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 service near Bannockburn ..Family decision-making is an intriguing phenomenon. Many factors become part... Read More
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
You know that children can get into trouble. The older... Read More
We were all teens at one time for some many... Read More
Bedtime and children's sleep habits can cause nightmares - for... Read More
The disquieting behavior of teenagers in the 21st century, is... Read More
Life is funny.My twenty-year-old daughter, Melanie, has a her new... Read More
What is Happening in the brain of children, teens, and... Read More
It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More
Q. We just got our daughter's progress report, and it... Read More
Here are ten simple pleasures you can enjoy with your... Read More
Is there a fathering instinct?Celebrated child development expert Erik Erikson... Read More
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend... Read More
"Not another meeting!"That tends to be the reaction from many... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More
Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More
So, the thing is? I am feeling a little guilty.I... Read More
"Family Matters" was the headline that caught my attention in... Read More
Perhaps I could make a lot of money by founding... Read More
Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on... Read More
Many people consider plush toys great for children. They say... Read More
In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Mundelein ..If you had to spend 4 or 5 hours in... Read More
Q: My husband and I are at a loss as... Read More
A common problem many times facing parents is Colic. Estimates... Read More
Winnie the Pooh is the classic picture of Inattentive ADHD.... Read More
Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy.... Read More
Parents, do you have children who do poorly in school,... Read More
Every summer our daughter goes to summer camp. She looks... Read More
Much has been said about the "gifted child" but in... Read More
The wonderful adaptability of children in dealing with the challenges... Read More
It can be difficult on all family members to have... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
Search for Assurance: The Power of BelongingThe job hunt is... Read More
Being in a competitive world, the lowest qualification to secure... Read More
Compulsory attendance laws are school authorities' first assault on parental... Read More
In June, elementary school children across North America cheered as... Read More
1. STOP focusing on what you are going to make... Read More
"Money is tight, and my husband's obsessed with doing everything... Read More
You are sitting with the professionals who know about learning... Read More
I had my first two children on either side of... Read More
Attention all parents of teen-agers. Here is an important, groundbreaking... Read More
Research has shown that the present generation of children worldwide... Read More
Despite the theory that people have kids because they want... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
My son is 6 yrs old. He came home the... Read More
Are you a parent concerned about passing values on to... Read More
Parenting |