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
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..When it comes to exams, or indeed any academic work,... Read More
How in the world do you get your child to... Read More
In "The Ring Bear," a picture book by Tigard resident... Read More
1. Encourage your babysitter by keeping their favorite foods/snacks on... Read More
Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child... Read More
My cousin boasts five names and I confess that when... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
"The best blush to use is laughter: It put roses... Read More
Child Car Seat Safety:We know you love your children, but... Read More
What parent hasn't gone into a son's or daughter's room... Read More
On a recent Saturday evening, I noticed a young teen-age... Read More
Most research into children's friendships shows that those children who... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
"Get down from the table top right now! What are... Read More
Many working families choose a commercial or individual day care... Read More
"Becoming a parent can make you a better worker," New... Read More
Many public schools not only fail to educate our children,... Read More
One of the implications of the current trend toward smaller... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Just as every snowflake is unique, so is every child.... Read More
There are many parenting styles. Yours may be very different... Read More
Home-schooling removes children from public school. That alone makes home-schooling... Read More
Little Suzy has really been having a hard time getting... Read More
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
For the first year or two of life outside the... Read More
on demand house cleaning Lake Forest .."Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
It happens every year. Just when you are settled in... Read More
How are parents to know they are doing the right... Read More
1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a... Read More
More and more parents are expressing their concerns about how... Read More
Q. I need your help with a question about my... Read More
We are all aware of the child obesity epidemic that... Read More
On one of her quarterly visits to see her grandson,... Read More
"Will my doubts and fears affect my child?" This father... Read More
Ok. So you're a dad to be. If you're like... Read More
"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and... Read More
If you're a single parent or a married couple on... Read More
For the first year or two of life outside the... Read More
The cruel callous remarks made by our offspring can sometimes... Read More
From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More
As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More
In the news, we hear and see an increasing number... Read More
Whenever parents discuss how to deal with bed wetting, the... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
Voices have a way of falling into a pattern, not... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the... Read More
Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More
Homework. It doesn't have to be a daily battle of... Read More
My son, Dakota is now 7 yrs old. He is... Read More
Parenting |