Stories

The other day I was walking past the early school playground and a student said “Hello Mr...” — and then nothing. She clearly forgot my name. A few seconds later, she said, “Hi Bob!” Then she giggled.

Maybe this student really thought my name was Bob. But I think she was just being playful, which was what made this encounter delightful.

All parents know that children can be very funny, and often their humor is deeply silly. This got me thinking about the etymology of the word silly, which has Old English origins meaning blessed, fortunate, happy, and blissful. But over time the word silly took on other meanings: pitiful, weak, and foolish. What an unfortunate development!

People of that era obviously began to marginalize silly behavior. Perhaps silly morphed from blissful to pitiful because the times called for it: plagues, war, and poverty are serious things, after all.

But I contend that in dark times silly and playful behavior is most needed. It has medicinal qualities and can help us regain our bearing. Abraham Lincoln said, “Were it not for my little jokes, I could not bear the burdens of this office.”  Humorist Erma Bombeck agrees: “If you can laugh at it, you can live with it.”

I value silliness, and I am thankfully surrounded by examples of it every day at our school. I encourage parents to not only value their children’s humor but to demonstrate it as well. Shared parent and child silliness is one of the highlights of this relationship.

Sincerely,

Your pal Bob.