Parenting

Smile Sharing Means Caring for Children in Need

67 Comments

By Estelle Sobel Erasmus

Alyson Hannigan
Join Actress Alyson Hannigan in sharing smiles to help children in need.

This post is sponsored by the SheSpeaks/TYLENOL® SMILING IT FORWARD™ campaign. All opinions are my own.

My daughter is normally quite stoic so when she gets sick it is a big deal for me as her mom. When she feels bad, her usually sunny, bubbly disposition quiets to a whisper and her glowing complexion turns pale with fatigue and discomfort.

At the first sign of fever, I do what most moms do and that is to give her TYLENOL® and lay a cool compress on her head. I gently stroke her hair or rub her back and let her relax into my soothing presence.  I ache for her and want to wrap myself around her as a Band-Aid against any further hurt, but can only watch as the storm of illness passes over my child.

I wait with bated breath and little sleep for the tide to turn and her health to blossom again. That blossoming becomes a celebration. For that moment, that precious moment when she lifts her head from her pillow, turns to me, smiles and says “mommy, I feel better,” is like her birthday and New Year’s wrapped together with a big red bow, signifying that her health is strong and my vigilance has been productive.

That smile she gives me says it all.

I’m not alone.

A recent survey conducted on  behalf of the makers of TYLENOL® by Harris Interactive discovered that 89% of moms with young children agree that there is nothing better than their child’s smile to let them know they are feeling better after a fever, cold or flu.

That’s why I’m happy to share the news about the SMILING IT FORWARD™ campaign, where now until mid-January  moms across the country can join actress Alyson Hannigan of How I Met Your Mother in sharing their children’s smiles online so that for each smile shared  TYLENOL® will make a $1 donation (up to $100,000) to Children’s Health Fund, an organization well-known for its mobile medical clinics that provide healthcare services to underserved children throughout the U.S.

TYLENOL® aims to garner 100,000 smiles, which equals a whopping $100,000.

“Being a mom has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said Hannigan who was the first to share her photo online. “And being the first mom of many to participate in SMILING IT FORWARD™ warms my heart because it will help other children receive high-quality medical care like my daughters do.”

“When Keeva is up at night teething, or Satyana is fussy with a fever, it’s pediatric TYLENOL® products I rely on to relieve their symptoms,” continued Hannigan. “And when those smiles return to their faces, it’s the best signal I have that they are starting to feel better. I live for that smile, so I am honored to be a part of a campaign to bring more smiles to children across the country.”

I have uploaded a photo that makes me smile on the SMILING IT FORWARD™ website.

Pirate picture
This is my daughter after her Pirate Makeover at Disney World. Ahoy!

Please join me in uploading your own photo that makes you smile on the site, where you can view the TYLENOL® Smile Gallery, and receive tips from leading pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann about keeping families smiling through cold and flu season.

Sharing your photo will help TYLENOL® reach the goal of $100,000 dollars for Children’s Health Fund ensuring a doctor’s visit is always within reach for children in need.

Now that’s news worth smiling about!

How do you feel when you see your child’s first smile after they have been sick?

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67 thoughts on “Smile Sharing Means Caring for Children in Need”

  4. I just love this campaign from Tylenol. I’m not sure I ever quite thought about it, but sharing a smile with us is definitely the way we know our kids are starting to feel better and are on the road to recovery. I will have to check out the Tylenol Smile gallery!

  8. What a great campaign! We keep Tylenol on hand, and I agree that seeing my son going back to his happy self after being sick is the greatest thing ever.

  11. I heard about the Smile campaign but didn’t take the time to read what it was until now. Such a good idea. And I’m a big fan of Alyson Hannigan from HIMYM also.

    1. Jennifer,
      Thanks for stopping by. It’s really a fun campaign and makes such good sense. I also love Alyson Hannigan, and remember her from back in her Buffy days.
      Estelle

    1. Lindsey,
      It’s a really cool idea, and so easy to do. Who doesn’t take pics of their kids nearly every day.
      Estelle

  13. I love her pirate makeover! 🙂 I agree that there’s no better indicator that a child is feeling better than a genuine smile. I really like Alyson Hannigan, so it’s cool to see her getting behind such a great campaign.

