Anybody who peeked in our bathroom window this morning would have seen something quite unusual – for our house anyway.

Rather than my usual frazzled flinging of mascara wands, hairbrushes, and pantyhose, I was standing still, toothbrush hanging out of my mouth, smiling.

The reason for this uncharacteristic moment of peace was the sound of my two younger children in the kitchen making their lunches and singing “I’m a little teapot.”

Before you wonder what on earth is so special about this I should perhaps add that at 12 and 10  - the older one a boy, the younger my only daughter – singing is rarely what can be heard from the kitchen at 7.30 am.

In fact, like so many working mums, mornings are often my least favourite part of the day.  The cats (four of them) and the dogs (two of them) seem to compete with the kids (three of them) and the husband (only one of him thankfully – in the interests of simplicity we won’t count the ex today) for food and attention. 

Getting everyone fed, washed and out the door in time to get where ever I need to be is generally my main focus.

So when I hear giggles and singing of long forgotten nursery rhymes it makes me smile and stop.  It’s a great reminder of what really is important in life.

Business meetings and decisions, email, phone calls and appointments may all have an important place in our daily lives but far more precious are the small things that make us smile while we are brushing our teeth.

These are the things that help us navigate through our busy days without needing to reach for the chocolate.  Well at least not too often.

After all a little bit of chocolate can make you smile too.