The Three-Minute Phone Call that Makes Me Happy All Day

Babble.com

"Hi, Mom!" I say. I'm surrounded by a throng of commuters moving fast on the streets of New York.

"Honey, I'm so happy to hear your voice," my mom says, and even though it's frigid outside a rush of warmth runs through me. Mom's always genuinely thrilled to hear from me, unlike my 8-year-old who has a lovely habit of answering my calls from work with, "I can't talk to you now, I'm making a Rainbow Loom bracelet."

I've been calling my mother en route to the office from the train station for a few months now. There was no reason in particular I started doing it, just a general sense that she is getting older and that I need to make the most of our time. The calls usually last just a few minutes, but they make my entire day.

We don't talk about anything deep, which is best saved for visits and weekend conversation. Mom tells me what she made for dinner last night, and what her plans are for the day-folk dancing at the local senior center, grocery shopping for fruits and vegetables. Mostly, she wants to talk about me and my family. I'll update her on the kids-a good grade on a spelling test, how funny it was when my son decided to examine me during his annual check-up at the doctor's office. She'll ask how I'm feeling, if the heat's working well in our house, if that cough has finally gone away and whether I have too much going on. I'll tell her I'm fine, even when it's not so true because I don't want to worry her.

Related: 7 ways mothers can empower their daughters

"Remember that nice widower upstairs you wanted to set me up with?" Mom mentioned the other day. "He died." She says it matter-of-factly, without sadness. She lives in an apartment building filled with elderly people, and the passing of another neighbor has become common. It's yet another reminder to be grateful for our calls.

These morning moments bolster my spirit and soul for the day. Connecting with my mom reminds me of what matters most in this world: the people you love. It's a reality check I need, because it's all too easy to get caught up in work concerns, kid concerns, home concerns, money concerns, concerns, concerns, concerns.

Mom listens to the radio religiously, and likes to inform me about interesting stuff, particularly anything health-related. She tells me about recent research that shows downing a daily multivitamin is basically useless and reminds me, as she always has, that the best way to get nutrients is from actual foods. She asks if I'm eating chia seeds. She wants to know if I had a bagel or Greek yogurt for breakfast. "I hope you had the yogurt, it's full of protein," she'll say. "Yes, mom, I did," I answer, dutifully.

I have a loving husband and family. But really, who in your life cares about you in quite the same way your mom does?

"I love you," I always say as we hang up.

"I love you more," Mom always responds.

When I get to my office building, I don't walk in dreading the day's deadlines. I'm riding the bliss high of my call with Mom. Sure, stress will seep in, but when I'm feeling it I'll think back to our call, and try to get my head back to that happy, happy place.
-By Ellen Seidman

For 20 simple ways to show your kids you love them, visit Babble!

MORE ON BABBLE
10 things a mother should NEVER say to her daughter
25 things every kid should experience
The 10 commandments for raising strong, empowered women

Latest Stories

  • UFC 312 reaction, Zhang Weili, Luke Rockhold, Din Thomas and Rory Karpf in studio | The Ariel Helwani Show | Feb 10, 2025

    Ariel Helwani is BACK ... IN ... YOUR ... LIFE!Catch The Ariel Helwani Show as Ariel and The Boys In The Back react to the fallout from UFC 312. Monday's lineup can be seen below:1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang react to UFC 312, Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili's big wins, plus more from the combat sports weekend.2:30 p.m. ET: Luke Rockhold stops by ahead of the launch of GFL's inaugural season.3 p.m. ET: MMA pioneer Din Thomas stops by in-studio.3:45 p.m. ET: Multi-time Emmy award-winning director Rory Karpf joins Thomas in-studio following the release of their new thriller "Grace Point."4:20 p.m. ET: Zhang Weili stops by just days after her UFC strawweight title defense over Tatiana Suarez.

  • Elon Musk claims he's slashing spending, but his cuts will barely make a dent

    Elon Musk claims to be on a crusade to slash federal spending, but his targets so far will make no meaningful difference in the deficit.

  • Home Office releases footage of deportations after 19,000 migrants removed from UK

    Social media campaigns warning about the dangers of illegal working in Britain have gone live in Vietnam and Albania, but migrants continue to cross the Channel

  • Farmers protest LIVE: Parliament gridlocked by tractor rally as Nigel Farage insists 'we can beat death taxes'

    Tractor rally comes as MPs debate e-petition with 148,000 signatures calling to keep current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms

  • American Express Company (AXP): A Bull Case Theory

    We came across a bullish thesis on American Express Company (AXP) on Substack by Chit Chat Stocks. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on AXP. American Express Company (AXP)’s share was trading at $316.77 as of Feb 7th. AXP’s trailing and forward P/E were 22.61 and 20.70 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. American Express […]

  • Affirm Leaps Into Buy Zone Amid 'Buy Now Pay Later' Boom; Earnings Spike To Exceed 1,100%

    Buy now pay later app provider affirm surged on earnings. Affirm stock is in a buy zone above a buy point of 73.34.

