So many different things happen with brain injuries and brain dysfunction and as sad as so many things are, it’s really important to laugh daily. Laughter is the best medicine. Research proves that laugher helps heal. With brain issues at the moment the incident occurs there really isn’t anything to laugh about because the person is so frustrated with the ignorant things that happen … it takes awhile to step back at that particular situation and laugh.
English: Grocery store in Callicoon, NY, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I needed to do some small shopping so I took my teenage son and another person with me to the local grocery store and had another small errand to run afterwards. I was driving. My son helped put the groceries in the trunk and I was on to my next errand.
Driving down the road about a mile I was talking to my son in the back seat. He never answered. Every mother knows what that silent treatment is like when your children are teens. He didn’t seem upset, and this was really a silent treatment! Did I miss something in his verbal or non-verbal communication? I obviously missed something and it wasn’t in his communication!
I asked my passenger what was wrong with my son. She looked in the back seat and he wasn’t there. It was at that moment I realized I thought he closed the back door of the car and here it was the trunk he closed. I don’t know what I was thinking. Obviously, I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t see him return the grocery cart or get into the car. I was definitely distracted by my passenger…and that’s scary to say the least.
I did an immediate U-turn (against the law in this state) and pulled into the parking lot. There stood my son with his arms crossed still in disbelief! Watching as I drove away, and able to watch me as I returned. I’m surprised he even wanted to get into the car with me when I picked him up.
Adolescence movie (Photo credit: brainpop_uk)
Moral of this event: Almost every parent has said something like “If you don’t behave yourself you can walk home”. This teenager was actually behaving himself! In this case, my son had no reason to believe he would be left and I just pulled away. He still laughs about it. You just need a sense of humor to live in this family.
Distraction happens frequently with brain injury. So if you feel like you are repeating things over-and-over again it could be a memory issue, a distraction issue, an attention issue, all types of issues cause distractions.
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braininjuryselfrehabilitation 
cindyhfrench
May 23, 2012 at 8:37 am
Edie, my mother who had the menagionoma (I know I didn’t spell that right-did it phonetically)would regularly forget to pick us up from school. It was not a laughing matter then. It is now.
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 23, 2012 at 6:51 pm
I can only imagine what you were thinking as a child knowing your mother wasn’t there to pick you up. How many tears did you shed? Those tears have turned to laughter and that’s great!
Big Mike's World
May 23, 2012 at 11:36 am
That was awesome! Your son sounds pretty awesome to just shrug it off and laugh with you about it.
My wife did that to me once….but I think she was actually mad at me. 🙂
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 23, 2012 at 6:56 pm
I’m still laughing about your wife leaving without you! If I did it to my husband, it was on purpose…I don’t know if I did, but I might have thought of it! I think that’s consistent with most relationships. Oh…the things woman do, and you know we’re always right!
Maria Tatham
May 25, 2012 at 7:55 am
Edie, thank you for sharing this! Poor boy! But I’m glad he laughs now and that you do too. And that you help us laugh and give us insight and warnings. Because people who haven’t experienced TBI can get distracted too. We all must keep focused on the main thing we’re doing, while trying to be aware of the rest.
Maria
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 25, 2012 at 9:21 am
Maria, You are right. Everyone gets distracted. Those who are type A personality, those with multiple responsibilities, careers, younger as well as the aging process. For some any potential distraction should be eliminated if possible…but that’s not reality. All we can do is decrease our environmental stimuli as much as possible, especially when doing anything that jeopardizes anyones safety. In the meantime, good for a laugh as long as everyone is safe! Edie
Maria Tatham
May 25, 2012 at 9:51 am
Thank you for more insight, Edie! Yes, it’s a happy thing when our oops-es end up being safe!
cindyhfrench
May 30, 2012 at 3:39 am
Good one. Ican only relate some because of mhy short term memory issues.
The best one was made by god don’_forget that everything comes to youj thrujj gods fingers. Love ckindy
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 30, 2012 at 6:57 am
Happy you enjoyed a little laughter! It helps brings peace to the soul.