Family Views, July 2012

 There’s no other time during the year that parents feel so underappreciated than after the Fourth of July when all the novelty of summer, the 24/7 friends, eating junk food, hanging at the park, staying up late, and sleeping in has worn off. It’s when all the birthday, Chanukah/Christmas, the “because you were so good” gifts and everything else you purchased as bribery becomes invisible. The time when children have the nerve to whine that two word phrase that makes parents swallow hard and cringe: “I’m booored!”  As soon as I hear those words I say a quick prayer…out loud, “Oh sweet Lord in heaven, please help these children to run as fast as they can; however, if I get my hands on them give me the strength to be gentle!” As soon as I begin to invoke the almighty my boys know to scatter. (That’s probably not such a good thing; I can see that now, I’ll work on that.) The point is it makes me crazy! I look around at: bins of toys, a cabinet full of board games, two dogs, two fish, and a lizard, video game consoles with a slew of games, there’s a computer to goof around on, a small video store of movies, a garage full of balls of every size, air soft, Nerf and water guns, bicycles, skateboards, and scooters, a yard with plenty of green, a tire swing, basketball hoop and a town full of creeks, critters, trees and kids; not to mention a skate park, toy shop and candy store! How could they possibly be bored?

Of course I was a kid too and clearly remember feeling miserable from the summer dull drums; constantly complaining in an effort to make everyone else suffer with me. Generally speaking, I was a I was a typical egocentric teenager with a limited attention span and filled all the way to the tippy-top of my ratted blonde bangs with attitude and I could not be pleased. Until one summer when my life changed…

It was the weekend, dad was off tinkering in his garage, the chores were all done and I was bored! Dad says, “Hmmm, well we can’t have that.” He thought for a minute then asked “Do you know what a post hole digger is?” I looked into his eyes dancing with amusement and felt elated! My dad was going to show me something amazing! My muscles twitched with anticipation and I eagerly answered, “No…” He laughed and said, “Well, you’re about to get real acquainted!” I spent the next several hours digging holes for our new fence posts. That night I had my first sensual experience…with Ben Gay. It was a relationship that developed and strengthened as the summer pressed on. I started to refer to the soothing, minty cream as my secret boyfriend, “Oh Ben, no one can make me feel as hot and tingly as you do!”

The concrete had been dry only a few days by the time my muscles finally relaxed and the blisters began to heal; when I complained again about nothing to do. What can I say? I was fifteen and had selective memory capabilities. My dad got that same twinkle in his eyes as he guided me to the garage to gather all the supplies I would need to sand and paint the deck. “Come to me Ben!”

The summer was winding down and it seemed that I learned my lesson. We were starting on the back to school shopping list when I let it slip, “I am sooooo boooored!” My dad got soooo excited, “I was hoping you would say that! I need the front field cleared!” He laughed all the way to the garage; I threw Ben Gay in the refrigerator!

I learned a few life lessons that summer: hard work is hard work, lazy days are to be cherished and Ben Gay is great for tired, sore, muscles; lessons I intend to pass on to my own children! I anticipate having the best looking yard in Jacksonville and majority of my home repairs completed by Labor Day! Call me if you have some work you need done!

Michelle Hensman

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