What My Granddaughters Taught Me About Family and Joy
In a quiet corner of our day, I asked my granddaughters to tell me about their family. What followed was not just a conversation: it was a gentle flood of insight, laughter, and wisdom that only children can offer so freely.
When asked how they felt about our trip to Huraa, one of them beamed and said:
“I feel good… because I’m happy. My Bappi gives love.”
Bappi: father, for them, is not defined by duties or titles, but by the energy he carries: love. Pure and uncomplicated.
Their Maama, their grandmother, is remembered in the rhythm of caretaking:
“She gives me food and teaches me stuff… and she took care of me when I had sleepovers.”
And Kaafa: their grandfather (me), not only reads with them, but sparks creativity:
“He let me make a junior happiness club.”
These aren’t just roles. They are emotional anchors. Each person in their small world teaches them, in different ways, that they matter, they’re cherished, and they belong.
The Architecture of Happiness
As the conversation flowed, I asked what love meant to them. Their answers were delightfully abstract:
“It’s like LEGO: big and small and medium and logic.”
“Happiness is big happiness… humanity.”
In those moments, I realized happiness in children isn’t built through grand gestures. It’s layered in consistent kindness, shared laughter, bedtime stories, and being remembered. It’s how they’re corrected with care, helped with reading, or simply listened to without judgment.
What Family Teaches Us
When asked who’s the kindest or who loves them most, their answers weren’t symmetrical. One mentioned a sister—even though “she gets mad sometimes”—because she still loves. Another pointed to a mother, because “she takes me out when I feel bleh.” It’s not perfection they recognize; it’s presence, patience, and play.
“They all love me. They do everything for me. Everyone.”
This sentence held more than sentiment—it held the architecture of emotional safety. That’s what families can be: the first community where love is modeled, resilience is nurtured, and joy is safe to express.
Reflections for Leaders, Educators, and Community Builders
If we ever wonder where resilience, empathy, and connection begin—they start here, in family rooms filled with LEGO, shared meals, and affirming words. As leaders and educators, the more we understand the invisible scaffolding that family provides, the better we can support children and communities in meaningful ways.
And sometimes, it takes the voices of our little ones to remind us: the softest stories carry the strongest truths.
Smile and Let Smile 