The things I tell my kids are sometimes true

For years I've told my children not to hold in their sneezes or else their heads would blow off. I know, it's cruel to make them believe their heads would actually explode if they held in a sneeze but it's worked. When they have to sneeze they don't hold back and the majority of the time they cover their mouths. 

One of the reasons I've preferred my kids to sneeze out not in was because I hate the sound of someone attempting to stifle something so natural. It literally sounds as if a small but powerful bomb goes off inside your head when you try to hold it in. When you think about it though sneezing can send tiny particles speeding out of your nose at up to 100 miles per hour so it's no wonder it sounds like an internal explosion when one is held in.

Despite my preference to sneeze out I've never really believed any injury could result from holding in a sneeze. But my friend Grant was living proof some serious damage could result from holding it in. He was driving to his cottage the other weekend, felt a sneeze coming and immediately went in to lock down. When he did that something popped inside his head. That pop was his ear drum rupturing.

Grant's seen a few doctors and a specialist and the prognosis is good his ear drum can be repaired. It's going to require surgery though to repair the damage. He's in a lot of pain and can't do a whole lot until his surgery. Not fun. Would have been easier if he'd just sneezed, don' you think?

I told my kids Grant's head exploded. The looks on the faces of the younger two were priceless, the 12 year old just said, "Whatever Dad." When I explained the truth about what happened to Grant they learned a valuable lesson.

I feel bad for my friend and hope he gets better soon.

On a positive note though, bad decisions do make good stories. Better out than in, don't you think?