Misplaced optimism

I believe it was Einstein who famously defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.

And yet, nevertheless, millions of seemingly rational and intelligent parents worldwide – including YZG and myself – persist in answering the phone every. single. time. it rings.

We do so, even though we know that at least 97% of the incoming calls here in TRLEOOB* are for one of the various and sundry teenagers who dwell in our midst.

In other words, chances are that any given phone call won’t be for us.

But YZG and I don’t let the unfavorable odds deter us, and instead, we continually allow hope to triumph over experience.

As noted above, Einstein would probably have blamed this naive and misguided optimism on our mental instability.

And he might have had a point.

After all, back in his time, communicating with invisible friends – which is today referred to as “blogging” – was definitely not an indication of a sound mind.

But I would posit that there’s more to it than that.

Indeed, if you’re a parent, you’ll understand that the main reason WE answer the phone is because our kids don’t bother doing it themselves.

You see, even when the phone is ringing off the hook, the aforementioned adolescent denizens of our home are apparently – and inexplicably - oblivious to the noise.

It’s enough to drive the most patient of parents crazy.

Which would suggest, I suppose, that Einstein wasn’t that far off the mark…

!חג שמח

May you have a wonderful and joyous Shavuot!

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*TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog