When I am out in public, one of my favorite things to do, (when I get the opportunity) is smile at babies.  They don’t always smile back, but when they do, it’s such a wonderful feeling!  It’s especially fun if they interact with you by waving their little hands and moving their tiny fingers with excitement.  I call these sweethearts “live ones” because they are so lively!

I always ask permission to move closer to them, especially if they are in strollers and I have to bend my knees to face them.  I never touch them.  We just interact with smiles, and sometimes, if I am fortunate enough, with laughter.

Smiling at babies is a sweet and simple action that we often cannot do with people of other ages.  In fact, often that is not even possible with babies.  As adults, we are wary of strangers when we have children, and rightfully so.  We are living in a time when being a respectable person is not a given.  And  there are many good reasons to be wary of strangers.  I just happen to have a non-threatening appearance, for which I am very grateful.

I often think about how difficult it must be to be a big man, and sometimes because of his size, be scary to children.  Being a short woman with a big goofy smile can be an advantage.  And I appreciate that very much.

But, as to the act of smiling at people in general, I just happen to be blessed in that I look harmless and I am harmless.  Average looks, short in stature, with a large-mouthed smile add up to being a person that people generally find trustworthy.  Being trustworthy is not something I take lightly.  And one of the many reasons I feel this way is because smiling at babies makes me happy!