One of the bizarre things about becoming a parent is that you unknowingly accept the role of Cultural Tour Guide. The first year of your child's life that role isn't even on your radar, but soon after they start talking you realize just how much they don't understand about the world. Take jokes, for instance. Even wee tots get slapstick comedy, but so much of humor is based on puns, irony, pop culture, and the like. Unfortunately, by the time you pick apart a joke or reference to explain to your kid why it is funny, it usually isn't funny anymore. Still, someone taking the time to explain is part of how kids develop a sense of humor.
And a sense of humor is pretty important in life.
When Eli got old enough to ask what was for dinner, I started to dread the question. Unless the answer was "pizza," I often got a frown and a downtrodden "Aw." That's not much positive feedback to go on when you're halfway through a new gourmet recipe complete with hand-selected organic produce. So I applied humor and started answering "What's for dinner?" with the cheerful reply: "Monkey brains!"
Eli didn't get the joke at first. What in the heck did Mama mean by "monkey brains"? Then the day came when I saw a look of shock and revulsion on his face. He got it! He understood! But it was still a little bit longer before I got a grin as a response. That told me that he not only understood my words, but he got the joke. Gross! Mama would never really serve up the brains of a monkey. Ha! Ha!
Sadly, the reaction to the monkey brains joke continued to evolve. Before long, Eli would ask what was for supper and immediately rush in with the added words, "And don't say 'monkey brains'!" When I kept using my stale old joke anyway, Eli switched tactics. His response became an irked glare or a dry, "Oh, ha ha, Mama."
Ah, but then today the skies parted and rays of humor shone down. I was making Eli's lunch for school this morning while he was eating his cereal. I wasn't sure how much he was paying attention to me, but I muttered aloud, "Hmmm. Lunch for Eli. How can I chop these monkey brains small enough to fit into his lunchbox?" Without missing a beat, Eli deadpanned, "Don't forget the swamp water!"
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