As a busy work-at-home mom, my days are filled with ups and downs. Sometimes, however, even in the midst of an incredibly bad experience, something so wonderful happens that I simply have to smile.

About two weeks ago, in the midst of holiday preparations, the stress and uncertain weather got to me. I developed a migraine, extraordinaire. The only remedy for me: calling off work and spending the rest of the night lying in a dark room with a cool pack on my forehead. I couldn’t even take any painkiller, for fear of throwing it up.

An hour or so later, I was still lying there, feeling miserable, when my husband brought our 2-1/2-year-old boy in for a visit. He wanted to say hi to Mommy. I explained to him that I had a headache and couldn’t play or do anything fun right now.

He regarded me quietly for a moment. “Your head hurts?” he asked. I answered yes. “Want I kiss it?” he asked, offering the remedy I offer when he bumps his head on the table. I told him yes, removed the cold pack, and he planted a delicate toddler kiss on my forehead. “Feel better?” he asked me.

The headache was still there, but a buoyant happiness rose inside. “I do feel better, just a little bit,” I told him.