I never thought this parenthood thing was going to be easy. Heck, when my first child was born, I drove home from the hospital under the speed limit (for the first time in my life). I chalk it up to “needing time to process.” But I might have been pondering my experience getting someone else’s poo on my hand (for the first time in my life).
It’s been almost five years since that slow ride, and I was right. Parenthood hasn’t been easy. Yet, at the same time, I never realized how hard it would be: the sleepless nights, the incessant crying, injuring my shoulder holding an infant car seat (true story).
Parenthood is tough and can leave you feeling like a fool. But if there’s one important lesson I’ve learned, in my short tenure as a father, it’s to find the humor in it. After all, when your kid is mid-temper tantrum because you won’t let him eat his booger, laughter really is the best medicine.
As any parent knows, these moments are plentiful:
- Who hasn’t walked into their living room after doing dishes to realize their one-year-old not only knows how to climb up the couch, but is attempting to hurdle over it?
- What parent hasn’t perfected the art of the “whisper yell” when their favorite team scores a touchdown to avoid waking their sleeping infant?
- And who isn’t so tired of all the crumbs that they’ve written their own jingle? (Crumbs in our van. Crumbs in his hair. Crumbs on the couch. Crumbs everywhere!)
Something tells me these experiences aren’t unique to me and my wife. And I’ll be honest, they usually leave me flustered. But I’ve found that, often times, the best way to handle them, is to laugh. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m always going to laugh right in that moment. I mean, when your son talks about his genitalia at the quietest moment in church, it’s important to correct him first. But I’d be lying if I didn’t chuckle through the “Our Father” on that glorious Sunday.
We have to laugh as parents. It not only allows us to survive the tough days, but it leads to joy. And joy is contagious. And I’d much rather my kids catch that from me than another ear infection.
So the next time your kid tells you that he thinks “you’re getting too big for that shirt,” take a moment, smile, and find the humor in it. Then, keep doing the best you can. After all, you’re probably not far from your next big hug and “I love you, dadda.”
Question: What’s the funniest experience you have had in your parenthood? (Share in the comments below.)
