10 things that made us smile this week
This week's roundup is a veritable feast of unusual and heartwarming delights.

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.
Have you ever seen a beaver build a "dam" out of stuffed animals and Christmas decorations? How about someone singing "Baby Got Back" opera-style?
This week's 10 things list is a veritable feast of unusual delights. In addition to the indoor beaver dam and operatic "Baby Got Back," we have a quick-witted "molice" (mom police) officer, a diner-owning toddler who serves broccoli to patrons who order cookies, and a hilarious mix-up between a kid named Jesús and the actual biblical Jesus.
We love to laugh here at Upworthy, but we also like to cry happy tears. It wouldn't be a genuine roundup of joy without a few heart-tuggers in there. We've got you covered on all joy fronts. (Get ready to giggle, but grab a tissue or two as well is what I'm saying.)
Without further ado, please enjoy these 10 things that made us smile this week.
1. Mom's hilarious 'molice' skits have parents everywhere nodding and chuckling.
@bmackwrites Episode 2: Teen won’t clean room #molice #bmackwrites
Her vest. The face roller. That giggle at the end. And there's more where this came from. See more of Bridgett Mack's "molice" videos here.
2. Wee one painting her mom's nails does a spot-on Leslie Jordan impression.
@addytok2022 She tried her best honey 😂 #fyp #fypage #trending
It's unintentional, surely, but it's like hearing Leslie Jordan being channeled through a toddler. Read more about Addy and her family here.
3. Watch Sawyer the rescue beaver meticulously build a 'dam' in her rehabber's hallway.
Marine mammal researcher Dr. Holley Muraco shared with us how Sawyer came to live with her and it's a fascinating look into beaver rehabilitation. Learn all about Sawyer and her fellow rescue beavers, Huck and Finn (yes, really!) here.
4. A mom got confused by a 'birthday party for Jesus' invitation and it's a hilarious mix-up.
"Are you Jésus' mom?" "I don't even know who Jésus is." Holy moly, too funny. Read the full story here.
5. A son gets a first look at his mom before he walks her down the aisle, and here's where the tissues come in.
"I'm so happy for you." Oof. How sweet is that kiddo?
6. Two-year-old runs her diner like a middle-aged woman who tolerates no nonsense.
@saruh2themax I got put on a strict diet due to my audacity. #willowpenelope #willowsdiner #cute #funnytoddler
"Willow's Diner" has become an incredibly popular TikTok series and you can see why with those facial expressions and toddler unpredictability. Check out more Willow's Diner videos here.
7. Jason Derulo sings "Baby Got Back" opera-style and nails it.
Derulo is a pop singer, but one who has been classically trained and it shows. That vibrato on "spruuuuuuung"? Come on. Read the full story here.
8. Kid belts out every word of song from new 'Matilda' film and Dad's reaction is too relatable.
\u201cWe love to see the rise of a new theater kid. Protect him.\u201d— Ayanna P. (@Ayanna P.) 1673269370
Math facts woes aside, Nathan appears to have a bright musical theater future ahead of him. Another video of him singing a "Hamilton" song went viral with this one and got the attention of Leslie Odom Jr. himself. Read the full story here.
9. Eight-year-old surprises his beloved auntie with his portrait painting of her at an art show.
Another good cry here. What a sweetheart and Auntie Steph's reaction is so pure. Love, love, love.
10. Swipe through these 'wholesome secrets' and see if they inspire some quiet acts of kindness.
Some of the greatest acts of human kindness are the ones we never see. In an age where everyone shares everything on social media, isn't it heartwarming to hear about people being helpful behind the scenes, just for the good of it?
Hope that brought you some joy!
If you want these roundups sent straight to your inbox each week, sign up for our free newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.