I see a sea of smiling faces around me. Emma, my daughter and the joy of my life, has taught me what it means to smile and how to have fun doing so.  Her smiles come so easily. It starts with a bright eyed fixed stare and then it unfolds into a broad grin that holds on long enough that I find myself smiling too. She has my husband wrapped around her tiny little fingers and she has me wrapped into a tangled mess. Emma has been smiling like this since she was one week old. Nine months later, she continues to give up her smiles easily and to lure the attention of nannies, other parents, and especially kids. The experts explain that the smiles of a newborn are random and involuntary so one should not read too much into what they do.  On reflection, however, I believe that these involuntary facial movements were incipient signs of Emma’s happiness. Her one-week old smile was her statement of happiness to the world.

My mornings are awakened with cooing, gurgling and vibrations from Emma’s leg lifting and dropping playtime. Having one’s sleep interrupted is not usually a pleasant experience but in many ways her playful antics serve as a second wake-up call. Getting up and visiting Emma’s room, while my husband gets her ready is now a part of my playtime.  I look forward to her fixed stare of recognition, broad smiles, and gentle touching of my face. I crave those moments as much I do that early morning cup of tea.

I am happier now because I have decided to be so. I smile broader now when I remember how Emma smiles at me. Inside the smiling faces of kids in my own classroom, I remember my favorite of all smiles and it becomes easier for me to mirror even bigger smiles to the world and to say good morning.

Learner, Thinker, Writer: Kerry Coote serves the Trinity School Community as a Third Grade Assistant Teacher.