The Importance of Smiles and Giggles
As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. While these words may be clichéd, they hold a grain of truth. Spending quality time with our children is invaluable, and that includes embracing our inner child and letting go of our inhibitions. We spoke to Vicki Broadbent, a parenting expert, author, and blogger, about the importance of finding the fun in parenting. According to Broadbent, the key is to show our children that we are human, not just authority figures. She believes that having fun with our kids is vital, and that childhood should be filled with joy and laughter. “My kids make me laugh every single day, whether it’s the wise observations my tween and teen say, or my bright three-year-old with her sass, silly jokes, or the sweet ways she tries to get her own way,” Broadbent said. “Parenting allows us to reconnect with the part of us that was their age once, and which still resides within us. I love that I get to be a fun mom as well as someone who supports, teaches, guides, and loves my kids unconditionally.”
The Benefits of Being Human
Broadbent emphasizes the importance of being human and embracing our imperfections. “I think it’s vital to show our kids that we are human, and I believe having fun with your children is essential,” she said. “Childhood is such a precious but fleeting time, and it should be filled with as much joy as possible.”
She also stresses the importance of setting boundaries and being consistent with discipline. “As long as there are boundaries and you follow through when you discipline, for instance, provide warnings regarding difficult behaviour and then if they persist, ensure you follow through with a tech ban or grounding etc.,” Broadbent advised. “Being consistent with discipline doesn’t mean you can’t laugh with your kids! The most treasured and memorable moments will always be when you’re having fun together!”
The Reflection of Humor
Broadbent’s sense of humor is reflected in her children, who inherited her love for laughter. She and her husband try to be role models for their kids, sharing shows and movies that they all enjoy. “I love that I can share shows I love with my teen, for example, and he, at 15, in turn recommends programmes he thinks I’ll enjoy,” Broadbent said. Their quality one-on-one time is spent watching films and TV, mostly when the younger kids are asleep. At 15, her son is busy with his friends and studies, but they always find time to reset and watch a box set together. The Science Behind Dad Jokes
Marc Hye-Knudsen, a humor researcher, sheds light on the world of dad jokes. “Dad jokes work on at least three levels: as puns, as anti-humor, and as a kind of weaponized anti-humor when dads use them to teasingly annoy and/or embarrass their children,” he explained. According to Hye-Knudsen, puns typically violate the conversational norm against ambiguity. “In normal conversation, we can safely assume that the person we are talking to will only ever say one thing at a time, with their words thus having a clear, singular meaning,” he said. The Changing Social Expectations of Men
Hye-Knudsen believes that dad jokes have become part of pop culture because they are tailored to the modern father figure. “[They] seem perfectly suited to the modern father figure, a markedly softer and less domineering kind of patriarch than that of earlier eras,” he concluded. “The dad in question has to be willing to embarrass himself – to play the fool – in order to vicariously embarrass his kids,” Hye-Knudsen added. Conclusion
As we conclude our exploration of finding the fun in parenting, it’s clear that embracing our inner child and letting go of our inhibitions is essential. By being human, setting boundaries, and being consistent with discipline, we can create a fun and joyful environment for our children. And who knows, maybe we’ll even become the next generation of dad joke experts!