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
tidy up service Glenview ..Join a growing number of parents and teachers!Fact: Last year,... Read More
Some years ago when touring the Scottish Highlands, a man... Read More
? Let the child choose his or her own lunch... Read More
Most of our Founding Fathers, including Ben Franklin, Sam Adams,... Read More
Over a number of years there have been issues raised... Read More
Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More
It's been said, time and again, that for a child... Read More
We adopted our first child when he was three months... Read More
1. The Law of the BeastAs parents we need to... Read More
How often do you think of family life as an... Read More
It may seem obvious to many people why literacy is... Read More
Though you can cover even very long distances by car... Read More
The back-to-school shopping is done. Brand new pencils, colored markers,... Read More
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the... Read More
Did you know there's a game children and parents play... Read More
I am sure that this list can be jogged and... Read More
While on a recent trip to the grocery store, I... Read More
It was the homework that did it. Each night became... Read More
One of the basic issues we need to understand is... Read More
A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling... Read More
Working with adults (as well as children and teens) for... Read More
One of the most difficult parts of being a father... Read More
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
Isn't the technology of today is amazing?! Between the speed... Read More
Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die... Read More
maid service near Winnetka ..Just the other day my oldest son asked:"Daddy, am I... Read More
Q. I don't like my children spending so much time... Read More
The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is... Read More
Many parenting books advise against eating out with young children.... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
When we talk about attention, we are talking about two... Read More
Reasearch into children's friendships shows that those children who are... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
Q: A parent writes in to ask, "You write a... Read More
The disquieting behavior of teenagers in the 21st century, is... Read More
All of us, including your child, entered this world equipped... Read More
What are the easiest things citizens can do to prevent... Read More
Being in a competitive world, the lowest qualification to secure... Read More
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds... Read More
How well do you really know your child?There is so... Read More
When my firstborn arrived into this serene and peaceful household,... Read More
What Children Look for in a Friend?Is this child fun... Read More
You may think once your child has gone off to... Read More
Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that... Read More
"Not another meeting!"That tends to be the reaction from many... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More
Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More
We know that ancient cultures and Indians and the like... Read More
Parenting |