If this whole year has just seemed like the absolute worst to you, just remember...
1. The Italian sneezes:
My favourite kid I ever taught when I was a swim teacher was this little 4-year-old Italian boy. One time he sneezed and nobody said anything so he just went “what? No bless yous for Giacomo?”
2. The perfect pictures:

3. The wonderful marriages:
My 4yo pretended she was a hired cleaner yesterday as. As she helped me clean she asked if I had any kids. After telling her about my 2 I asked if she had any of her own. Turns out she has 5 kids and has been married to a man named Carlin for 30 years. You think you know someone.
4. The babysitting pro-tips:
My 14yo is babysitting for the first time and I just received this text from him. 😂😂😂
5. The incredible creations:
I appreciate Mark, age 28
6. The little lemons:

7. The most important words in the English language:

8. The important reminders:
When my daughter was 7 years-old she once interrupted a bedtime story to tell me, “In a pie-eating contest, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose because you get to eat pie.” I think about that a lot.
9. The partners in crime:

10. The shared meals:

11. The literal hand-me-down beds:

12. The iron pumped:
15 yo daughter has a friend over and suddenly 13 yo son wants to walk around curling dumbbells.
13. The thoughtful parents:
One of my greatest joys in life is when Jeff calls the vet to make an appointment and they ask for his name, and he says, Jeff. Then, they ask for our cat's name, and I watch him gather his strength before he tells them, Baby Jeff.
14. The complete strangers:

15. The newborn children:

16. The l'il ol' ladies:

17. The homework companions:

18. The dad origin stories:

19. The special requests:

20. The passed tests:

21. The grandma wrong-number texts:

22. The little shows of respect:

23. The bountiful harvests:

24. The very important lessons:

25. The family dinners:

26. The deals of a lifetime:

27. The important instructions:

28. The surprise children:

29. The doodles:

30. The tiny little touches:
I LEFT MY TEDDY IN MY ROOM AND THE HOUSEKEEPER DID THIS??;!;!;!!;!;
31. The thoughtful insects:

32. The wholesome deception:

33. The delivery serendipity:

34. The heart- and body-warming blankets:

35. The attention to detail:

36. The comforting birds:

37. The tight-knit families:

38. The little baby olives:

39. The balloon kindness:

40. The study pizzas:

41. All the goldfish rescue crews:

42. The kind notes:

43. The perfect gifts:

44. The lifelong friendships:

45. And the well wishes from the past:
