Learning Life’s Lessons from the Little People

Kids can be the best teachers, if we slow down enough to pay attention to them.

We adults think we know so much more that our kids.  With our years of experience, we feel that we certainly know more about the world and how to function in it.

Not so much.

All those years of “experience” are years of issues and filters that we’ve learned to apply to our outlook to cloud our visions of “the way things are.”

Our kids are there to remind us of the way it really is.

The very young ones haven’t been around long enough to create views, opinions and clouded perceptions.  They’re pure.

The other day I got angry with my 7 year old son because he wasn’t doing what I asked him to do.  After talking with (ahem, to) him about the matter and trying to reason with him to no avail, my anger mounted until I found myself doing some of the very things that I had reprimanded him for not so long ago.

I saw myself turn into a 6 year old trying to get a 7 year old to do what I wanted.

As soon as I realized what I had done, I stopped and apologized to him.  I explained how my actions were not at all respectful of him (and I had been on his case about respecting others). I explained that I should have handled myself much differently.  He agreed and started to warm up to me again.

This led to a mutual conversation of how we can handle things differently going forward.  I really listened to him and he listened to me.  It was beautiful.  We taught each other lessons and both walked away feeling better.  I saw this awesome little boy with so much wisdom who I’m so proud of.

The more I see this awesome little boy, the sooner I stop myself when I get angry.  The sooner I give him the opportunity to shine instead of feeling like he’s done one more thing wrong.

My 2 year old daughter, as pure as she is, serves as a great mirror when I stop to notice and accept this fact.

Sometimes she’ll throw a little fit when she’s not getting what she wants.  If I’m working (on the computer, in the kitchen, wherever), I tend to try to satisfy her with her usual toys or foods without really listening to her.  This only leads to a bigger fit.

I’m usually on such a mission to complete whatever task I’m working on that I don’t give her the time or attention she needs.

And, usually, that’s all she needs – my time and undivided attention.

Our lives are so stressed and scattered with all of our to-do’s that we find it hard to focus on anything.

My 2 year old is there to remind me how to be present and focus.

The more I try to complete my task and superficially satisfy her, the more we both get stressed and upset.

When I stop what I’m doing at the moment and focus on her completely, without thinking about what I have to get back to, we’re both immediately more relaxed.

She settles down because I’m giving her the most precious gift: my time.

I settle down because I stop to notice how beautiful and precious she is and how little time I have with her at this tender age.

And a few minutes later, we’re both happy and relaxed and back to whatever it was we were doing that seemed oh so important.

Little people teaching big lessons to the big people.  I love it.

When you stop to notice, how are the little people in your life teaching you valuable lessons or reminding you of those important things you’ve lost sight of?