Why We Need More Hallway Moms

What we need now in the world of parenting is more than love. We need encouragement. Something to keep us going every day in the midst of all the pain and suffering and challenges that living with our children in todays society can bring.

We need more hallway moms.

My friend Karen is a hallway mom. Every single time I see her (often in a hallway somewhere), she radiates encouragement with a smile and simple hello. I usually get a hug too, which is like the cherry on top. And it doesnt matter what kind of day Ive hadgood, bad, or absolutely horribleshe makes it better. Much better, in fact.

Theres a reason for this. Think about it. A smiling hello is an incredibly powerful thing. According to Psychology Today, research shows that seeing a smiling face can actually evoke a physiological response that makes us feel rewarded. Research also suggests that receiving a smile from someone has tremendous health benefitsand might even be psychologically equivalent to receiving a large sum of money.

The takeaway is clear. I want to be a hallway mom like Karen. I want to infect other moms around me with happiness. I want to reward them for persevering in this journey called motherhood. I want to help reduce their stress, lift their spirits, diminish their depressive thoughts and research shows that my smiling face could, in fact, do all of these things.

Friends, I implore you. Be a hallway mom.

Because weve all felt what its like to be snubbed by a non-hallway momthe one who pretends she doesnt know you in public, the one who walks right past you without a word, the one that looks away with a snide face, the one who doesnt acknowledge your existence even though you have children in the same class together. This can be an unintentionally damaging type of behavior, and Ive often wondered about the reasons for it. It could be caused by a number of things. But honestly, its baffling. Given the chance to help someone, youd jump right in, wouldnt you?

Thats what hallway moms do. They help. They encourage. They seize the very simple opportunity to flip another moms emotional light switch to on. Just by smiling and saying a quick and easy hello.

So when I see you in the hallway, be prepared. Im going to smile at you and say hi. I might even give you a hug and ask how you are. And even if you have to lie when you say that you are fine, I hope my behavior will have made you feel a little better than you did before you saw me. I hope that my smile will invigorate you and give you a fresh take on your day. And I hope you will pass it on.

In the wise words of Winston Churchill, We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

Lets give, friends. Lets be hallway moms. Because encouragement is a parental necessity. Just like plants need water and babies need to be cuddled, fellow moms need to smiled at and spoken to when you pass them in the hallway.

You never knowthis tiny form of acknowledgment might just impact someone in a really big way.