From daily gratitude to Hey Happy

One mum, one little boy and a simple daily exchange

When I became a new single mum, many of the routines that had once helped me feel positive disappeared. I began saying three things I felt grateful for each day. They were often ordinary: a little more sleep, sunshine on a walk, a friend popping by or a nap that lasted long enough to wash my hair.

Then I started including my son, Harvey. I would kneel beside him, look into his eyes and share something from our day that had made me feel grateful. As he grew, he began sharing his own thoughts. He did not call it gratitude. He simply said, “I’m happy for...”

The moment that changed everything

On holiday one day, I was rushing to make a lunch reservation. The pushchair was piled high, Harvey wanted to walk and my mind was already on where we needed to be next.

He stopped, looked up at me and said, “Mummy, I’m so happy for us being here and you not being at work.”

While I was rushing towards the next thing, Harvey was completely present in the moment we were already living. Our daily exchanges had helped him notice joy and express what mattered. I realised he was not only learning from me. He was teaching me too.

Why I created Hey Happy

I wanted to help other families have those conversations without needing more time, technology or a perfectly planned activity.

Hey Happy gives children space to find their voice, talk about their feelings and see that effort, mistakes and challenges are all part of growing. It also reminds adults to slow down, listen and notice what is happening in front of us.

Our purpose is simple: to create more meaningful moments between children and the people who matter to them. That is why we call it Hey Happy.