Grace Garden Preschool

We all want a peaceful, cheerful, even joyous atmosphere at home. Though our “to do” lists will always lie before us, now is the time to make happy memories.  Here is a list of strategies that help me to remember to “lighten up, Francis.” 

At least once a day, make each child helpless with laughter. Nothing screams happy like the sound of deep belly giggles.  "The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up," Mark Twain once said. How true.

Get enough sleep yourself.  It's so tempting to stay up late and enjoy the peace and quiet, but as we all know, morning comes quickly!  Most adults should be getting between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.  

Sing in the morning. It's hard both to sing and to maintain a grouchy mood, and it sets a happy tone for everyone.  

Wake up before your kids. We were so rushed in the morning that I started getting up half an hour earlier than my children. That means I can get myself organized, enjoy a cup of tea and get my bag packed before they get up. It's tough to wake up earlier, but it has made a huge difference in the quality of our mornings.

Most messages to kids are negative: "Stop," "Don't," "No." So I try to cast my answers as "Yes."  "Yes, we'll go as soon as you've finished eating," not "We're not leaving until you've finished eating." It’s a step in the positive direction of guidance. 

Look for little ways to celebrate. FUN FRIDAYS are a big hit in our home and are a huge source of happiness. They are as simple as beginning the day with a silly breakfast item, followed by a joke scribbled in their lunch notes. 

Say “no” only when it really matters. Wear a bright red shirt with bright orange shorts? Sure. Put water in the toy tea set? Okay. Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed? Fine. Samuel Johnson said, “All severity that does not tend to increase good, or prevent evil, is idle.”

When I find myself thinking, “Yippee, soon we won’t have to deal with a stroller,” I remind myself how fleeting time is. All too soon the age of Cheerios and the Tooth Fairy will be over. As Gretchen Rubin notes in her book, The Happiness Project, "The days are long but the years are short." Amen, sister!

Go forth and laugh, 
Kym