Not A Funny Prank
April 1, 2009 by Michelle Smith
Filed under Relationships
My daughter and I had a conversation about April Fools jokes or pranks. We had very different opinions. I think that this stems from the difference in our ages and our life experiences.
I can clearly remember when I sold shoes way back in the day and my boss and a co-worker tried to get me to go into the rest room, where they’d rigged up a bucket of water to fall on me. 
The bait was a first aid kit that I knew was not “on the back of the toilet.” Yuck, who would put a first aid kit there?? Anyway, the point is that I did not fall for it, but I did appreciate their effort and I would have laughed at the drenching.
My daughter told me that her friends talked her into calling her boyfriend at school, they go to different schools, and telling him that she is pregnant. His reaction, “Well, my life is over,” which of course it would not be, but still my heart ached for him when I heard what she had done. It must have felt like an instant punch to the gut. He works so hard at school and every day he talks about his plans to become a firefighter. Why would she think that putting that in jeopardy would be humorous?
She told me that her friend had a teacher from school (which seriously makes me question this teacher’s common sense) call her Aunt, whom she lives with, to tell her that she had been caught at school with drugs in her backpack. She said that she was going to call me with the same news, but didn’t have a chance. I was flabbergasted.
What is this kid thinking of? Unplanned pregnancies and drug busts as humor? When did April Fools turn into horrify your friends and family day?
I tried to explain my point of view to her. I said, “It would be like me calling you to say that I had cancer, when I don’t.” She said that would be horrible, because cancer kills. I tried to explain that these other things were huge and life-altering, as well. We did not have a meeting of the minds. We both ended up frustrated, which is no kind of fun or joke for anybody.
What do you think? What do you consider an appropriate or inappropriate April Fools Day joke or prank?
Bucket of water on the head = funny
Teenage pregnancy = not funny
Image credit: All Posters.com
Yeah – not funny. And I don’t remember pulling such pranks when I was young. And what was that teacher thinking? I would think that would be grounds for dismissal if it were reported.
Verna, I absolutely agree. Bay goes to a different sort of school. I’m always surprised by what I hear.
The teacher was out of line for sure. The other was such a kid move. I am not a big one on pulling pranks on people. I had one April Fool’s played on me yesterday. My friend text me and said I so do not appreciate what you said about me! Do not call or text me again. I was in the middle of reading it and thinking…as my heart was pounding…I did not do anything. Then it said, wipe that look off your face–April Fools. Ha, ha, ha—not!
Jackie, a text like that would have probably made me cry. Why the negative? What wrong with a fun prank?