    1. Hi Casey,
      Thanks so much. We had such fun at Disney World, and she loved her pirate makeover. I thought it was really cool that Alyson Hannigan put her name behind this campaign.
      Estelle

    1. Hi Melissa,
      Thanks for participating by uploading your son’s picture. It’s such a fun thing to do and for such a good cause.
      Estelle

    1. Hi Liz,
      It really does hurt when you see your little ones struggle with feeling ill. I always go to Tylenol as my first line of defense.
      Estelle

  17. I will have to check out the Tylenol gallery. I bet it would make me smile! It’s so true that it’s how I know my kids are starting to feel better after being sick- they finally start smiling again.

    1. Hi Jessica,
      It’s really true isn’t it. I can’t imagine being without Tylenol in my cupboard.
      Estelle

    1. Cynthia,
      It really does signify a change in the um, temperature when they smile after being sick. I do love this campaign and the cause it supports.
      Estelle

    1. Hi Elin,
      It is a really cool and valuable campaign. I love the combo of smile and money and helping kids.
      Estelle

  26. Even though mine are now teens, I still feel that sense of relief in their smiles. My son is suffering from anxiety and migraines during his first semester of college. Some days are really bad, lights out no one talk in the house bad. So when he has a talkative smile day, it makes my stress level go way down. Love that Tylenol is helping children. Going to upload some smiles now.

    1. Chrishelle, Sorry your son suffers from migraines/anxiety; college is a tough transitional time. Smiling and talking do seem to go hand in hand and I’m just glad when my daughter feels better. Thanks for uploading smiles for the cause.
      Estelle

    1. Hi Erica,
      I know. The key is the bated breath waiting till that Tylenol does kick in. But, then the wonderful smiles can begin!
      Estelle

  28. Nothing worse than seeing your child sick. Tylenol has helped my family so many times over the years. Seeing that smile again always fills me with such relief.

  29. It’s an incredible sense of relief when I see my little one smile after being sick and quiet. They don’t ask for much when they’re sick, but it’s the time I want to give them the most and do whatever I can to help them feel better!

    1. Hi Kim,
      I hate that helpless feeling and it’s good to know that there are resources right at our fingertips (besides hugging).
      Estelle

    1. Brett,
      I know; I’m very choosy about the campaigns I get involved in, and this one was a no-brainer.
      Estelle

  31. What a great campaign. I love when my kids smile after having the cold or flu I hate when the babies are down makes me work even harder to get them back up and smiling

    1. Kita,
      I know. We all hate that helpless feeling and the need to make it better. Hopefully, the worst of the season is over now.
      Estelle

  32. You brought me way back to when my son would be ill. It would break my heart! And a smile was all I needed to know he was OK so I could relax. Because being tense would cure him (not!).
    thanks!
    Mitch

    1. Hi Mitch,
      Nice to see you here. I am glad this post evoked those memories of when your son was smaller and the importance of those
      “I’m better now, smiles”.
      Estelle

  33. I was able to go to a Tylenol event where Dr. Tanya spoke with us. She was SO nice.
    The Smile it Forward program is such a great idea… and so simple for people to participate in. You already post photos all the time… by taking an extra second posting your photos can help so much!

    1. Colleen,
      That’s why I love the idea of this campaign so much. You are absolutely right. Whether social sharing or just taking photos for ourselves, we do it as a nearly daily habit. So why not share for good.
      Estelle

    1. Carol,
      I know. When we think about it, it’s the first defense we have against our children’s fevers or feeling ill.
      Estelle

  35. I always turned to Tylenol, and now your post makes me feel even better that I did. Thank you for making me aware of this important campaign, Estelle! I will now share it with other moms!

    1. Cathy,
      Thanks so much. I really appreciate you passing along a smile–and a good word for such a good cause.
      xo
      Estelle

    1. Lois,
      I know. This is an amazing campaign. It’s so easy to find a great photo and share it, and boom $1 to deserving children. Love it so much.
      Estelle

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