  • Report: Former Player Weighs in on Liverpool’s Contract Dilemma

    Mohamed Salah’s Future: Dejan Lovren’s Insight Adds to Liverpool UncertaintyWith just months remaining on Mohamed Salah’s contract, Liverpool find themselves at a crossroads regarding the Egypti...

  • After Super Bowl flop, the Chiefs look toward the future with massive changes on the horizon

    Even as the confetti was flying and the Philadelphia Eagles were celebrating their Super Bowl triumph on the field of the Superdome, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs already were thinking about getting back to the big game next year. The Chiefs have 28 players who will be free agents this offseason, many of whom contributed not only to this Super Bowl run but the two championships that preceded it. “It’s if he wants to put in that grind, because it takes it to go out there and play 20 games, whatever it is, and get to the Super Bowl, and he’s done enough to be a gold-jacket guy and first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Mahomes said when asked about whether his buddy might call it quits.

  • White House confirms war crimes prosecutor first target of ICC sanctions

    International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan is the first person to be hit with economic and travel sanctions authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump that target the war crimes tribunal over investigations of U.S. citizens or U.S. allies. Khan, who is British, was named on Monday in an annex to an executive order signed by Trump last week. Reuters reported on Friday that Khan had been designated by Washington.

  • Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef: What's the latest?

    After Lamar's show, a reminder of where we are now in the big rap feud, and exactly how we got here.

  • UBS whistleblower verdict thrown out despite US Supreme Court win

    A former UBS bond strategist who persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to make it easier for corporate whistleblowers to win retaliation lawsuits suffered a setback on Monday, as a jury verdict awarding him back pay and other damages was thrown out. In a 2-1 decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said defective jury instructions at Trevor Murray's 2020 trial made it too easy to conclude that his whistleblowing contributed to the Swiss bank's decision to fire him. A contributing factor "must actually cause or help cause the termination decision - it is not enough merely to influence the termination, or generally to be the type of thing that tends to cause termination," Circuit Judge Michael Park wrote.

  • Farmers protest tax changes with tractor convoys

    Farmers are opposing the changes, which will come into effect in April 2026.

  • Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER): A Bull Case Theory

    We came across a bullish thesis on Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) on Substack by Daan Rijnberk. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on UBER. Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER)’s share was trading at $74.60 as of Feb 7th. UBER’s trailing and forward P/E were 16.36 and 28.90 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Uber presents an […]

  • Asil Nadir, Polly Peck tycoon turned fugitive, dies aged 83

    Once one of Britain’s richest men and a Conservative party donor, Nadir was found guilty in the UK of stealing millions from his company to fund a lavish lifestyle

  • EnBW head urges speed on new German power plant plan

    Germany's next government must pick up a stalled draft law on the development of new gas-powered generation capacity quickly, the head of major utility EnBW said at an industry event on Monday. EnBW is one of a number of companies wanting to build new power stations, along with Uniper and STEAG. A bill for the construction and modernisation of 12.5 gigawatts (GW) of gas power plants was dropped by the now dissolved government coalition last year as it could not reach consensus internally, and with the industry, on its details.

  • Peller, Agnico, Alamos at 52-Week Highs

    Andrew Peller Limited (T.ADW.A) hit a new 52-week high of $4.99 Monday. No news stories available today. Agnico ...

  • Trump says 25 per cent tariffs are coming Monday for steel and aluminum imports

    WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said he'll impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States on Monday — and there will be no carve-outs for America's closest neighbours.

  • England ‘do not care’ if they lose 3-0 to India, so why should fans?

    Ben Duckett believes England’s troubled tour of India will be immediately forgotten if they can rediscover their white-ball mojo and win the Champions Trophy this month.

  • Labour was told about ‘vile’ WhatsApp group more than a year ago, says councillor

    Gerald Cooney, former leader of Tameside council, says he warned regional officials about Trigger Me Timbers group

  • Israeli police raid prominent Palestinian bookshop in East Jerusalem

    Israeli police have raided a well-known Palestinian bookshop in East Jerusalem, accusing its owners of selling books that incited terrorism, including a children's colouring book entitled "From the Jordan to the Sea". Two of the owners, Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, were arrested on Sunday and held overnight. A separate branch, located in the nearby American Colony Hotel, was also raided.