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
quick home cleaning Glenview ..Children are moral and make moral determinations... at least until... Read More
Annie easily slipped into becoming the sole caregiver of her... Read More
IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
Speaking as a Michael (a Hebrew name, meaning "Who is... Read More
Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children... Read More
Parents play a critical role in their child's success. These... Read More
It's the third time this week that Sam has complained... Read More
An estimated five million scooters will be sold this year... Read More
Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their... Read More
Many parenting books advise against eating out with young children.... Read More
Throughout the year, many days of celebration are tucked capriciously... Read More
Boredom, limited space and overflowing energy are a source of... Read More
In today's busy world, many parents have lost the art... Read More
IntroductionChildren are the gifts of God to parents. That young... Read More
One of the biggest milestones in our children's education is... Read More
It has been a long day. Home from work, you... Read More
If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More
Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents... Read More
One of the most powerful tools that parents have for... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
"Home Schooling ? Look Before You Leap"Are you considering home... Read More
Today the little red school house is not what it... Read More
Did you know that cooking with your kids is a... Read More
It is hard to believe that summer is coming to... Read More
It may seem obvious to many people why literacy is... Read More
scheduled maid service Winnetka ..How on earth can you help your family cope with... Read More
One of the biggest milestones in our children's education is... Read More
Well first off, please to don't institute the ? hour... Read More
1) It's not my (pot, beer, cigarettes, etc.), I'm just... Read More
Just the other day my oldest son asked:"Daddy, am I... Read More
There may really be a real monster under your kid???s... Read More
"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it... Read More
The citizens of the early Roman Republic enjoyed an education... Read More
Many reasons will cause some people to feel the need... Read More
There are a few points about shyness in children which... Read More
What is a parenting problem?Parenting is a tough job, we... Read More
Do your children have a McChildhood? Do they experience the... Read More
When a child is born, a new number is added... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend... Read More
Although it might seem pretty corny to a lot of... Read More
Did you know that many people retire broke?It's true. After... Read More
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate... Read More
"Family Matters" was the headline that caught my attention in... Read More
How many times have you flipped through the pages of... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
Managing money is one of the most critical skills we... Read More
Here's a scene: A parent "might suddenly grab a happliy... Read More
"Becoming a parent can make you a better worker," New... Read More
Parenting |