A Little Laughter Means A Lot
Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 09:03PM 
Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The power of laughter cannot be underestimated. Maybe it’s that sly smile he gives you when he asks for something outrageous to which he knows you will never agree. Maybe it’s a look she gives you when she knows she has gone too far. Sometimes it’s an unexpected comment or observation that is so witty it reminds you how quickly he is growing up. With my own child it is the goofy way she responds “Yes dear,” in a great grandmother like voice when I re-direct her. Because it doesn’t come off sassy or condescending, that simple response can break the tension in even the most stressful moments. I find it impossible not to burst out laughing.
Whether it’s a comment or a crack, facial expression, a fall or a funky dance move, the laughter they encourage is a gift that keeps on giving. Sometimes it starts from a secret understanding, a joke that only the two of you seem to understand. In those moments, the bond between you is the strongest as you realize his sense of humor is so similar to yours. For all the headaches and the heartaches, the anxiety and sometimes even the pain you feel for them and on occasion because of them, it is the moments of laughter that quickly erase the negative and remind you how lucky are that this terrific teen belongs to you.
Laughter is a panacea especially at times when it feels like the sky is falling. Cherish these moments with them. Laugh long and laugh hard. It will not only bring you together, it will strengthen the bond. The family that laughs together….
Reader Comments (2)
Thanks so much for talking about laughter. It means that you and your teen can find joy under most circumstances...and joy is often underrated. We sometimes forget that stress shouldn't be the norm...but that laughter and love should be the norm. I think kids love to see us relaxed and they take their cue often from our mood. When we laugh and are lighthearted, it's giving them permission to be the same. I'm lucky to have kids with a sense of humor and as they have gotten older, it's only gotten better. Great post!
Laughtert is great medciine for so many things but we remember great ties when we laugh.