While grocery shopping recently, I passed by a mom and child whom I will probably never forget. He was the cutest blonde boy, sitting in the front of the basket. He must have been about 3. At first, the pair did not catch my attention and their initial interaction was not very unusual. The child was chattering to his mom…or least making the attempt. She must have scolded him, because it was his next few words that caught my attention.

“Be happy, Mommy,” the sweet child implored. She did not respond. He kept looking at her, and asked again in a more pleading tone. As children often do, he latched on to this phrase and as they  walked down the remainder of the aisle, I heard “Be Happy, Mommy” time and again until they turned the corner.

Wow, what a reminder of how our emotions affect our children. So, moms take a breather. Practice smiling, even when you don’t mean it.

Your children need you to be happy and you can do it!