My son has already taught me so much in his short 26 months on earth; lessons I didn’t even realize I had learned until after the fact, some I desperately needed to learn and many I’m still struggling to embrace. I know my teacher has only just begun and there is much more wisdom to be gained, but in 26 months, here’s what I’ve learned so far:
- Play, dance, sing, run, eat – essentially, do everything with abandon!
- Find pleasure in the small things. There is wonder all around us, whether it’s an ant moving along the sidewalk, a water fountain, an orange tree, a song I’ve heard a hundred times or literally stopping to smell the roses.
- Playtime and imagination are necessary for survival. Laundry, dishes and errands can wait, being silly cannot.
- Love. As boundless as I think my love for Lucas is, it grows each and every day surprising and touching me in ways I never thought possible.
- Roll with the punches, go with the flow and realize that plans change. Toddler time is different that real time and that’s okay. I’m learning to plan accordingly.
- Laugh more. Some words and sounds (typically of the bodily function variety) are funny.
- Patience is most definitely a virtue. This is one of those teachings I struggle with. Daily!
- Connection is key. Sitting down and communicating with others helps to see things from a different perspective and lets you know they care.
- Time flies when you’re having fun. Toddlers are only toddlers for a short period of time and every single moment should be appreciated.
- Every now and then, a time-out is in order. Breaks are good. Counting to 10, breathing deeply and full bodied Cabernets aren’t bad either!
What is your child teaching you?
This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop,
Prompt 4.) 10 Lessons your child could teach you.
