the day lunch is spaghetti with extra sauce.
Survival tip: stains wash out, and embarrassment fades even faster. Laugh first and everyone laughs with you.
Out of every garden on the street, the ball will always land in the one with the biggest dog.
Survival tip: knock and ask politely. Most neighbours are much friendlier than their dogs sound.
The last biscuit in the tin is always the broken one. Always.
Survival tip: a broken biscuit tastes exactly the same – and you get two pieces.
The one time you tidy your room without being asked, nobody notices. The one time you leave a sock on the floor, everybody does.
Survival tip: tidy it for you, not for the applause. (And maybe take a photo as evidence.)
A fun car, classroom or dinner-table game: think of something that always seems to go wrong, give it a name, and add a survival tip.
Murphy's Law for Kids has 101 hilariously true laws about school, homework, friendships, siblings, sports, technology and everyday life.
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