Erwan Heussaff Asks Dahlia ‘Are You Happy?’ And Her Honest Answer Made Us Tear Up A Little

Looks like Anne Curtis and Erwan Heussaff are also enjoying the holiday break in between Christmas and New Year holidays, using the week to spend some quality time with their daughter Dahlia. 

On December 28, Erwan shared via Instagram reels a few photos showing how they’re spending their break. The family of three is currently in Australia and Erwan’s photos show Anne and Dahlia running after each other and enjoying the view of a lake. 

“I asked Dahlia the other day if she was happy and she said ‘yes, because you’re not working’,” Erwan’s caption reads. 

“Be present folks,” he reminds his followers. 

We felt that, Erwan. As a new year rolls in, many of us think about what we can do better in the new year and for most parents, being present is at the top of the list. 

RELATED: Presence Over Presents: How We Can Celebrate Christmas Meaningfully Amid The Busyness And Rush 

We recognize the need but we don’t know how to do it–or stick to it. Parents.com advises to start small. Here are three things you can start doing right now: 

3 realistic ways to be a more present parent 

1. Hide your phone. 

“Just being around an electronic device can be detrimental, says Kristen Race, Ph.D., founder of Mindful Life, an organization that trains parents, schools, and businesses to practice mindfulness, reports the US website. 

“‘Even hearing a phone vibrate makes your brain go someplace else,’ says Dr. Race.  

Their tip? When you’re with you’re playing with your child or even during meal times, put your phone in a drawer or leave it in another room. And show your child you’re doing it to communicate how important this time is to you. 

“You need to look for ways to carve out airplane mode for your family,” she says. 

2. Announce when you’re not being mindful. 

When you catch yourself not being present, say it out loud. Try “I’m not paying attention very well,” suggests parents.com when you catch yourself drifting off while your child is telling a story about something she watched.  

By doing so, you’re forcing yourself to pay better attention to your child. "Naming the fact that you're having difficulty being mindful puts you back in the moment,” says family therapist Susan Stiffelman and author of Parenting With Presence in the same article. 

3. Notice when you’re being mindful. 

“Acknowledging even fleeting moments pf being fully present can help you feel successful at being more mindful,” says Stiffelman. 

The article adds, “So instead of starting out thinking, ‘I’m really bad at being mindful,’ you start out by recognizing that yes, you can actually do this.” 

Read this article to learn more about how parents can make kids feel disconnected from themselves.