It’s possible that Wonder Why Wednesday is not long for this world. I’m considering giving it the boot so I can focus on some other things. Of course, WWW does not take up that much time or brain space, so it might stick around.

Since it’s Wednesday and I’ve made no decision on this super important topic, let’s go ahead and play. If you’ve forgotten the point of WWW (hint: there really isn’t one) or you are new here, read this.

Not long ago a friend of mine was at the gym, a feat made all the more commendable by the fact that she has two kids, ages two and six months. She also has a husband, a job and a home to manage. Anyone who has kids knows what an effort it is to get to the gym. Somebody’s always sick or napping or having a tantrum or something… just something. Add kids to everyday life and you get a recipe for missed workouts.

So she’s working with a trainer, putting in the effort, and she falls. The result? A broken tailbone and two broken bones in her hand. Let’s add some insult: her husband had to travel for work that week, leaving her one-handed, sore bottomed, working full time and taking care of two very little kids.

Around the same time one of my neighbors, a super-fit triathlete, who had in fact completed a triathlon the day before, had an accident while securing her toddler. As the little guy attempted a mad dash into the street, his mom quickly reached, scooped and turned, only to feel her back give out. She was immobilized.

You guessed it, her husband was out of town, too.

My takeaway from all this? Exercise and fitness are a dangerous business, to be avoided if you are responsible for the care of small children. (Says the woman who can barely walk today due to exercise. Stupid exercise.)

My friends, however, had a slightly different takeaway, and they suggested I pose this question to you:

Why is that all hell breaks loose every time one parent leaves town?