February 2016: Happiness

Welcome to the Happiness Edition of Mothering Matters. Statistically, we live in one of the happiest countries in the world, Switzerland, although as we know, this is no assurance of personal happiness (ask any mother or father!).

In this issue, our feature authors explore how taking the time for gratitude, connecting with nature, participating in communities, spending precious moments at home with our children, and learning the value of our darker emotions can all contribute to increasing our personal happiness.

These articles show us how happiness is not dependent on where we live, how we grew up and what we have. Rather, happiness can be uncovered within us, wherever we are in the world.

We hope this issue shines a bright light on the abundance of happiness available to each and every one of our readers.

by Rachael and Tammy

Illustration by Laura Munteanu

Features

How to Be One of Those Annoying Happy and Grateful People by Tammy Furey

Finding Your Happy Place by Roz Bonomally

The Happiness of a Tree by Jane Greis

The Surprising Benefits Of Our Darker Emotions by Rachael Soster-Smith

Learning To Be Happy At Home by Kate Prinsloo

The Science of Happiness: Positive Psychology by Marina Moeller

It’s Snow Time, Folks! by Aradhna Sethi

Columns:

Baby Baby | The Healing Power Of Laughter
Crafty Kids | Wooly Crown
Education Matters | What Makes Children Happy At School?
Expat Corner | Looking for Happiness in All the Wrong Places!
Family Health | Exercise Makes You Happy and Healthy
Fathering | The Brain’s Bridge to Happiness
In the Kitchen | Valentine’s Day Bites
La Leche League | Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression
Out & About | Winter Happiness in Stoos/Morschach
Third Culture Matters | Our Little Chalet in the Mountains
Twinville | Enjoy the Little Things

Don’t forget to check out What’s On for February and March 2016.

Illustration by Laura Munteanu

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February 2016 Issue Contributors

Column and Feature Editors: Dina El-Halaby, Tammy Furey, Liz Le Feuvre, Carol McDonald, Andrea Snashall, Rachael Soster-Smith

Webmaster / Layout Designer: Tanya Deans

Chief Copyeditor: Carol McDonald. Assisted by Andrea Snashall.

Writers: Roz Bonomally, Bethany Brupbacher, Tanya Deans, Tammy Furey, Dina El Halaby,  Jane Greis, Dr Jahura Hossain, Marina Moeller, Karin Mohler, Teresa Mueller, Laura Munteanu, Kate Orson, Kate Prinsloo, Aradhna Sethi, Monica Shah, Andrea Snashall, Rachael Soster-Smith, Brian Wilson

Illustration Coordinator: Laura Munteanu

Illustrators: BVisual (Beth), Cloudia Chen (photos), Tanya Deans (photos), Lara Friedrich, Susana Gutierrez, Hadley (age 6), Cristina Kaisserian, Sharanya Mageshwaran, Laura Munteanu, Kate Prinsloo (photos)

Proofreaders: Andrea Snashall, Carol McDonald

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest Moderators: Andrea Snashall, Kate Prinsloo

Advertising Coordinator: Clare Ferrari

Finance: Iliana Eichholzer, Claire Petersen

Communications: Andrea Snashall

Logo: Suzanne Evans-Ackermann

Web Designer: Maximilian Wulf