I am in pain. I've been in pain all day. Last night, I was in "searing pain", which is pain multiplied by pain, divided by relief, then multiplied by pain to the tenth power. In case you are not a math whiz, that equals pain with 33 zeros after it. Two days ago, I was in pain (just regular pain, no zeros). In fact, I was in pain all week.
Welcome to my humor column.
Actually, pain is not really all that funny ... unless it happens to somebody else. Oh, come on. Don't get all sanctimonious on me. Pain is the very essence of the Bugs Bunny Show. And the Three Stooges. And every sitcom that relies on personal slights and insults. Without pain to tickle the funny bone, the entertainment industry would be no bigger today than George Bush's collection of feminist literature.
Of course, pain is funny only when it happens to somebody else. It's a lot like reality TV. If it was you stranded on a desert island with a dozen other maniacs, trying to cook worms without emptying your stomach first, would you feel "entertained"?
Fortunately for the deep-pocket sponsors of reality TV, it's not really very real. As long as somebody else is enjoying their makeshift meal of gourmet slimies, it's called entertainment.
Unfortunately for me, my muscle pain is real. It's in my back. It's in my side. It hurts when I bend, twist, or make any sudden movement not approved by the FDA, the DEA, the IRS, the RCMP, the CIA or Interpol.
I did something stupid. No, I did not try a triple summersault on my snowboard in the Rockies. Unfortunately, it was not that stupid. But I did pick up 37-pound Little Lady to place her in her high chair. And I did use just one arm, off to the side, while fiddling with the high chair straps.
I was keenly aware of the exact moment that God said, "It's about time you learn a lesson about physics and biology and all those other subjects you so smugly weaseled your way out of in high school." Ouch.
Parents of young children deserve immunity against muscle pain. A young child should be a "get out of pain free" card. You get to go directly to health, do not pass the hospital, do not pay $200.
Why special treatment for parents of young children? Because they never get the chance to fully recuperate.
Children demand 100 times more physical interaction than adults. And guess what? They want it at their level ... which means bending over. Ouch.
Children are unpredictable, which means they might suddenly grab your leg with enough energy to fell an oak. Since there is rarely an oak in your living room, your leg falls with you attached. Or you react to keep yourself from falling ... which means twisting. Ouch.
Did I mention that kids want to play a lot? Running. Dancing. Chasing. Throwing. Rolling on the floor. Can you resist? Of course you can. "Catch, daddy." Oops, I forgot. Ouch.
OK, how about playing something calm. I sat Little Lady in her high chair (without twisting this time) and placed some Play Dough in front of her. "Please, please, please stop dropping chunks on the floor where I have to bend reeeeeeeally low to pick them up." Ouch.
A parent of a young child simply does not have the opportunity to heal. He just keeps re-injuring himself over and over and over and over.
So if you notice my columns growing less funny and more painful, please don't laugh. It's my pain, and it is real.
About The Author
The author is David Leonhardt, The Happy Guy, publisher of Your Daily Dose of Happiness at http://thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html. Read more personal growth articles in his Self-actualization Resource Center at http://thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html, or visit his home page at http://thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html.
http://thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html
cleaning help near Mundelein ..Q: Our son has been in honors classes all through... Read More
Maryann is so focused she's blind. She's slipped over the... Read More
Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on... Read More
When a child is born, a new number is added... Read More
Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood.... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
As a parent, you probably know that the birthday party... Read More
Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More
It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More
As our children grow, they will be going to schools... Read More
There are a lot of sophisticated parenting theories and techniques... Read More
Q. We just got our daughter's progress report, and it... Read More
It's that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you... Read More
Since so many would rather avoid the use of stimulant... Read More
A number of scientific studies have shown the way a... Read More
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested... Read More
Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child... Read More
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
In today's busy world, many parents have lost the art... Read More
Bearers of life, wipers of noses, givers of unconditional love... Read More
There are only two ways to get more money:1) Increase... Read More
Handing Down Malignancy.Children may begin bright and eager to face... Read More
For troubled teens who are struggling with drug abuse, depression... Read More
The brightly colored plastic mobile dangles lazily overhead in the... Read More
Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent more than the... Read More
reliable maid service Wilmette ..The Internet, is magnificent in its resources for families. Educational... Read More
For several years now, I've told the following story as... Read More
In speaking with parents a comment I frequently hear is... Read More
According to the American Sleep Association 70% of all babies... Read More
The legend and myth of the Tooth Fairy is a... Read More
Every now and then I'll get a story sent to... Read More
'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More
There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around... Read More
When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More
Now is an excellent time to have your child's vision... Read More
My wife and I have been working on a video... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
My thirteen-year-old daughter recently called me up to say she... Read More
Isn't the technology of today is amazing?! Between the speed... Read More
Imagine you were the principal of the school that your... Read More
I never dreamed that I would be in a position... Read More
Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along... Read More
As with everything, names go through cycles of change with... Read More
A parent writes in, ``We are having a hard time... Read More
Just as every snowflake is unique, so is every child.... Read More
'Whose room is it anyway?'If you have a teenager, you're... Read More
What parent hasn't gone into a son's or daughter's room... Read More
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More
Parenting |