The Happiness of Others
Last month, for my 39th birthday, my mother gave me some money and told me to buy something for myself. I said I'd rather save it, that I couldn't think of anything I needed. She insisted.
So I bought the electric skillet I'd wanted for a while, not something I actually needed. I sent my mom pictures of the dishes I made in it, and I have never seen anyone that happy about a frying pan.
A few weeks later, on my way to pick up my daughter from kindergarten, I bought a stuffed Skye, the pilot dog from Paw Patrol, at the drugstore and left it on her car seat. That night she fell asleep with the dog tucked under her arm. I have never been that happy about a stuffed dog.
People say your relationship with your parents changes after you have children, that you understand them better. And sometimes, all we need to feel happy is to see it in others.
