With all the living and learning that occurs within an ordinary family—it can sometimes seem like family life is all about a lot of hard work and not very much play. Play and laughter especially seem to become increasingly scarce as children get older—silliness disappears, or at least is reserved for time with friends and peers, and acting goofy with mom or dad just doesn’t hold the same appeal it did when everyone was younger. I don’t think we parents should give up, however. I really do think that laughter can be the glue that holds a family together during even the toughest times…
I admit that my teenagers often think my sense of humor is dorky now. But, that doesn’t stop me from continuing to be myself and letting the humor in many of our family experiences be exposed. I’ve been delighting in the evolution of their senses of humor, too. And while I may not always “get” the humor of a fourteen-year-old boy, I have to honestly confess that I didn’t always get the humor of an eight-year-old boy, or a thirteen-year-old girl either. I figure the important thing is that we are all continuing to laugh.
Laughter can still diffuse stressful situations and give us brief moments of connection. We can laugh over our old adventures and stories and other historical family mishaps. I’m finding that my ability to laugh at myself and occasionally sacrifice myself for the sake of a family joke doesn’t hurt either. When things get tense or kooky, or we just need to lighten things up a little, I really do believe that laughter remains the best medicine. Nothing seems to let a family let go and reconnect like sharing some humor and a good hearty laugh (even a giggle or two can make a big difference!)
See Also: Can We Have a Little More Optimism, Please? and Using Play to Get Your Own Way