Things I wish I had taught my son ... and still can #72: Happy Cries

I was going to write about something else but I got a note from Lisa, one of the readers of Things I wish I had taught my son... And still can. And I had a happy cry. And I remember how much I love to experience happy cries.

By the way... Real men know how to cry.

I remember one day putting a cd on the stereo in our living room of a song I felt expressed my love for my wife, your mom. The name of the song is "My Heart Belongs to You". I held mami in my arms and sang her this song while we looked into each other's eyes. Happy tears followed from both of us. Not paying attention to what was occurring at our legs, we looked down and saw your third little sister (about 4 at the time) looking up. She was crying too. With tears still in my eyes, I asked, "Why are you crying mija?" Logically she answered, because "mami and papi are crying."

"But we're crying because mami and papi are happy," mami said trying to explain this irrational concept to your little hermanita. With all the composure she could muster your little sis then said, "Well... then I'm happy too," and dissolves into uncontrollable crying... A truly special moment.

Watch this video... It will bring happy tears to your eyes.

Happy tears are healing. They wash you of all the unsettled stuff inside. They nurture you. They water you like a plant. They make your day.

I'll share one more happy tears moment. Your oldest sister had a very high fever when she was about 6 or 7. Mom was off on a retreat and I was doing my best to console your little ill sister. She couldn't even open her eyes. She just lay limp on her bed suffering. Sitting on the edge of her bed and in an attempt to get her mind off the fever, I asked her to sing to me. She didn't think about it for a split second... She just started singing in a very fragile voice... "the sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow... there'll be sun!," the song from Annie.

Guess what I was doing?

-By Jesus Ramirez
thingsiwishihadtaughtmyson.com