I have a radical suggestion for those days when you think you can’t bear another minute with your mood-disordered child: Do something fun with him or her.

It is SO important to laugh together. Good times can get you through the really bad stuff. Simple fun helps you to rediscover what you love most about your child. These moments can bolster your hope, just when you need it most.

Years ago, when my daughter was at a residential therapeutic school, we hit a low point in our relationship. A weekend visit had gone badly awry and we brought her back to school early. A few days later, family therapy seemed to make things worse, not better.

The word “stunned” does not quite capture my daughter’s reaction the following weekend, when I arrived to take her to “The Nutcracker.” She was shocked and thrilled to see me. We had a healing afternoon at a ballet that brings back many cherished memories. (My daughter wore a tiara and a party dress to her first “Nutcracker” at 5-years-old, and twirled herself dizzy throughout the intermission.)

Once again, “The Nutcracker” was magical. We laughed and hugged and let go of a painful week. When I took her back to school, she thanked me with tears in her eyes. She knew she was loved and accepted, no matter what.

A joyful afternoon can help us to remember that our beloved child is still in there, somewhere. It’s a goodwill deposit we can draw on later, when our reserves are running low. Happy, uncomplicated moments also reassure our kids, who know they are extraordinarily difficult and may fear they will someday push us too far.

Shared fun can mend relationships in ways that words alone cannot. What a gift!