October 15, 2003

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It is a most human

It is a most human characteristic to laugh at others' pain. Typically the Germans have a word for it: schadenfreude. It is not right, but that's why all those Funniest Home Video shows win massive TV ratings. Everyone loves seeing some poor schmuk copping it in the privates with a funny sound effect and canned laughter to boot.

Poor little JC has been in the wars. She's got an ear infection, conjunctivitis and she's not been her usual happy, Barbie-ific self. We dosed her up last night with the 32 medicines the doctor has given us, and she takes them all pretty well, even the ones without tonnes of sugar added. She woke at 2am a little unsettled but quickly went back to sleep.

Then at 4:30am I heard a loud thud. It was the unmistakeable sound of 2 year old head hitting parquetry flooring. Amazing I heard this first. Usually I'm waking up just as Mrs M is returning to bed after sorting out whatever crisis has arisen. So being the father that I am, I leapt from bed. I wasn't thinking straight. I wasn't thinking at all. Somehow I decided it was a good idea to turn our bedroom light on. Mrs M quickly persuaded me this was actually a bad idea. Off it went. Into the girls' room, where sure enough JC was on the floor and not happy. Returned her to bed, calmed her down and Mrs M administered another dose of medication. Soon she was asleep and Mrs M and I spent at least half-an-hour trying to get back to that marvelous place called slumberland.

Now this may brand me a bad parent, but I cannot help but smile at the thought of her falling out of bed. Sure she has a lump on her head to go with her other ailments. But I laugh out of sympathy for her plight, because she's doing it tough at the moment. It has only happened once before and it can't be easy as a 2 year old anyway. But I mostly laugh because the same has happened to me. Of course, I was 28 at the time but there are similarities. Mrs M and I were on holidays in Port Douglas. All I remember is waking up feeling the hard floor below me where previously there was comfortable matress. And I distinctly remember Mrs M laughing uncontrollably. She did ask how I was at one stage, before returning to her merry-making. I could not see the humour in the situation and my ego was more damaged than my body. But it makes me think this schadenfreude runs in the family.

JC's feeling better today so I don't feel as guilty. Maybe the bump helped.

posted by Simon on 10.15.03 at 05:28 PM in the




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