“Arhrhghrhghghghghgh!!!,” I grumbled and groaned. I had taken several trips from the first floor to the second floor, and I realized I had forgotten one more thing downstairs.
My 6-year-old son was playing beside me. “Mommy, are you angry?”
“Yes!,” I said. “I’m angry with myself because I forgot some papers downstairs and I’m too tired to go downstairs AGAIN!!! Grrrrrr!!!”
“Mommy?,” my son asked again. “Can you be happy?”
Silence.
I took a deep breath. He was right. I could choose to simmer in anger and frustration over such a trivial thing or just move on and choose to be happy.
I gave him a hug. “You are so smart.”
Kids huh? The next time I find myself in this predicament (such as crazy traffic or an impossible deadline), I’ll remember my son innocently asking me. “Mommy? Can you be happy?” And I wil choose to be happy at that moment.
Happiness is a choice after all. 
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.