If You're Happy and You Know It

The other day I was thinking about the different ways my kids behave when they are happy or in a good mood. Sometimes they are really annoying when they're happy - they won't stop talking and making noise, and they linger. I often have to remind myself that when my kids are talking incessantly or hovering over me, it's because they are in a good mood, and I should embrace that. I never want to scare them away from talking to us, so I try to be careful about it, but every now and then, I have to have an honest moment and ask them to shut up. 

Here are some of the ways my kids express happiness:

Nicky

• Talking and telling stories
• Making monkey sounds
• Showing us videos or pictures on his phone
• Listening to music in the kitchen (or where other people can hear)
• Rough housing with Scotty

Daisy

• Talking and telling stories 
• Singing
• Dancing
• Asking us to watch her demonstrate some kind of skill or dance move

Zoe

• Talking 
• Making repetitive noises (tapping, squawking)
• Being excessively loud
• Saying "yay" - but matter-of-factly, not enthusiastically. It's just a quick "yay."
• Clapping

Eva

• Physical movement like cartwheels,hand stands, running around, skipping, etc
• Being silly - pulling faces, doing goofy poses
• Singing (especially in the shower)

I'm grateful for every happy moment they have, even though their happiest moments are sometimes the most irritating to me as a parent (I could do without the monkey sounds).