Laughter is the Best Medicine

I remember the first time that Grace let out her first giggle. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. It was soon followed by laughter - not just a giggle, but the full belly laughs that seemed to consume her entire little body. I stand by my statement from that day - the sweetest sound in the entire world is a child's laughter.

I don't think I'll ever get sick of hearing her laugh. It is my daily mission to make her laugh! I chase her around the house, have pillow fights with her and tickle her until she can't stand it anymore. I do it all so that I can hear that sweet sound (and because I know that it is making her happy). :)

Grace has so many "levels of laughter" that I've become accustomed to hearing. She does the "fake laugh" when she knows that I'm trying to make her laugh, she "giggles" over silly things and then she has her big "open-mouthed laugh" when she finds something genuinely funny. She also has what I call the "shoulder shrugging laugh"; it's when she is laughing so hard that her shoulders move up and down uncontrollably. Each one of these laughs brings a smile to my face.

I walked in the house after bootcamp yesterday and could hear laughter coming from the bedroom. It was muffled (which was a clear sign that Grace and Daddy were having a pillow fight and she was throwing herself around the bed and into the blankets, lol). I instantly smiled.

Grace has that effect on me - she is so powerful without even knowing it. When I'm having a bad day, it's my little 16 month old daughter that knows how to cheer me up. Her smile and her laughter are amazing therapy! The other day after a particularly rough day at school, I came home to a smiling little girl. She wrapped her arms around my neck, snuggled in and said "Mommy". The she ran away from me as fast as she could, laughing and waiting for me to chase her. Every one of my worries melted away.

Laughter really is the best medicine. Sometimes I will say funny things to my class, just so that I can get them laughing. I could teach them 100 things in a day, but what they'll remember more is that moment when I made them laugh with my silly joke or crazy dance! I challenge you to laugh more this week. Tickle your child, watch a funny show, break out into a silly dance in the living room....whatever it takes to make you laugh. Trust me, it's good for your health! :)

I have this posted on my classroom wall - love it! :)