This Too Shall Wear Pants
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I wanted to blog on psychology tonight. It’s been a weird couple of days as I’ve been suffering a bad cough and visiting with my parents and extended family. Every time I hang out with my parents I remember certain stories of my life growing up. The “wear pants” one is a classic and definitely blogworthy. This story will probably give you some insight as to why my blog’s title has the funny farm in it. No, I’m just kidding. My parents were and are the best. But sometimes they were quite direct with me. Too direct? You be the judge.
Around age 11 I was really into surf shorts. At that time, about 1981, Stubbies and OP shorts were all the rage. They were quite expensive but my parents were able to buy some for me. I’ll never forget how “stoked” I was to get those! Well, stoked that is until one day when something happened …
A girl I thought was cute told me on the playground one day: “You have knobby knees.” eek. I was crushed. When I got home that night I whined to my mom about what she said and played the pity party violin for a good long session. When I was done my mom simply said:
Wear pants.
How could she! How unfeeling! Shouldn’t she apologize about my DNA? These are the sorts of thoughts that ran through my mind. But I’ve grown to appreciate her advice in grown up life.
When I’m tempted to whine about things or whimper or murmur, etc., I tell myself “Wear pants.” It’s a short phrase and it has tons of meaning for me. If I get worried or upset or other negative emotion about something, I can summon this phrase. The truth is, my legs weren’t knobby forever. Like then, most troubles are fleeting. As the saying goes: “This too shall pass.” So, how about this as a slightly altered “Funny Farm” phrase coined here officially tonight: “This too shall wear pants.” ;)
Do you have a memory you’ve made into a phrase?
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Tags: knobby knees, negative emotion, parents, pity party, Psychology, story, stubbies, surf shorts
I'm Damien Riley, author and teacher. Here you'll find "think outside the box" posts on psychology and inspiration. 
I absolutely love it! (and your mom, too!) What a great story to remind us that sometimes there is a very simple solution to anything that might be bothering us. I might just have to adopt "Wear Pants" as a slogan around here!When my kids were younger, I always told them not to take the opinion of someone who is still losing their teeth. Everytime they’d come home from school and say "Tommy said my nose is weird" or whatever, I’d say, "Is Tommy still losing his teeth?"They’d smile and that was the end of that.
Jessica The Rock Chick’s last blog post..Rainy Days and Mondays
Damien, this is so true! When there’s a rich and meaningful story behind it, sometimes all it takes to reinvoke the memory or the lesson or whatever are just a couple of words!
Here’s one you might enjoy from my place: <a href="http://middlezonemusings.com/lessons-from-a-light-switch/">"light switch"</a>
It’s all my wife and I have to say to get ourselves giggling uncontrollably…
Robert Hruzek’s last blog post..What I Learned From Chaos
I don’t have any memory that I’ve turned into a phrase but yours has reminded me of this hilarious site I came across - Top 278 Star Wars Lines Improved By Replacing A Word With "Pants".
Lis’s last blog post..7 Deadly Blog Sins
Damien, great story and thanks for sharing. It actually came at a very appropriate time for me as I was sulking about something at work tonight and realized that I just needed to relax - although I chose to have a mixed drink instead of wearing pants, lol.
Derek’s last blog post..Got A Little Captain In You?
That is inspirational! I have never had a life experience that left me with such a catchy phrase, however a favorite quote of mine that my mother has told me for years is "Your eyes are located on your front side for a reason". Essentially saying that we should not stare into the past and dwell. It goes about hand and hand with "wearing pants" wouldn’t you say? lol.
Ms.Caesi’s last blog post..Sore and Bored
@Jessica: LOL @ the baby teeth phrase. You have some great raising kids stories, share them more!
@Robert: Thanks for your comment and the kind stumble. I will get over to your blog soon. It’s been a crazy week so far, plus I have a bad cough :(
@Lis: That is so hilarious, and I am a huge Star Wars fan.
@Derek: You have me cracking up over here. Yes, the pants translate into a rum n coke ince in a while over here ;)
@Ms. Caesi: What a great phrase, thanks for sharing that with me today, I needed that!
Have to love your mom, Damien - and your newly coined phrase. It earns my highest praise, It rocks!
Marcia’s last blog post..Change - Haiku
Way to go mom! She didn’t try to make life fair. She told you to adjust or forget the girl. I wish more parents today would do that.
beeker’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday