A Puzzling Indulgence

Don't you hate when people assume that once you become a mom your mind is nothing more than a storage space for Wiggles lyrics? Well, if you want to prove them wrong, remember that the pen is mightier than the sword.

Need another clue? Okay, it's a game of words in numbered squares. And it's 8 Across.
That's right. Fight back against the simple-minded-mom stereotype with a crossword puzzle.

Scientists around the world advocate these puzzles as a way of exercising the mind and extending the average life span.

Doing crosswords is also recommended for those wanting to protect themselves from memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

Even the surgeon general encourages the age-old brain booster for all ages, so get the kids a crossword of their own and play together.

But if the idea of getting through the New York Times crossword has got you both "cross" and "down," don't worry.

You can pick up today's edition -- the newspaper's puzzles escalate in difficulty from Monday to Saturday, and an extra-large one appears every Sunday -- or go online to find ones that range in skill level and topic.

You can define and decode all you want with puzzles focused on entertainment, current events and, yes, even parenting.

See how far you can get without using any outside resources. Then do some sleuthing to fill in the tough terms.

After finishing the crossword, you can astound your (12 Down: Skeptics...) naysayers with sparkling wit and gasp-inducing puns.