Laugh More! In the craziness of life, I am passionate about family and making home a retreat from the world. It is also realistic to acknowledge that no family is perfect and we all struggle. There is something though I have resolved to do more of in 2017 and wanted to share it with you. That resolution is to laugh more.
I recently read an article that stated, “…the ability to laugh at everyday family difficulties helps keep life in perspective. “If we will learn to laugh and play more with our families, not only will we feel better, but so will they.” That quote was taken from an article called The Power of Laughter by Gary K. Palmer. On average, children laugh about 400 times a day. Adults average about 15 times a day. My challenge to you and myself is to laugh right along with our children.
Getting Started
First, how do we do this? We put ourselves in the position to have those opportunities. Get down and play with our children. Share funny things we come across throughout the day and text it to our older children. Our families need to become those we want to share our best with and what better time are we at our best than when we are laughing?
Times of Struggle
Every family will inevitably struggle. What better gift can we give our children than the gift of optimism? Teaching our children the art of taking a rough situation and incorporating laughter will help them in their adult lives. Start this lesson early by being conscious of how you react to problems. I am guilty of and understand how very easy it can be to get upset over a spilled plate of dinner or a full cup of liquid tipping over by a squirmy kid at a restaurant. Getting upset does nothing, but laughter can ease the tension for all.
One day, my husband and I had the genius idea we were going to take our 2 little kids to Olive Garden. We sat at our table, ordered our drinks and out of nowhere, our 4 year old started throwing up! We were mortified. I did NOT laugh. We started to clean it up but the restaurant was adamant we didn’t and so we left, mortified.
Could it Happen a Second Time?
A week later, after making sure it wasn’t a stomach bug, we went back to Olive Garden. After enjoying a great meal, we were relieved we made it through. Since we were dining with a gift card, we splurged on dessert. While waiting for dessert, our 2-year-old, who was sitting on my lap, looked at me and threw up. I don’t just mean one time…..she was full of pasta. Think of the absurdity of that situational Deja Vu!
In that moment, and probably to the waiter’s disgust, I began laughing. Uncontrollable laughter. I picked up my saturated child, and proudly walked out of the restaurant, laughing while my husband stayed behind to deal with the carnage.
And Yet Another Laughable Moment
Another time, I ventured to the library with all 3 kids. While the older 2 were racing through the library, I had the 7-month-old on my hip paying a late fee. As I started to switch him over to the other hip, something on my shirt caught my eye. Right where he had been perched, was a massive “solid” surprise from his diaper! I do mean massive!
I looked at my shirt. Looked at the librarian. Looked at my shirt. I was trying to figure out how I was going to walk to the bathroom without “it” falling on the floor. So what did I do? I laughed. Then yelled, in the library, at the other 2 kids to come to the car, immediately! I had no extra diaper, so we drove our naked baby home, laughing. Why wait until years down the road to laugh about a situation when you can laugh at it in the moment?
Build Family Relationships; Laugh More
Your family is yours forever. We want our children to enjoy time with us. We want our adult children to come back to us! Building a family on happiness will promote better communication when your kids need to come to you about something serious. Making your home a place of laughter is the key. I love to observe loving families, especially ones I know have struggled. The common thread I see among those families is the laughter they share with their children. They have inside jokes, quote movies and share experiences of embarrassment so they can laugh! It’s never too late to laugh more. Start tonight by sharing something funny at the dinner table. You will notice a new spark in your family.
About Balance & Harmony 360², Inc.
Owned and operated by Melinda Smith, CPO®, we offer Business Training & Consulting with a Twist! Our sweet spot is working with Entrepreneur’s and their companies to create a productive work environment, happy home, and prosperous you! Our passion is listening to clients goals, thinking through solutions and coming up with creative 360² action plans that address work, home, and you! Learn to Love Going to Work Again! Increase Time with Your Family! Get Things Done! Our process is simple and geared toward the professional. You CAN get your LIFE back in BALANCE!
Audrey Whiteley, CSE®
works for Balance & Harmony 360², as a Certified Staging Expert in the HOME division. The home environment affects your health, productivity, and happiness. She works with individuals who need to freshen-up outdated décor, “show” a room’s potential, or help homeowners create a lifestyle. Audrey makes the most of your surroundings whether you are staging for a quick sale, building a home, or want to elicit a more productive and peaceful setting in which to live.
Audrey Can Help Create:
Ideas or Design Boards
Room Layouts and Arrangements
Organization Solutions
Home Staging DIY Reports
Pre-Move Prep Strategies and Moving Plans
Purchasing and Hands-On Staging and Decorating
Project Management from Start to Finish
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