Hey, dad, ask your teenager if the school principal ever said, "It's about time you started goofing off."
Or have you heard this from your boss at work? "Quit working so hard. Goof off a little."
Or when was the last time someone at home ordered: "Get with it - goof off some."
Tom Tozer and Bill Black pose for a portrait Monday, March 28, 2016 at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.Sounds ridiculous, right?
We adults give each other that kind of advice all the time, and it seems perfectly acceptable. We say things like, "Hey, it's time you stopped working so hard." "Take a break." "Quit taking everything so seriously." "Lighten up!" "Relax!" "You need a vacation." All of us get too caught up in the daily, hourly, minute-by-minute grind of living. We do take many things much too seriously.
Do something silly
Dad, go ahead, tell your teenager to goof off a little, to take a break. And goof off right along with him or her. On the weekend do something fun, silly, off the cuff. Find the nearest arcade. Go bowling, rent a tandem bike, blow the dust off the ball and gloves and play catch. Visit the nearest elementary school and get dizzy on the merry-go-round. Top it off with three scoops of ice cream or, if weather permits, flag down one of those musical ice cream trucks that haunt the suburbs.
Invite mom, or run for cover
Pull mom into the fray. Make a game of folding the laundry. Play catch with socks put them on your ears tie several together and try shooting hook shots into the clothes basket. When mom throws a fit and bars you from the room, hit the fridge and build a tall, scrumptious sandwich. When mom threatens you with the iron skillet, promptly grab the sandwich, vacate the kitchen and have a picnic under a tree.
Laughter is a great healer
Yeah, we know what you're thinking: Are you guys nuts? Well, maybe we all need to go a little nuts. Goofing off requires skill, imagination and finesse. It's not malicious nor ever intended to harm anyone. It's merely a prescription for letting off steam - for putting some life into your life. Doctors tell us that laughter produces a positive physiological effect on our bodies. It releases tension. And because of the changes it creates in our body chemistry, laughter can actually heal. So self-medicate. Goof off a little.
Tom Tozer and Bill Black are authors of "Dads2Dads: Tools for Raising Teenagers." Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at Dads2Dadsllc. Contact them at tomandbill@Dads2Dadsllc.com.