Desenrascanço: Challenging times call for resourceful minds

“If you don't have a dog to hunt with, then hunt with a cat.”

Found this little baby in the backyard recently

Desenrascanço (Portuguese)

For me, one of the most unexpected challenges of parenthood has been how much stuff there is to remember to bring with you everywhere at all times. Water bottles. Bento boxes. Snacks. Toys. Backup undies (mostly for the kid, not for me). I'm constantly forgetting some random essential, and so every trip out with my toddler becomes an episode of Survivor, where I'm forced to come up with a creative solution to a predictable problem. A plastic bag becomes a toilet. A Pringles can becomes a very entertaining puppet.

Recently, I came across a Portuguese word that captures this feeling: “desenrascanço.” It literally translates to “disentanglement,” but it describes the ability to quickly improvise and solve problems using whatever means are available, even with limited resources. In this video, Joana Astolfi, a Lisbon-based architect and artist, describes the meaning of the word in detail:

Astolfi likens the word to a Portuguese saying: "If you don't have a dog to hunt with, then hunt with a cat." Or, if you're a parent: “If you don't have goldfish crackers, then make a snack out of whatever's stuck to the bottom of your purse.” Totally kidding. I promise I don’t feed my kid purse trash….usually.

But “desenrascanço” also represents a virtue in Portuguese culture. It's not just about being resourceful, it describes the mindset of someone who refuses to be defeated by challenging circumstances.

It’s a concept that feels especially relevant lately, at a time when the whole world seems to be held together by duct tape and a prayer. And not even good duct tape. The dollar store kind that unsticks after five minutes.

As traditional institutions become increasingly unreliable — from healthcare systems to supply chains to government services — more people are turning to mutual aid networks, community resources, and neighborhood friends to fill the gaps. “Desenrascanço” is a framework for navigating that uncertainty. Or, at the very least, a fancy word to describe the beautiful chaos of making things work.

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From the archives

Mindfulness Meditation Advice for the Anxious and Distracted (The Cut)

One small thing

Q&A a Day for Kids: I’ve dragged our three-year-old into my notebook obsession. I recently bought this three-year journal for kids and it’s so much fun. We do a nightly journaling session where I ask him questions from the book and write down his answers.

For example:

Q: If you could buy anything, what would you buy?

A: Yogurtland. The whole yogurtland.