Happiness is…
Child's Play x2 | March 8
As a child, I have vivid memories of the book “Happiness is a warm puppy” by Charles Schulz. I have often thought back to those simple little life lessons and, over the years, have added my own. Now that I’m a father I have noticed that I have a whole lot more reasons to be happy. Here’s a partial list. Feel free to add your moments of happiness.
Happiness is…
“Good Morning” smiles.
Wet baby kisses.
Spending alone time with your child.
Seeing your spouse in your baby’s face.
When someone else changes the poopy diaper.
Bathtime splashes.
A vibrating bouncy seat.
Sleeping through the night.
Da-Da-Da-Da
Watching your child learn right before your eyes.
First bites of food.
A cute outfit.
Little baby feet.
Sniffing the top of your baby’s head.
Realizing just how much you love your child.
Watching the cat let the baby pet it - even though she doesn’t want to.
First Santa pictures.
Baby hugs.
Visiting Grandmothers.
A good, caring daycare provider.
Realizing, in spite of the fact that you don’t know what the hell you’re doing, your child’s turning out okay.
These are just a few. What happiness have you found in parenting?
Holding little hands.
Hearing “Please, Mommy”.
Watching them dance.
Babies laughing.
Sarah I love baby giggles.
Just this morning when I woke the toddler, I do my usual, letting him put his head on my shoulder while I hold him and rub his back in a circular motion until he is ready to face the day. Today he reciprocated and rubbed my back. For some reason I’m still not ready to face my day, but it was a moment of happiness.
Yeah, I like it when a little hand pats my back.
I also like it when they make each other giggle and laugh.
The look on their faces when they try something all by themselves … and succeed.
Hearing them sing, whether it’s la-la-la or they start to know the words.
What a terrific list. Last night my son David, told me he loved his sister Merry, his brother Thomas, Mom and the Dogs. It makes me grin thinking about it.
When they act like an escape artist after their bath and you have to chase after their cute little butts!
Watching them score their first goal.
Sweet, unasked for, kisses when I am on the computer.
Hi-fives and hugs.
when my 3yr old is excited about something new and his face shows it so expressively. My 1yr old is starting to do it when she sees something big and new too.
The laugh that comes from the gut. That belly laugh that can’t be faked.
Waking up in the middle of the night and feeling my baby’s hand on my face making sure I’m still there.
My son wiping my tears away and tissing me (”kissing”)when I’ve had a horrible, terrible, no good day.
Seeing the kids run to Daddy when he comes home.
When her face lights up and she smiles, having seen me.
When her face lights up and she smiles, having seen her father.
When she smiles.
When she frowns. (OMG the frown! Is it wrong of me to so love the sweet little scrunched up face that is the frown?)
When I wake up each morning and realize, once again, that what seemed impossible yesterday is, simply, not - that having gone to bed convinced that I could not possibly love my daughter any more than I did at that moment, I wake up to the realization that yes, I am more in love with her than ever.
When the two of them make each other laugh so hard and for so long that they get tears in their eyes!
When Jake grabs my face between his hands and says “Your the best mommy in the whole world”
When Paige laughs at something silly…it’s the best sound EVER!
When I am snuggled up in bed…in between the two of them…and I can hear them breathing so calmly…
Knowing I am their mom…always!
Pork chop thighs on a healthy 3 month old.
Squisky little baby tushies!
Feeling their tiny fingers softly brush my side while I nurse them off to sleep.
Unsolicited “I love you’s,” hugs and kisses.
My 9 y/o SD still believing in the magic of Santa and the Tooth Fairy.
Hearing them say Mama for the first time. The way they run into your arms when you go to pick them up at the end of the day. When you can have a conversation with them about anything. Watching you Husband rock them to sleep. I could go on forever, but I’ll stop now.
The 2006 Peanuts calendar is all “Happiness is…” this year, so I’ve had some time to think about this (I love that book, by the way).
For me:
The two-tooth grin that my son gives me when he sees me in the morning
Hearing my daughter say, “I lub (love) you, Mommy.”
Watching a good movie together.
Letting my daughter eat a freshly-baked cookie that she “helped” make.
My son’s giggles when we tickle him.
Seeing my daughter kiss her little brother.
Bedtime prayers with my daughter.
Watching “Scrubs” with my husband once the kids are asleep.
The hugs, the hugs, the hugs!
Thanks everyone for a great list.
Except the “Visiting Grandmothers” one. Because that means “Visiting the mother-in-law.”
I like it when The Voice says ‘I want to be you, Daddy. And Daddy, when I’m you, I’ll like the food you like.’ That sort of thing is really gratifying for the old ego. He’s also got this face he makes when he really means business. It’s just priceless and speaks volumes about his personality. We call it the king face. I guess I’d say that happiness is getting to know my kid.
Listening to my 3 y.o. say his prayers
Hearing the “I love you so much mama” or “you make me happy mama”
Playing hide and go seek with a toddler who just closes his eyes and says “o.k. come find me”
The three of us snuggling in bed on a Sunday morning.
hysterical, uncontrolled baby laughter
kissing her sweaty, soft little palm
I too have fond memories of this book, my father being an overly-avid collector of anything peanuts. I realized, in hindsight of course, that many of those life-lessons I value and base my own fatherhood on stem from little Charles Schultz gems. Surprising considering our many differences but hey, what’s life built on if not a few keystones?
Excellent list!! I love to wake up with our son in the bed between us and see his huge smile as soon as he opens his eyes
AD
peek-a-boo
sticky hands on your face
the flapping arms and legs that show how excited they are to see you
Hugs. When my 2-year old daughter comes up to me and puts her arms on me (trying to reach around), it’s just the coolest thing in the universe.