I swear, it doesn’t take much to make me all soppy and weepy. Some examples:

1. The nurse teaching the childbirth prep class mentioned that it’s such an overwhelming, momentous event that women often burst into tears when the baby is born. She said the fathers do too, and just wait, we will. Well, I had news for her. I tear up and can barely control myself when we see videos of live births. We watched a movie about epidurals last night; they showed several mothers laboring differently (with and without) and the final outcome. Yes, it’s messy to watch, but I can’t help but feeling such awe seeing the little body emerge, hearing the parental exclamations of joy, and watching the mothers burst into tears as they hold their child for the first time.

   In the breastfeeding class, I struggled for composure watching a video of a mother learning to get her child to latch on and suckle for the first time after three days of difficulty. Hell, in the infant CPR class, I teared up watching a video simulation of a grandmother discovering her grandson (a plastic doll) in the crib not breathing and providing CPR.

2. I read the following and smiled through my tears at the end.
   

   AN ACT OF KINDNESS THAT SHOULD OCCUR MORE OFTEN

   My 17 year old daughter and I were standing in line at our local Pharmacy. Earlier in the day, we had, by chance, had a discussion on the high cost of medications for the elderly.

   It happened that an elderly gentleman was in front of us in line and was discussing his wife’s prescription with the pharmacist. He seemed sad and somewhat agitated when he inquired as to the cost of the prescription. When the pharmacist shared that it was not as bad as could be at only $38.40. The elderly gentlemen nodded and said he would wander the store while the prescription was filled.

   My daughter turned to me with tears in her eyes and asked if we could help. Of course we could! While by no means wealthy, we were not on a strict budget and could certainly do without a movie or lunch out that week. We quickly asked the pharmacist if we could pay for the prescription and he smiled and agreed to allow us to do so. We asked that he tell the gentlemen that it was a “random act of kindness.”

   We completed our shopping and happened to be leaving the store at the same time as our new “friend”. We were further blessed with getting to see him greet his wife, who had been waiting in the car, with a box of chocolates. (Presumably his act of kindness…passing it on.)

   It is not possible that he was given more joy than we were that day!

   –Submitted by Debbie, in an email from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

3. There’s a song by Colbie Caillat, Bubbly, that’s a happy little love ditty. It’s got a catchy tune, too. Her voice is sweet. When I hear the song I feel cheerful and teary all at once. It’s hard to appreciate the song unless you’ve actually heard it; however, it begins:

   I’ve been awake for a while now
   you’ve got me feelin like a child now
   cause every time i see your bubbly face
   I get the tinglies in a silly place

   It starts in my toes
   makes me crinkle my nose
   where ever it goes I always know
   that you make me smile
   please stay for a while now
   just take your time
   where ever you go

I’m going to buy stock in Kleenex.