My 6-year-old son, N, is a master of the one-liner. He keeps my wife and me in stitches with his witty observations. He hasn’t realized that his wit and charm naturally draw people to him. He is convinced that telling jokes is his key to developing friendships. Unfortunately, he is no Chris Rock. Here is an example of one of his better jokes:
N: Knock-Knock
Me: Who’s there?
N: Chicken.
Me: Chicken, who?
N: Chicken, underpants.
I can understand his need to connect to his peers with humor. When I was in grade-school, my friends and I engaged in what is commonly referred to as playing the dozens (others call it ranking, jonin’, snappin’, or cracking jokes). We spent hours telling “Yo Mama” jokes and insulting one another.
Whereas, N, uses humor to win new friends, my friends and I used humor as a coping mechanism to escape the harsh realities of our lives. We also used humor to protect ourselves from bullies and other threats. We may not have always been the strongest or baddest kids in the neighborhood, but we were clever and we used our quick wits to get out of some sticky situations.
More importantly, playing the dozens allowed us to bond with each other. Calling someone stank-breath or funkzilla was a sign of acceptance and camaraderie. I’ll admit that we were sometimes malicious in our attacks and took our insults a bit too far, but we always managed to restore our relationships with apologies and shoulder punches.
Humor is an important part of boys’ lives and it’s crucial that dads nurture their sons’ sense of humor. We have to teach our boys how to be funny without being hurtful, offensive or disruptive. Even though, my friends and I often crossed the line of good taste with our “Yo Mama” jokes and insults, I try to teach N to have a more sophisticated sense of humor.
“Listen, son,” I say. “In order for a joke to be funny, you have to make a clever observation and spin it around in a creative way with word play or some other form of imagery.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Daddy,” he says with a face full of confusion.
“Oh, forget it,” I say in frustration. “Underpants!” N rolls on the floor laughing. And so do I.
Mocha Dad
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{ 21 comments }
Well, I thought his joke was funny . . .
Wait, he’s six years old and you tried to tell him about clever observations and imagery? No wonder he was confused! LOL
Underpants, indeed. Now that is funny! Glad you’re sharing laughter with your son. What could be better?
You did good Dad!!! You just gotta laugh along!!! My kids are into jonin now and the had some good ones but, I messed em up with, “Man you so ugly I screamed the first time I saw you!” We all cried out in laughter:)
The idea you raised of trying to explain to a child on how to deal with the realities out there, was one that came into my mind some nights ago. I have a 4 and a half year old girl, and I am finding myself starting to figure out clever ways to help her learn and pick up new ideas and ways to think and cope.
I did not have a dad growing up, and now I am a couple years from 30, I am starting to realize more what I missed by not having a dad around. All the life lessons I taught and learned for myself off my mistakes. It has cost me a lot of money to fix those mistakes, but I hope to pass that knowledge onto my children now and always.
Good blog post.
Underpants are always funny!
Underpants are ALWAYS funny! Y chromosome be damned!
Seriously, I’m with you on humor as a coping mechanism. I laugh a lot, at times when it’s not wholly appropriate. The more stressed I get, the more I just have to laugh!
Thanks for the giggle!
Underpants. Underwears. Underoos. Tighty whities. It’s all funny! Just wait until he starts telling you jokes about jock straps – ohmy!
Just laugh, that’s the best medicine in the world. I remember my boys all going through the comedian stage around that age.
One of my daughter’s favourite knock-knock jokes:
Knock knock
Who’s there?
Banana
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who’s there?
Banana
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who’s there?
Strawberry
Strawberry who?
Strawberry you glad I didn’t say banana?
Here’s one I like:
Knock knock
who’s there?
what’s an owl say
what’s an owl say who?
-OR-
knock knock
who’s there?
tat
tat who?
but, I think UNDERWEAR has them both beat!
Great new blog layout!!!!
I hate to tell you that the jokes don’t get very much more sophisticated when they reach their teens. Boys seem to just gravitate toward silly humor. Sometimes though you can’t help but laugh right along with them.
My three year old son doesn’t even get the concept of a joke. He will tell knock knock jokes and use two things that he sees in the room. He thinks it is hilarious, which, in turn, makes it hilarious. In any case, all in fun….
I think your son taught you a lesson–don’t think too hard when it comes to what makes kids laugh, underpants will do.
Nice new look man!
My husband fully admits he got his sense of humor from his survival skills on the streets of the southside of Chicago. He’s probably one of the funniest people I know in real life. So those bullies must have been very very mean.
Undies and farts. Always hilarious.
That’s exactly why Dav Pilkey is raking in the big bucks: underpants.
Hey, do you mind if I borrow that joke?
I’m a bit “joke challenged” Can’t remember them, can’t tell them. That one I can EASILY remember.
Think it would be appropriate if I told it at a black tie event?
Chicken underpants! Ha! Six is such a great age, and he sounds like a charmer. I liked how you shared stories about how you handled this stuff when YOU were a kid, too. And I love your new design! Very clean-looking and inviting. Nice!
Your son and I have the same sense of humor.
Winks & Smiles,
Wifey
P.S. Love your new look!
Underpants are always funny! Great post.
How adorable! My son is always trying to do knock knock jokes but his are more without the last part and it just goes round and round until either you or he get tired.
Reading this I was reminded of In Living Color when they played the Dirty Dozens game. It was funny as I am sure your dozens were too. It is nice that you are trying to teach your son to be respectful. Until he gets older I think Chicken underpants is pretty funny.
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