What is Happy Noise?

Originally posted August 15, 2009:

What is happy noise, anyway?


"Happy noise" was an oft-used term (usually by my mom) from my childhood. When we kids would get really rowdy and rambunctious and wreak havoc on the house and start wearing thin on our parents' sanity, they would look at each other and give a verbal reminder: happy noise. It was their way of embracing the chaos instead of trying to reign it in. As long as we were happy, they were content with just about any amount of noise that came with it. Which was a lot. We were not quiet children. (Nor are we quiet adults.) And my parents' term for that has been on my mind a lot recently, especially since I left my job and focused all my energy at home.

Basically, happy noise is what happens when you have a house full of creatures who are enjoying life. Peace and serenity? Not so much. We are joyful and emotional, and often that means noisy and chaotic. Though occasionally the racket can be stressful, there is no better sight or sound to me than my family being content and happy -- smiles, giggles, running feet, and wagging tails.

So at the end of the day, I will be intentional about embracing the happy noise.