Sanity or Patience: choose one.

Do you ever have one of those moments where you think, "HA! I am sane!" Then you step in dog poo with your bare feet and remember it was your idea to get the puppy...?

Thursday, June 18

Inappropriate

So maybe you think you already know I can be inappropriate - not on purpose, but sometimes I just don't "get" things or situations and say or do completely inappropriate things without realizing until later (again, my grandmother comes out in me).

Mostly, though, I'm an inappropriate laugher. Pick an example - any example - of a situation where laughing would be wrong. I've laughed. More likely, I've cackled.

Since I can remember, my initial response to uncomfortable situations or conversations has been to laugh uncontrollably. I can't help it, and I certainly can't stop it once it starts.

The first time I remember, third grade when the whole class was in trouble and the teacher was pissed over who-knows-what and I started laughing. Holding my nose, covering my mouth, burying my head in my arms... all masked so we didn't get into more trouble, but it was a long few minutes of painful snort-keeping.

Other examples? My friend told me she thought she was pregnant. We were teenagers. I laughed. Yeppers, I know it wasn't funny, but I couldn't stop laughing and boy was she hurt. How does one go about apologizing for that? Oh, and funerals. I've laughed at funerals, and more than one. No, nothing about them was funny.

Most recently, Monsoon went to have a hearing exam. If you've never been privy to one of these tests, they put some funky-looking head-gear on the poor kid with antennas sticking out of each ear and poor Monsoon was nervous already, trying his hardest to continue sitting on my lap (instead of crawling back up in me) while this nice lady asked him questions and I'm behind him shaking like a roller coaster ride, eventually breaking out with loud obnoxious cackles while the lady on the other side of the table, obviously annoyed, tried to distract my son who is by now feeling extra uncomfortable and self-conscious (well I'm laughing at him, aren't I?) and finally she suggests my husband's lap take over. As we switch, the look I got from dear Hubs was one of utter disgust as he whispered, "What is wrong with you?" I laughed so hard I cried.

What's your reaction to uncomfortable situations?

14 comments:

Jennifer said...

I'm not an inappropriate laugher. Unless you count like when someone falls down and makes a fool of themself.

But I am a stick-my-foot-in-mouth'er. I'm really bad about that.

Hyacynth said...

That is terribly hard to control. I had a friend in hs who was an uncontrollable laugher, and it used to make her feel so badly after that she would be in tears about it.

I don't always say the "right" thing I speak or type. That's my pitfall; sometimes I forget about being PC and just say what I think.

Jenny-Jenny said...

Yes, I'm a laugher. I try not to because usually it's rude when I do it, but I think it's my reaction to discomfort.

Call Me Cate said...

I have different responses for every situation. Almost every one is inappropriate in some way. But it's never intentional!

kim said...

I have been known to laugh at inappropriate times and it usually gets me in trouble, but I have to be honest, it's uncontrollable. Then when you try not to do it, you end up laughing even harder, then I end up crying because I can't stop...it gets really ugly...lol

Grand Pooba said...

Oh man, I know that "What is wrong with you" look well! My hubs gives it to me on a daily basis! And what's wrong with laughing in an uncomfortable situation, laughing is my answer to everything too.

Michelle said...

Yikes. that's a hard reaction. But people who know you I'm sure get used to it... ok except your husband ;) When I'm in an uncomfortable situation, I just shut down and try to hide. I don't like them.

wendy said...

Oh, I'm totally a laugher as well. The worst was when my parents were yelling at me for whatever reason and it was all I could do not to laugh in their faces getting myself in even MORE trouble!!

Amy said...

I think I am the same way. I make a crack or laugh. I mean why not it may help out.

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

Okay...so this wasn't an uncomfortable situation but I laughed at your post...great description of the hearing test!

Sugar Boogers & Tantrums said...

I laugh too alot in uncomfortable situations. I have a laugh that carry's. It's very very loud and it's been like that my whole life!!

Julia said...

My inappropriate laughing always comes at some stupid or funny but wrong thing that my kid does and while I should be disciplining him I have to suppress laughter. Yep, I am a great parent too.

Anonymous said...

I have a tendency to make the wrong remark to a person in some situations.

So I'm one of those that "puts foot in mouth" person....

Suzi said...

Not funny, but last week when I was explaining that our dog was hit and killed by a car and that boy #2 was devastated....I did it all with a smile and a hint of humor in my eyes. Horrible, I know, but I couldn't help it.