I don't like the kind of person who is the constant kill-joy, and that makes this post is a little hard for me to write.
There are somethings that are hilarious to joke about and that I find funny. All blond jokes, racial jokes (like from the hilarious albeit cuss-word-filled movie LIFE), jokes about lawyers, your-mama jokes and all jokes about elephants etc. etc. etc...
But there is a subject that is a constant joke, but to me feels like a knife in my tummy... so I just want to share a piece of my heart.
Being a new mommy brings a lot of joking about child abuse, and it's easy to understand why. I may fumble holding her, or don't know how to soothe her when she's crying or bump her head while changing her clothes. I can even see why people think nothing of it- it's funny because of course it's not true!
But it was true for me as a child... and now being a mommy, the thought of those things that happened to me happening to my precious daughter brings my whole world crashing down. I guess people who were victims of racial injustice can't stand racial jokes... and people who have recently lost their mother would naturally hate your-mama jokes. The same is true for me. I know they are innocent jokes and comments and are not meant to hurt, but my stomach knots up even when Joelle is crying and someone says "What are you doing to that baby?!"
I don't even know how to end this post... except to say that I'm not demanding people to tip toe around me and be hyper sensitive. Just consider how real and terrifying child abuse is and maybe consider that you never know whether what you say is indeed a joke or a horrible reality for some.
2 comments:
you are so very right! i can't handle it when people say "that's retarded" or things like that. because my daughter has a special need and i just don't find it funny to make a reference to a handicap or special need in describing something that is "dumb" or whatever.
by the way, the word verification is
Frooking. it made me laugh.
Christine, I am sorry that you even had to endure the abuse you did. I wish things had been different. But in the end God blessed you for all you had to go through with great parents, a great husband, and a beautiful daughter.
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