There is a statistic floating around that details on average children laugh at least 300 times a day. As we grow older we “obviously” have to take things more seriously therefore we must limit our amusement right? For this reason we would expect that adults must laugh less. At least 50% less right? No. What about 75% less? Higher. Adults on average laugh 98% less than children or simply 5 times a day. I knew of this statistic and did not think much of it. Until I went to a local Renaissance Faire.

I have been to Renaissance Faires before and while I enjoy them I also have a feeling of discomfort when I am there. Something about adults dressing up and speaking with funny accents puts me in an uneasy state. The fun I did have almost like I was absorbing fun but not actually having fun. I would participate in faires only as far as paying the fee and observing.

The most recent faire I attended was the first time that I had my children with me. My children dressed up and were excited to participate despite never having attended one before. They really had no background knowledge on this whatsoever, they just figured it sounded like fun.

After the event I had that feeling that I once again had fun. I can say that part of the fun I had this time was in observing how my children interacted with the events and people at the faire. Without reflecting on it too much I would actually say that this is where all the fun came from. Fortunately I now find that perhaps this may not be true.

I feel I first must explain my feelings while at the faire. When people interact with me I am almost always polite. Where I am not dressed in Renaissance fashion and I do not speak with the accent my replies are usually short and reserved but friendly. For the most part the majority of it is uncomfortable which may tend to wear me down as the day goes on. However, much like many people at the Faire will not break character, I have built up my own character and mine is one that does not frequently stray from being polite. A flaw in this character I am starting to notice is this character may not always be in place for those I love the most.

My children are not at a point where they really understanding that an accent is something you can create and do not have to be born with and therefore are willing to interact more deeply with people. However my character who is not only polite but is also “serious and rational” may have limited some of their interactions. My discomfort may have pulled them away from some interactions that may have been fun.

I can try to rationalize this knowing that the amygdala, or “lizard brain”, has a built in fight or flight reaction to those things we fear might be harmful to ourselves or our loved ones. Well clearly a renaissance actor must be something to fear since they clearly are one step removed from the criminally insane.

Upon reflecting on this event I have found that there are a few things that are troubling me. Have I lost my ability to laugh and have fun? Are my children already receiving signals of a behavior that will quickly move them in a direction ensuring that they only allow for their requisite 5 times-a-day laugh? How much closer could I be with my children if I dropped this character that I have allowed to play a leading role in my life? Have we all become so serious as adults that we have actually limited our ability to have fun in life?